Week of May 20, 2007

Greetings. Expect some more detail here soon on some of the bills passed (and not passed) on Sunday, May 20 and Monday, May 21. We were on the floor for several straight days and we were also very burned out. After the session was completed, I had to "unplug" for a couple of days, get some sleep, and spend some time with my family, who really hadn't seen me much for two weeks.

On Sunday, May 20, we handled several bills, including

• SF1196/HF1205: manufactured home relocation costs
• HF122: omnibus jobs, workforce and housing bill
• HF1063: omnibus higher education policy and finance bill
• SF1131/HF1021: omnibus game and fish bill
• SF145: energy policy bill

On Monday, May 21, we tackled the last major finance bills.

E-12 bill (HF2245) highlights: Under this E-12 bill, our local school districts would receive the following amounts.

Centennial School District

• FY08: $8,629 per pupil (3.5% more than the Governor's proposal and 5.1% over current base funding)
• FY09: $8,795 per pupil (3.2% more than the Governor's proposal and 1.5% over current base funding)

Total increase in funding over the two-year period: 6.6%

Mounds View School District

• FY08: $10,506 per pupil (2.2% less than the Governor's proposal but 4.5% over current base funding)
• FY09: $10,753 per pupil (11.0% more than the Governor's proposal and 1.2% over current base funding)

Total increase in funding over the two-year period: 5.7%

White Bear School District

• FY08: $9,103 per pupil (13.7% more than the Governor's proposal and 4.9% over base funding)
• FY09: $9,004 per pupil (3.3% more than the Governor's proposal and 1.2% over base funding)

Total increase in funding over the two-year period: 6.1%

I voted for this budget, and it passed. Much is going to be made that our bill has less on the education formula (2% in FY08 and 1% in FY09) than the Governor's proposal. This is misleading. Our budget makes a significant payment to special education purposes so that school districts can use formula dollars that they currently use for special education and use it for other purposes, like teachers, energy costs, etc.

You may also hear that the legislature gave schools "four-and-four" in 2005, or four percent each year on the formula for two years. This is also misleading. The increases relied on a signficant amount of property tax levies in order for school districts to get the money. One Centennial parent advocate tells me that Centennial is getting more money in this budget than the 2005 budget since we do not have any strings attached.

Early childhood: This was also included in this budget (although some of the early childhood budget is in the health and human services budget. Our budget restores cuts to ECFE, Head Start, School Readiness, and Adult Basic Education. We would have liked to do more in this area, since it saves us money later.

More on the other bills soon!

Week of May 13, 2007

On Monday, I attended a caucus meeting and a lengthy floor session. The agenda's main item is the omnibus transportation finance bill (HF946). I voted for the bill, as I voted for the original House version, and it passed 91 to 42. The governor is expected to veto this bill, but apparently there might be enough votes to override. Ninety votes are required to override a veto. This the one bill that we are all watching, because we actually have a chance to override, and the press was swarming in the chamber to observe the final vote.

Here are the highlights:
* Infuses $5.1 billion into our transportation infrastructure during the next ten years
* Authorizes $1.5 million in trunk highway bonds over ten years, with a debt service surcharge of up to 2.5 cents on the gas tax to pay for it (the governor proposed $1.7 billion but didn't give a way to pay for it)
* Raises the gas tax by five cents starting in September of this year (down from 10 cents proposed by our original House bill)
* Incorporates a new tab fee structure
* Allows metro counties to set up a joint powers board to assess a half-cent sales tax for both roads and transit (I voted for an amendment in the original House bill to require a referendum on this, but it was not included in the conference committee report and we can't amend such a report. Counties MAY require a referendum if they want to do so.)

If you have a car that gets 15 mpg and drive the average of 11,000 miles annually, your increase in the gas tax would be $36.66 per vehicle annually. I get 30 mpg so my increase in the gas tax would be $18.33 annually. My wife gets 50 mpg and so the additional tax would be $11.00 annually on her vehicle.

I blogged back in March about the original House bill. You may want to click on this link to see some of the background information about how the various financing mechanisms would work.

After a recess of two hours for dinner, we met again on some less controversial bills until about 10:45 p.m.

On Tuesday, we voted on several bills that were not related to the state budget, including a "lemon law" for used cars and a bill on allowing nurses to dispense oral contraceptives. The latter bill took up a lot of time, as anything related to family planning does. What usually would be a bill that is limited in scope attracts a lot of amendments that deal with abortion, and that was the case today. We adjourned about 1:45 p.m. to allow some of the conference committees and some of the committees that are sending bils to the floor to meet.

On Wednesday, we had several caucus meetings and one big floor session interrupted by several recesses. We got in at 9:00 a.m. and we're still going at 11:15 p.m. Today we've tackled a lot of small bills that we fit in between the big bills. The most controversial so far today was on construction code and licensing changes (HF1208), mostly on provisions requiring licensing for certain types of plumbers.

The speaker, the Senate majority leader, and the Governor are meeting in person on the final negotiations on the budget. Looks like we will be pretty close to the constitutionally deadline on Monday at midnight. Should they come to a "global agreement" on the big bills like education, we should see a rapid approval and signing of all the spending bills.

There were a lot of lobbyists hovering outside the House chamber today--as they usually do. Today they are focused on the proposed school employee statewide health insurance plan, or HF464. Most voters who are not involved in teaching or school board matters may not know that this issue has taken up a lot of time this session. We thought we would take up this bill Wednesday but it's looking like Thursday now. More on this bill after the vote.

On Thursday, I attended several caucus meetings and a floor session that never seemed to end. (I got home at midnight.) The major bill for the day was HF464, a proposed mandatory statewide health insurance pool for school employees. The bill passed 81-52 but I voted against it. The concept is good but after several weeks of consideration of this bill, I wanted our school districts (Centennial, Mounds View, and White Bear Lake) to have the option to either join this pool or to maintain their own health care plan if they choose. A major study from 2004 described the costs and benefits of this idea.

In theory, a pool of 200,000 school employees and dependents will create economies of scale that help control health care costs and to provide greater predictability. However, in order to create this new pool, school districts will be paying $150 million to create sufficient reserves to guarantee payment of claims. With our education budget for FY2008-09 looking less generous than we would like, it is likely that our local school districts are going to have to pay more to set up this pool than they would otherwise in the short term, and thus take resources away from paying teachers and the like. Since this bill passed, I hope that it works, but I'm concerned about increased costs for our three local districts in the short term. Major advocates for the bill included Education Minnesota, the state's major teacher's union. Major opponents included the Association of Metropolitan School Districts as well as our three local districts. Got home at 1:00 a.m. (I think).

On Friday, I attended several caucus meetings and a lengthy floor session. I got home at 10:00 p.m. We handled a heck of a lot of calendar bills. Still waiting for a "global agreement."

On Saturday, we came in at 10:00 a.m. and I attended two caucus meetings. We got our floor session going at 4:00 p.m. Hurry up and wait! We handled a variety of smaller bills, including a pensions bill. After a dinner break, we started about 10:00 p.m. in debating HF2285, the proposed constitutional amendment for dedicated sales tax revenue for outdoor habitat, clean water, parks, and the arts, historical and cultural resources. I voted for this bill and it passed, although I have some misgivings about using constitutional amendments to budget.

You can always see the action for the day in the Journal of the House.

