With elections coming up this year, the main question Minnesota leaders should answer is “What is your vision?” said Senator Terri Bonoff (DFL-Minnetonka). “I do have a vision for Minnesota that inspires me, that gets me up in the morning,” she said.

Sen. Bonoff and Representative John Benson (DFL-Minnetonka) held a Legislative Session Wrap-up Town Hall Meeting Thursday evening at Minnetonka City Hall. Residents asked questions on several topics, including health, education, taxes, and transportation. 

The Southwest Light Rail Transit project generated heated discussion. Some who attended the meeting raised concerns about cost while others spoke of their disappointment that the legislature did not fund the project. Both Sen. Bonoff and Rep. Benson stated their support for the Southwest LRT.

The Voter ID amendment also brought some debate. One woman, who said that she served as an election judge in Minnetonka, said that she wanted people to know that changes have occurred in the voting process. Another resident mentioned that he wanted to have the assurance that voting occurred correctly.

In a statement on the issue, Rep. Benson said, “Constitutional amendments ought to be put in the constitution in a bipartisan way.”

Questions about the stadium bill and whether or not electronic pull tabs will provide enough funding lead to discussion about collecting internet sales tax in Minnesota. Small businesses have difficulty competing with the internet, said Rep. Benson. A resident from Minnetonka said that small internet businesses would suffer from having to collect taxes.

Sen. Bonoff said that legislators have the responsibility to explain the reasons for the positions they take on issues. At the end of the meeting, she thanked everyone for attending and said that she wanted to continue to hear from residents.

A second Town Hall meeting will occur June 5 at the Plymouth City Hall.