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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Keith Franke (R)

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News from Rep. Keith Franke 5-11-2018

Friday, May 11, 2018

Dear Neighbors,

First, I want to wish all moms a very happy Mother’s Day this weekend!

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We’re entering the final stretch of session, and will adjourn in just over a week. With lots still on the table, I hope you’ll contact me so we can talk about what’s on your mind. In the final few days, please stay in touch.

Bill Passes

I had another bill pass off the House floor this week. My bill, SF2578/HF3479, would make it a crime to sell the drug kratom, and a crime to possess for those under 18 years old. I’ve learned more about this substance, and although it’s currently legal, I think there’s some serious concerns. There are reports of addiction and overdose using kratom, and I don’t think kids under 18 should be using it. Thankfully, the House passed the bill on a near-unanimous vote of 123-3; the bill now returns to the Senate.

3M Issue

There’s lots of rumors and misinformation floating around regarding the 3M settlement, and what impact legislation in the House would have on the settlement in our area.

First, know that this is an issue we’ve been working on since we first learned about the possible PFC contamination. I understand that this settlement doesn’t belong to the Attorney General, the Pollution Control Agency or the DNR; it belongs to Minnesotans, especially those in our area.

With that in mind, we’re working on passing legislation to increase transparency involving settlement dollars, and hold state agencies responsible for delivering what’s promised to Minnesotans. We moved this bill in committee this week and it’s one step closer to coming to the floor.

Our bill does NOT put the settlement in jeopardy. That’s done and over with. The only way that can change is if one of the parties – like the AG or the executive branch – brings a legal action to a judge regarding the legislation. That would be an extreme disservice to Minnesotans, and would be putting politics before people.

Truthfully, I don’t see that happening. I hope there’s enough bipartisan support in the legislature where we can come together and do what’s best for our residents. These funds are an important way to make our communities whole, and we need to have proper safeguards in place to ensure state promises are delivered upon.

Local Award

Just yesterday, Rep. Tony Jurgens and I stopped by the Character Recognition Awards at the Minnesota Science Museum to congratulate Cottage Grove Middle School on being named a 2018 Emerging Minnesota School of Character by the Synergy & Leadership Exchange. Congrats to CGMS on this honor; we’re so fortunate to have great schools for kids in our area!

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Please Contact Me

As I said above, I hope you’ll reach out as we’re discussing our final bills. It’s so important for me to hear your opinions, and I always value local input.

Have a great weekend, and happy Mother’s Day!

Keith