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.
Watch the KARE11 interview that aired Wednesday evening:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INj7iWUeobI&t=4s
On Wednesday, KARE 11’s John Croman visited me on the Highway 12 job site near Maple Plain to discuss how the mere threat of a state government shutdown will severely disrupt infrastructure projects and waste taxpayer money. We can’t just suddenly walk away from our work overnight, because we need to preemptively remove equipment, ensure that permit requirements for erosion control and other considerations will be satisfied throughout any absence, figure out lane closures and diversions, and more – and that doesn’t scratch the surface of the impact of an actual shutdown, which would completely halt all work. We can avoid this by simply doing our job as legislators and passing Minnesota’s budget on time, which I will continue to push for. That segment aired during the KARE 11 Wednesday evening news – you can watch it above.
On a related note, I wrote an opinion piece last week in our local SD44 newspaper, the Sun Sailor, about the need for a forward-thinking Transportation budget bill – in contrast to the bill written by my Republican colleagues in the Senate, which is deeply outdated, prioritizes gas-powered vehicles alone, and slashes transit spending. I’m watching the ongoing Transportation negotiations closely, and am hopeful that the more modern, comprehensive approach expressed in the version written by my DFL colleagues will result in a solid final piece of legislation. You can read my article here.
Community News & Events
In a nice tie-in to the Market Bucks topic, the Minnetonka and Plymouth farmers markets will both take place next week. The Minnetonka market is open from 3-7 pm on Tuesday at Civic Center Park, and the Plymouth market is open from 2:30-6:30 pm on Wednesday at Parkers Lake Playfield.
The popular Minnetonka Summer Fest will be held next Saturday, June 26, from 4-10:30 pm at Civic Center Park. You can check out the schedule of events here.
The Plymouth City Council will meet both virtually and in-person (with limited seating) on Tuesday, June 22 at 7 pm. The agenda and other information can be found here.
The Music in Plymouth 5K run/walk will begin at 8 am next Saturday, June 26 at the Hilde Performance Center. Registration is still open at this link.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out with input, questions, or concerns!
sen.ann.johnson.stewart@senate.mn | 651-296-9261
Minnesota Senate Building, Room 2413
95 University Avenue W
St. Paul, MN 55155