Constituent contacts: Shoreview resident supporting strong global warming provisions in the energy bill; four district residents (two in Shoreview, two in Blaine, one in Lino Lakes) supporting inclusion of HF659/SF536 in the omnibus health and human services finance bill that would reduce fees for child care providers; Shoreview couple against dedicated funding for habitat, environment, and the arts; Circle Pines resident against the transportation bill; Lino Lakes resident against taxes generally; Shoreview resident supporting transportation funding bill; Lino Lakes resident against taxes generally and against a proposed deed tax in particular; Shoreview resident asking if we will have a special session; Shoreview resident asking the legislature to finish on time; two Lino Lakes residents upset with my no vote on the tax bill; Shoreview resident supporting animal rights; Shoreview resident concerned that the Senate failed to pass a bill that allows homeowners to recover attorney's fees in disputes over warranties; Lino Lakes resident supporting statewide health insurance pool for educators; North Oaks resident asking about my stance on the House and Senate education proposals (specifically about the difference between funding special education vs. money on the formula); Shoreview resident supporting an increase in the gas tax; Shoreview resident supporting 3% annual increase in K-12 education and special education funding; Circle Pines resident against statewide health insurance plan for educators; Shoreview resident supporting HF1078 relating to employment standards at the new Maple Grove Hospital; Shoreview resident supporting statewide health insurance pool for educators; Lino Lakes resident supporting statewide health insurance pool for educators; Lino Lakes resident against statewide health insurance pool for educators; Blaine resident against good faith insurance provision; Lino Lakes resident supporting statewide health insurance pool for educators; Circle Pines resident supporting statewide health insurance pool for educators; Shoreview resident upset about my support of a gas tax increase; Lino Lakes resident supporting statewide health insurance pool for educators; Lino Lakes resident supporting statewide health insurance pool for educators; North Oaks resident against a proposed constitutional amendment guaranteeing health care (HF683) but supporting universal health coverage; Shoreview resident against gas tax increase; Circle Pines resident supporting statewide health insurance pool for educators; Circle Pines resident supporting statewide health insurance pool for educators; Lino Lakes resident supporting statewide health insurance pool for educators; Circle Pines resident supporting statewide health insurance pool for educators; Shoreview resident supporting early childhood education, social services, and health care; Shoreview resident supporting 3% annual increase in education funding and supporting special education funding; Circle Pines couple supporting the gas tax increase; Circle Pines couple against a proposed constitutional amendment guaranteeing health care (HF683); Shoreview resident against gas tax increase; Shoreview couple supporting gas tax increase; Shoreview against a proposed constitutional amendment guaranteeing health care (HF683); Shoreview resident against reducing labor protections during merger of Minneapolis and Hennepin County library systems; Circle Pines resident against more regulation of dog and cat breeders; Shoreview resident supporting health and human services budget and transportation bill; Shoreview resident against statewide health insurance pool for educators; Circle Pines resident against statewide health insurance pool for educators; Lino Lakes resident supporting overriding of the Governor's vetoes; Shoreview resident against statewide health insurance pool for educators; Shoreview resident supporting dedicated outdoor funding amendment; Shoreview resident supporting property tax relief for seniors; Lino Lakes resident supporting statewide health insurance pool for educators; Shoreview resident supporting Secretary of State's initiative (SF1218/HF1259) to help overseas military personnel to vote absentee; Shoreview resident supporting SF753/HF965 to allow appointment of unaffiliated election judges; two North Oaks residents and doctors supporting funding of medical interpreters; Lino Lakes resident supporting override of Governor's veto on transportation bill; Shoreview resident against HF683, a bill for a constitutional right to health care; Shoreview resident supporting constitutional amendment for sales tax for outdoor funding; Shoreview resident against gas tax increase; Shoreview resident supporting SF1075, a bill to divest state board of investment assets from companies doing business with Sudan over the Darfur crisis; Shoreview resident supporting global warming mitigation bill; Shoreview resident supporting salary supplement for state employees; Centennial School Board member disappointed by components of proposed K-12 finance bill and against a mandatory school employee health insurance pool; Shoreview resident supporting a gas tax increase; North Oaks resident supporting comprehensive sex education; Circle Pines resident supporting strong global warming mitigation bill; Shoreview resident supporting a comprehensive transportation package including a gas tax increase; Lino Lakes resident asking about K-12 education bill; Circle Pines resident supporting Senate version of statewide health insurance pool for school employees that includes an opt-out provision

Week of May 6, 2007

On Monday, I attended a caucus meeting and a lengthy floor session. Our major bill for the day was the health and human services conference committee report. We previously passed a House version of this bill, and then a conference committee of House and Senate members agreeing on a compromise between the House and Senate versions. The bill passed, and I voted for it. The Governor is threatening a veto.

