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Dear Neighbors,
I hope you were able to get out to the State Fair last week. I visited the House Public Information Booth again last Friday, where Minnesotans could weigh in on issues and bills that are currently under consideration at the legislature.
The annual poll is an informal, unscientific survey of issues discussed in prior legislative sessions and that may again be topics of discussion in 2024. This year?s poll was taken by 8,144 fairgoers, up from 2022 when 7,110 people took the poll. You can see the questions and the results here.
Last week, I attended a ceremony renaming the South St. Paul post office in honor of Officer Leo Pavlak, who was killed in the line of duty by gangsters in front of the post office in 1933. I was proud to author a resolution here in the State House to rename the office, which passed unanimously and was supported by Pavlak?s family. You can learn more about Officer Pavlak here.
While attending the fair I heard from visitors and constituents about the issues they had getting to the fair and the lack of transit options. In response to those concerns, my colleague Frank Hornstein and I are introducing legislation to increase transit options at the fair. The bill would direct the State Agricultural Society, which oversees the fair, to create a transportation plan in conjunction with the Met Council.
You can read more about the plan in this KSTP article (2 Minnesota lawmakers unveil plan for bill to increase State Fair transit options) or this Fox 9 video: (Transit options to Minnesota State Fair should be increased, 2 lawmakers say)
On Friday while at the fair I was invited to speak at a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources event highlighting the investments we have made into Emerald Ash Borer Response. EAB is devastating to our environment, and many local communities like ours can?t pay for the expensive clean-up costs on their own.
That?s why this year the Environment Committee, which I chair, put record investments into EAB response and disposal, including $16 million for the DNR?s community forestry programs which were talked about at the event. You can learn more at the DNR?s website.
Please continue to share your questions, ideas, and feedback throughout the legislative session. You can reach me by email at?[email protected]?or by phone at 651-296-6828. You can contact my Legislative Assistant Sam O'Neill at 651-296-3305 or via email at?[email protected].?
Sincerely,
Rick Hansen
State Representative
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