100% Score from Legislative Evaluation Assembly | This year’s report rates the votes of all 201 legislators on 23 selected bills, calling “particular attention to the many reckless, unsustainable and unwise decisions of the 2023 session.” With a voting performance of 100%, I am one of the 10 state legislators recognized by LEA as a 2023 honoree. | LEA’s annual report on voting performance often focuses on legislative and constitutional processes. This holds true in the 2023 Report, which illustrates the lack of citizen input and accountability in the recent session. This includes omnibus bills that left conference committee with controversial provisions–such as the gas tax increase indexed to inflation–that were not passed in the original floor versions by either legislative body. The 2023 Report on the Minnesota Legislature also calls attention to heavy tax and fee increases passed this year. Despite a surplus of $18 billion, the ruling majority increased government spending by 38%, further burdening Minnesota taxpayers and businesses. This includes payroll taxes to fund a government-mandated paid employee leave, a gas tax increase indexed to inflation, a retail delivery fee, and increased license tab fees. | For more information and to view the full 2023 Report on the Minnesota Legislature, please visit lea-mn.org. | November 2nd Event on Securing Funding | I am hosting an event this Thursday for city and county officials in Senate District 9. At this event, we will hear from state and federal agencies about current and upcoming funding opportunities to help fund local projects. Some of the topics that will be covered include transportation funding, public facilities funding, local housing funding and more. Click here to see the details of the event. | Where: Thumper Pond Resort 300 Thumper Lodge Rd Ottertail, MN 56571 When: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm on Thursday, November 2nd Who is invited: City and County Staff and Elected Officials in Senate District 9. Questions: Nick Leonard, Otter Tail county Deputy Administrator: 218-998-8057, [email protected] | If you are someone who would like to attend and have not RSVP'd please reach out to my legislative assistant, AJ Borowiak, at [email protected] or Nick Leonard. | Deer Creek Receives DEED Funding | The City of Deer Creek was recently awarded $581,430 federal funds through DEED’s Small Cities Development Program to rehabilitate and make improvements to the City’s water tower and well house systems. Funding through the Small Cities Development Program will reduce the overall cost burden on residents who make up the majority of connections in the City of Deer Creek. | The goal of the November 2nd event is to have more of our communities in Senate District 9 receive funding like Deer Creek. | Bois de Sioux Watershed Groundbreaking | