Dear Neighbor,
Over the past couple weeks, conference committees have been working hard to find compromise on the discrepancies between each House and Senate budget proposal, as well as include provisions supported by the Governor. However, the Governor has been unwilling to seriously negotiate to a true compromise, and as a result, he has begun vetoing parts of the budget proposal. I hope he comes back to St. Paul on Monday ready to get our work done and completed on time.
The House and Senate’s priority continues to be to provide $1.1 billion of tax relief to seniors, students, farmers, and in general: middle class Minnesotans; invest more than $1 billion in new expenditures to our schools; and pass a $5 billion long-term transportation plan that repairs and improves our aging transportation infrastructure.
This week, I signed on to a letter to the Commissioner of the Department of Education: Brenda Cassellius expressing my opposition to the Department’s planned distribution of their “Toolkit” resource for dealing with gender identity issues in schools. I believe that the Department’s resources would best serve Minnesota’s children in other areas; discussions regarding gender identity should be left to parents. If you would like to express your concerns to Commissioner Cassellius, email her at: mde.commissioner@state.mn.us.
Buffer Legislation Update:
This week, a bipartisan coalition of legislators and agricultural stakeholders sent a letter to Governor Dayton urging him to compromise on the House and Senate proposed reforms to the 2015 buffer law with the goal of protecting Minnesota’s waters, while not also burdening farmers and landowners. I have heard from numerous constituents about the need to reform this law and I stand with them.
I was visited this week by Colonel James Garlough and Colonel Kevin F. Sliwinski to receive my certification as a member of the Minnesota State Legislative Squadron, Civil Air Patrol.
Constituent Visits:
Senator Gazelka and I were visited this week by the Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce to discuss issues that are important to our area of the state.
Fun Fact of the Week:
Why is there a portrait of President Lincoln in the House Chamber?
President Lincoln’s portrait hangs over the Speaker’s desk in the House Chamber because he was the first President that Minnesotans could vote for in 1860.
As the Capitol renovations finish up, it had me thinking about the original cost of the building in 1905.
$4.5 million!
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If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding any issue related to state government, please feel free to contact me at either 651-296-4293, or rep.john.poston@house.mn.
Sincerely,
