June 18, 2021
Finishing Up the Budget
The legislature convened for a special session on Monday, as we continue to work out the details of Minnesota’s budget. It was great to see so many of my colleagues’ faces after over a year of masked gatherings and zoom meetings. Rep. Laurie Pryor, Rep. Kotyza-Witthuhn, and I posed for a photo in front of the capitol to commemorate the occasion. Now it’s time to wrap this session up with a budget that works for all Minnesotans.
A Reopened and Reinvigorated State Capitol
The state capitol is officially reopened to the public! We’ve already seen several groups make use of this amazing space to exercise their civic duty. On Monday, VFW advocates were here to make their voices heard, along with a couple of large demonstrations as well.
This direct advocacy is an essential part of our democracy, and I am so thrilled to see it resume. You can view more of my thoughts in this week’s video by clicking HERE.
Making Divided Government Work
I have always been a firm believer that our state can be a model for the rest of the country, that divided government can work. We are the only state with a Republican majority in one chamber and a Democratic majority in the other, and we have already seen some promising areas of compromise. Most of the budget bills have now reached bipartisan agreements. Debates are still ongoing with regard to public safety, education, and the environment. In the end, I know that the bills we pass will be good for the people of Minnesota.
Appreciating Nature, History, and Public Workers
Last week, my wife Patti and I took a trip along the north shore of Lake Superior. One of the places we stopped at was the iconic Split Rock Lighthouse, maintained by Minnesota Historical Society.
While appreciating the scenery and the history, it is all the more clear to me that we have some exemplary public servants all across the state who make places like this happen. We got to meet Hayes Scriven, who manages the Split Rock site. Let’s get a budget passed so people like him can continue to welcome Minnesotans to our historic sights all summer long.