Week of December 3, 2006

On Tuesday, I attended a luncheon for Grow Minnesota, a program of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. Key issues for businesses around the state include transportation, workforce development, and taxes.

On Wednesday, I attended an information session by P.S. Minnesota, an education advocacy group. The group is suggesting a new need-based funding formula.

Ramsey County Commissioner Bennett sent me some information on the Rice Street Bridge project.

Constituent contacts: Shoreview resident about 2006 bill to allow homeowners to recover legal costs related to settling with a builder on warranty work; three North Oaks residents about leaking landfill in White Bear Township that has contaminated several wells; Shoreview resident about proposed DNR restrictions on treating invasive species; Shoreview resident about bike trail maintenance in the state

Letters of introduction sent from: National Alliance on Mental Illness of MN (NAMI); Office of the Adjutant General, Department of Military Affairs, Minnesota National Guard; MN Business Partnership; Coalition of MN Businesses; MN Legislative Reference Library; MN Grocers Association; MN Farmers Union; Qwest; Gray, Plant, Mooty, Mooty & Bennett P.A. (a lobbying firm); MN Board on Aging; MN Licensed Beverage Association; Schools for Equity in Education; Messerli & Kramer (a lobbying firm); Midwest Health Center for Women; MN Seasonal Recreational Property Owners Coalition (which informs me that there are 992 cabin owners in district 53A; MN Nursery & Landscape Association; Care Providers of MN; Fresh Energy

Organizations inviting me to events: North Metro 15 (Anoka County cable TV); Shoreview Economic Development Commission; St. Paul Trades & Labor Assembly of AFL-CIO; MN Environmental Partnership; MN State University-Mankato; MN Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics