Health & Fitness
Rep. Yvonne Selcer: House bonding bill includes funding for Southwest Light Rail project
Rep. Yvonne Selcer's weekly update on bonding, all-day kindergarten and job creation initiatives
Dear Neighbors,
This is an intense time at the state Capitol, as various finance committees assemble their omnibus bills to meet the April 19th deadline. From this point until we adjourn by May 20, we will be spending more time in session discussing, amending, and voting on legislation.
Find out what's happening in Minnetonkawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Many middle class families struggle to pay the approximately $4,000 per year that full day kindergarten costs in our community. I serve on the Education Finance Committee, and was honored to participate in a news conference held at our wonderful Forest Hills Elementary School in Eden Prairie to explain the benefits of the MN House of Representatives’ commitment to fund all day kindergarten. You can view KSTP’s coverage of the event here:
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Both the Governor’s and the House’s bonding bills have been released this week. These bonding bills represent investments in our state’s infrastructure to meet needs and move our economy forward. Bonding projects are a way for the legislature to create jobs and economic development in communities across the state. The bonding proposals vary slightly, but I was pleased to see funding for the Southwest Light Rail corridor project included in the House bill. Efficient transportation is multi-modal and I am a big supporter of continuing this project to improve transportation options, create jobs, and connect the southwest suburbs to the metro.
Another project that has been included in the House bonding bill is Safe Routes to School. This project promotes safe pedestrian and bike paths for students to use in getting to and from school. As a member of the Childhood Obesity Caucus, I support finding ways to keep our kids healthy and to instill healthy habits at an early age.
Last week, the House released the Jobs bill for this session, calling for innovative investments to help grow Minnesota businesses and jobs. The proposal invests in proven job creating strategies, such as the Minnesota Investment Fund, which provides financial incentives to companies looking to relocate in Minnesota. The proposal also reduces taxes on small businesses, improves accountability for job creation programs, establishes new trade offices to help our state compete globally, and targets the skills gap through workforce training and development. As our economy recovers, it is the duty of the legislature to make sure that Minnesota has a competitive and strong environment in which businesses-large and small-can thrive and create jobs.
Finally, legislators have come together to form a bi-partisan volunteer corps dedicated to giving back to the community. Last week a number of us gathered at the Dorothy Day Center in St. Paul to prepare dinner and sleeping accommodations for those in need. I look forward to future opportunities to give back to our community while getting to know my colleagues in a non-partisan venue.
Please feel free to contact me at any time as we move forward during these final weeks at our state Capitol. I personally read all of the hundreds of emails I am getting as we move into these critical weeks of the session, so I appreciate your patience as I work to ensure you all get a timely reply. As always, thank you for the honor of partnering with you as your voice in St. Paul.
Best,
Yvonne
