Issues

Shared Vision: My central focus is community building.  I want to work with all of you to help us remain a vibrant and healthy community as well as addressing our growth with a vision for the future:

Education
E-12 Education Bill

• Stabilized education with nearly $850 million of new state dollars that do not rely on property taxes.
• Initiated support for Voluntary All-Day Kindergarten in every school district.
• Secured additional dollars for special education.
• For the first time in over two decades, provided new funding for school libraries.
• Early Education programs like ECFE, HeadStart and School Readiness received additional funding.
• Continuing to work towards a fair and accurate rating system for our schools, advancing multiple measures in the School Report Card system.

Energy and the Environment
The Renewable Energy Standard

• Minnesota is now at the forefront of setting aggressive energy standards in our communities.
• Energy Bill focuses on Energy Efficiency and Conservation, Community-Based Energy Development (C-BED), and Global Warming Mitigation.
• Provides $50 million to clean up our state’s waterways and lakes.
• Funding for state parks and trails.
• Strongest law in the nation requiring manufacturers to help people recycle outdated electronics responsibly and easily.
• Approved research and support for cellulosic energy sources.
• Working for a cleaner environment.
• Minnesotans can choose this November to dedicate a new portion of the sales tax (3/8 of 1%) to the environment and natural resources, parks and cultural heritage.

Healthcare for More Minnesotans
The Health Care Bill

• Made coverage affordable and reduced the number of uninsured Minnesotans by over 30%.
• One of the most comprehensive in decades, providing an additional 37,000 children and 20,000 adults with health insurance.
• Established new incentives for preventive care.
• Increased nursing home funding.
• Modest cost of living wage increase for nursing home and long-term care staff.
• Additional funding for mental health care initiatives.
• Working to bring down the rising cost of health care for the 93% of Minnesotans who already have health insurance.

Higher Education
The Higher Education Bill

• Held tuition increase to a ten-year low. This Bill allows state colleges and universities to hold down tuition increases to 4% or less, ending the era of double digit increases that have overloaded students with debt.
• Lowered the cost of college text books.

Workforce Development

• Approved funding for Centers for Independent Living and Adult Rehabilitation Services.
• Passed a nation-leading Renewable Energy Standard that will create jobs, new technology investments and a cleaner environment.
• Created 10,000 new jobs for Minnesotans.

Consumers

• New laws have been passed to protect consumers from predatory and fraudulent mortgage practices.
• Ban on expiration dates and service fees for gift cards.
• Car dealers are required to tell consumers how much each add-on item adds to the cost of your new care and how it can affect your monthly loan payments.

Property Taxes and Transportation

• Continuously working to draft bipartisan legislation that will provide meaningful property tax relief and address the transportation crisis.
• Roads and bridges safety improvement funding.
• Expanded the property tax refund program and brought more tax fairness by linking property taxes to income.
• Provided $60 million in additional Local Government Aid (L.G.A.) to help cover costs of basic services.
• Working for property tax relief

Public Safety

• Additional investment in drug court system.
• Increased reimbursements to local jail facilities for housing short-term offenders.
• Funding approved for ten new judges.

Veterans and Military Affairs

• Increased funding for the GI Bill, helping veterans attend college.
• Veterans Affairs budget increased by 70%.
• Offered pension tax credit and improved healthcare for veterans.

Regional Support

• Dedicated 70% of 2008’s bonding bill to higher education improvements, clean water and economic development efforts.
• Support for MSU, Mankato Trafton Science Center and South Central College.
• $505,000 for long-term supportive housing services.
• Secured funding for Mankato MN-DOT building.
• Secured funding for Open Door Health Center.
• Supported Extended Employment provision for MRCI.