At the end of session, I attended a meeting of the Environment & Natural Resources Committee, where we voted on the bill to dedicate funding for outdoor habitat, clean water, and the arts. I voted to move this bill to the next committee stop so that there can be a more thorough debate about this on the floor. There are a few members who really hate the arts provision on this committee. I think all of us who support habitat, clean water, and the arts have mixed feeling about this proposal because we would rather not budget using a constitutional amendment.

Here are some details about the House version of this bill (HF2285), which would add 3/8 of a percent to the state sales tax and would generate $281 million annually.
25% would go to a Natural Heritage Fund ($70,392,000)
25% would go to a Clean Water Fund ($70,392,000)
15% would go to drinking water source protection ($42,235,000)
5% would go to a Parks & Trails Fund ($14,078,500)
10% would go to an Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund ($28,157,000)
10% would be divided by law every two years among the above funds ($28,157,000)

Got home at 10:00 p.m.

On Tuesday, I attended a lengthy floor session and a caucus meeting. We voted on a variety of minor bills. Some of these bills include even just a word or sentence change to update statutes, so they were not particularly noteworthy for the blog. We then recessed about 3:30 p.m. and came back at 8:30 p.m. to vote on the higher education conference committee report. A conference committee report must be on members' desks for 12 hours before we can take action on it, and the report got on our desk at 8:30 a.m. We could have suspended the rules that required us to wait 12 hours but less than the required 90 members voted to do so, so we had to come back. Since my wife was out of town, I had to scramble to arrange for my in-laws to have my kids overnight since I was going to be in St. Paul late. Argh! But I did manage to rush home and cut my grass before getting the kids.

On the way back down to the Capitol, I heard on the radio that the Senate passed the higher education conference committee report and that the Governor said he would veto it because he said it was "underwhelming." Voters out there may be wondering why we then came back and passed the bill that Governor will veto. (You may also be wondering why we are passing other bills despite veto threats.) While I find it irksome that we are going through this process, it seems that the Governor's office often does not give clear indications why the Governor will veto a bill, so that conference committee members cannot make some of the necessary changes to get the bill signed. For example, the word "underwhelming" is not something that helps the members of the House know what the source of conflict is. But we do seem to get a prompt and detailed response about objectionable provisions in writing from the Governor once he gets the bill on his desk. Ironically, this process seems to be faster than re-referring a conference committee report back to its conference committee to start over. So we passed the higher education bill and sent it to the Governor. Got home at 10:30 p.m.

On Wednesday, I attended a caucus meeting and a floor session. We tackled a large number of small bills again, had a recess, and then finished our session by 5:30 p.m., allowing me to see my daughter's baseball game.

During the recess in the afternoon, the Heritage Finance Committee met to hear HF2285, the dedicated funding bill for habitat, clean water, and the arts. I'm the vice-chair for this committee and I asked a lot of questions of the arts and culture groups that testified about what they would use additional funding for if the amendment passed. You can watch the meeting's video and see for yourself.

On Thursday, I attended two caucus meetings and a lengthy floor session. Our big bill for the day was the omnibus transportation policy bill. This is different from the transportation finance bill that deals with the gas tax, license tab fees, etc. and only deals with policy. We had a heck of a lot of amendments but eventually we passed the bill (HF1351) with more than 100 votes.

On Friday, the House met in session after a caucus meeting and we considered the latest version of the tax bill, the energy policy bill, and the smoking ban.

But imagine my surprise when none other than the President of the Taxpayers League of Minnesota popped his head into our DFL House Caucus meeting before the floor session! I'm told that he thought that the House Republicans were meeting in our room, which would have been the case last year when he was still in the legislature. So I guess it's OK for a lobbyist to meet with a party caucus before a big vote.

The tax bill was the conference committee report after the House and Senate met to work out their differences. The Senate pretty much agreed to the House version that passed about a month ago, which would include an income tax increase as a swap for a property tax decrease. As well-crafted as this bill is, the Governor plans to veto this bill and there are not any votes from the Republican side to achieve a 90-vote override of the veto. My understanding is that this bill--unlikely some of the other vetoed bills where we were not exactly sure what the Governor was objecting to or where we had a chance to override-- is now designed to cast a negative light on the Governor. While I don't agree with the Governor on a lot of issues, I hear from constituents from all points of the political spectrum that they are tired of political games at the capitol, and this bill is part of that problem. I voted no, and it was a difficult vote. Some constituents are already not happy with my position on this and I accept that as fair criticism.

The energy bill actually took up more time on the floor than taxes! The energy bill includes a conservation and efficiency portion that requires that utilities incentivize measurable energy savings; a community-based energy development (C-BED) program that promotes more local ownership of wind projects in rural areas; and the global warming mitigation act. The global warming bill was the most controversial because it would put a cap-and-trade system in place whereby a new coal plant would have to "offset" its carbon dioxide emissions elsewhere. There are two coal plants that are planned that might be affected, including one on the Iron Range and one just across the border in South Dakota called Big Stone II. There were several amendments, and I voted for a strong bill as I have pledged to constituents. The bill passed 92-37.

The final bill, started just before midnight on Friday, was the smoking ban. This bill was a conference committee report so it could not be amended. The bill passed 81 to 48, and I voted for it. We adjourned at about 1:15 a.m.
A special thanks: My wife was out of town this whole week, and I am indebted to my in-laws for watching my two young children when I was stuck on the House floor. My father-in-law was sitting up reading at 1:45 when I got home early Saturday morning!

Recent letter to the editor: There was a letter from a constituent in the Shoreview Press this week taking issue with my support of the "dream act," or the proposal in the first House higher education bill to grant in-state tuition to immigrants who are here illegally. There will be a response in next week's edition, but I thought I would link to my blog entry on the issue.

Visitors: People have been visiting me outside the House chambers lately since we have been on the floor a lot lately. Visitors have included: lobbyists for Education Minnesota on statewide health insurance pool for educators; four Shoreview residents from ISAIAH about that group's progressive legislative agenda; parent activist for Centennial schools; Shoreview resident supporting transportation funding; former recycling colleague about a recycling issue

Invitations: Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance for "A Sub Machine Gun Shoot" for legislators (really)

Constituent contacts: several constituents advocating for a strong bill on global warming and funding for clean water, including two from North Oaks, one from Lexington, one from Circle Pines, three from Lino Lakes; and six from Shoreview; Forest Lake School District against mandatory statewide health insurance pool for educators; Shoreview resident supporting HF336 placing higher education requirements for audiologists; Circle Pines resident supporting global warming mitigation bill; Shoreview resident opposed to statewide educator health insurance pool; Shoreview resident against using constitutional amendment for outdoor funding; North Oaks resident supporting the amendment; Shoreview resident supporting the amendment; Shoreview resident against the statewide educator health insurance pool; Circle Pines resident supporting the statewide educator health insurance pool; North Oaks resident supporting nuclear power; Lino Lakes resident supporting statewide educator health insurance pool; Shoreview resident supporting outdoor funding amendment; Shoreview resident preferring funding in proposed amendment for outdoors and clean water but not the arts; Lexington resident updating me on progress in creating raingardens in that city to increase water quality and to sequester carbon; two local Education Minnesota member asking about statewide educator health insurance pool; Circle Pines resident against proposed income tax increase; North Oaks resident supporting global warming mitigation bill; Circle Pines resident supporting global warming mitigation bill; Lino Lakes resident supporting salary supplement for state employees; Circle Pines resident against statewide educator health insurance pool; two Shoreview residents, one North Oaks resident, and Circle Pines resident supporting creation of the MN Biomedical Science Research Facilities Authority; Shoreview resident supporting inclusion of the arts and cultural resources in a proposed sales tax constitutional amendment; Shoreview resident concerned about data practices provisions of health care bill; Shoreview resident against any tax increases; North Oaks resident asking about good faith provision; North Oaks resident about Highway 96 landfill; Shoreview resident supporting seat belts in school buses; Shoreview resident supporting in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants; Lino Lakes resident supporting strong smoking ban; North Oaks resident supporting strong smoking ban; Circle Pines resident supporting statewide educator health insurance pool; Lino Lakes resident supporting statewide educator health insurance pool; two Lino Lakes residents and a North Oaks resident supporting omnibus transportation bill; Lino Lakes resident supporting a statewide health insurance plan for educators; Shoreview resident frustrated about the veto process; Blaine resident against taxpayer funded stadiums; Shoreview resident supporting a constitutional amendment for dedicated outdoor funding; Circle Pines resident supporting a constitutional amendment for dedicated outdoor funding; Lino Lakes residents supporting statewide health insurance pool for educators; Shoreview resident supporting medical use of marijuana; Shoreview resident supporting statewide health insurance pool for educators; Lino Lakes resident satisfied with his representation; Shoreview couple supporting smoking ban and increase in gas tax; Shoreview resident supporting transportation funding; Shoreview resident supporting constitutional amendment for dedicated outdoor funding; Circle Pines resident against gas tax increase

Week of April 29th, 2007

On Monday, I had to deal with a leaking water heater at home, so I didn't reach the Capitol in until noon. I attended a caucus meeting and a House floor session. On Monday, we passed the conference committee report to the capital investment bill (the "bonding bill"), or HF886. Among the other bills were SF1085, a bill to restrict new sales of some mercury-containing products. My colleague, Rep. Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park), has taken on the issue of reducing mercury in our environment from sources like thermometers and blood pressure measurement devices. The debate got pretty long after Rep. Laura Brod (R-New Prague) tried to add on an amendment that dealt with mercury in vaccines. Some have suggested that there is a relationship between mercury in vaccines and autism in young children. Others, including a constituent who specializes in vaccination, have showed me peer-reviewed articles showing no connection. We decided to leave that debate for another day and vote against the amendments offered by Rep. Brod.

On Tuesday, I attended caucus and a House floor session. On the floor, we passed the conference committee report for the omnibus agriculture, rural economies, veterans, and military affairs bill. It passed easily and the Governor is expected to sign it. In the afternoon, I attended the public safety conference committee, where the conferees approved the conference committee report on HF829. This bill includes my provisions from HF457, the scrap metal bill. In the evening, I attended a special city council meeting in North Oaks related to groundwater pollution there from the Highway 96 landfill.

On Wednesday, I attended caucus and a House floor session. We accepted a minor change to the e-waste bill made by the Senate. By adopting that change to HF854, we re-passed our bill handily with 114 votes and it now goes to the Governor. Among an assortment of bills was the repeal of our ticket scalping law, which we passed on a bi-partisan basis. My reasoning for voting for this bill was that in the "secondary" market for tickets--e.g., the re-selling of tickets--we might see some more competition.

On Thursday, I attended a caucus meeting and a morning House floor session. On the floor, we approved the conference committee report for the omnibus public safety bill (HF829). This was pretty controversial because the bill contained the "good faith" provision that would require insurance companies to consider claims against policies "in good faith." The idea is that some policyholders have not been able to get their insurance companies to pay legitimate claims, or at least to pay them on time. Rep. Joe Atkins (DFL-Inver Grove Heights), the author of the provision, illustrated the problem using an example of a Nicollet couple who lost their 20-year old daughter in a car accident and then couldn't get the insurance company to pay the claim. Opponents of the provision argued that insurance premiums are likely to go up and mostly pay for trail attorneys' fees. My scrap metal provisions were in the bill--as well as other critical functions for public safety and corrections--so I voted for the bill.

We then recessed for several hours while the Finance Committee acted on a timely bill to provide flood relief for Brown's Valley in Traverse County. After that meeting and a caucus meeting, we came back and voted on the bill for Brown's Valley after amending the bill to include relief for Rogers and Warroad for tornado damage.

Based on negotiations between the Governor, House, and Senate, we also brought HF829 back to the House floor and sent it back to the public safety finance conference committee. The good faith provision was apparently going to trigger a veto of the whole bill, but after a strong vote for the bill earlier in the day in the House, the Governor, House and Senate agreed to give the good faith provision consideration as a separate bill. So the conference committee will yank out that part and then we will vote on HF829 again on Friday. Interesting process!

On Friday, I attended two caucus meetings and two floor sessions. We re-passed the public safety finance bill, the omnibus economic development finance bill, the state government finance bill, and the environment, natural resources, energy, and commerce finance bill. Funding for several programs that constituents have contacted me about included: MN Amateur Sports Commission; MN Humanities Commission; metro parks; state trails; Land Management Information Center; a searchable state database of organizations that receive grants from the state; and grants for regional arts organizations.

Visitors: education advocate from Lino Lakes and a White Bear Lake School Board member; lobbyist for oncology clinics; MCCL lobbyist on stem cell research; lobbyist for a foreign-owned wind energy company seeking to invest in rural MN; lobbyist for scrap metal recyclers; reporter from ECM newspapers who is doing a story on freshmen legislators

Constituent contacts: Shoreview resident against good faith provision; Shoreview resident supporting salary supplement for state employees; Lino Lakes resident against stem cell research; Lino Lakes resident against stem cell research; Shoreview resident against stem cell research; Lino Lakes resident supporting salary supplement for state employees; Shoreview resident against stem cell research; Shoreview resident against a tax increase; Lino Lakes resident supporting a tax increase; Lino Lakes resident expressing satisfaction with blog; Circle Pines resident supporting a bi-partisan approach to provide property tax relief for the middle class; Shoreview resident supporting a bi-partisan approach to provide property tax relief for the middle class; Shoreview resident supporting stem cell research; Shoreview resident seeking bi-partisan cooperation; two Lino Lakes residents expressing satisfaction with their representation; Lino Lakes resident supporting an increase in compensation for corrections department employees; Circle Pines resident supporting the smoking ban; Blaine resident supporting a salary supplement for state employees; Shoreview resident supporting a salary supplement for state employees; Lino Lakes resident upset with my vote on the tax bill on Friday; Shoreview resident inviting me to MN Athiests' Day of Reason; Lino Lakes resident supporting spending cuts and no tax increase; Blaine resident against the House property tax relief proposal; Shoreview resident supporting funding for the MN Humanities Commission; North Oaks resident against illegal immigration; North Oaks resident supporting Wine with Dinner proposal; Shoreview resident and MD thanking me for my vote for the smoking ban; Lino Lakes resident asking for "investment in Minnesota"; Shoreview resident (clinical nurse specialist, board certified in palliative care) supporting medical use of marijuana; Lino Lakes resident supporting statewide health insurance pool for educators; Shoreview resident asking about my vote for the bonding bill conference committee report; Circle Pines resident supporting statewide health insurance pool for educators; Shoreview resident supporting statewide health insurance pool for educators; Circle Pines resident supporting statewide health insurance pool for educators; Circle Pines resident supporting a broad progressive agenda; Circle Pines resident supporting statewide health insurance pool for educators; Lino Lakes resident supporting statewide health insurance pool for educators; Circle Pines resident supporting global warming mitigation bill; Circle Pines resident supporting global warming mitigation bill; Shoreview couple supporting global warming mitigation bill; Shoreview resident thanking me for votes on amendments related to mercury in vaccines; Lino Lakes resident supporting global warming mitigation bill; Lino Lakes resident supporting statewide health insurance pool for educators; Circle Pines resident supporting stem cell research; Lino Lakes resident supporting global warming mitigation bill; Shoreview resident asking me about my vote on public safety bill (HF829), specifically on the issue of the good faith provision; Shoreview resident supporting global warming mitigation bill; 22 district residents calling to ask me to "invest in Minnesota" in response to a TakeAction Minnesota campaign; Circle Pines resident supporting a salary supplement for state employees