A message from your Senator
Constituents and friends,
We returned to the Capitol this week for our special legislative session, with the goal of passing Minnesota’s two-year budget before the state government shutdown deadline of July 1. As the only divided legislature in the country, there will inevitably be compromises made – but that’s a routine concept for those of us with careers in other industries, and I’m committed to avoiding the delays and political theatrics that will cause unnecessary stress for the many, many Minnesotans whose lives and livelihoods would be impacted by a shutdown.
One of the near-complete budget bills we began examining this week is the Agriculture bill, and during floor debate yesterday, I spoke in favor of Market Bucks, a $10 coupon for Minnesotans using SNAP to buy locally-grown produce at one of the 99 participating farmers markets in the state. It should never have been cut from the bill in the first place – it costs very little (only $325,000 per year), especially in the context of its major positive impact on Minnesota’s farmers, families, and economy. I’m glad I had the chance to urge my colleagues to put Market Bucks back in the budget, and am hopeful that the leaders of the Agriculture Committee will negotiate its inclusion in their final bill.
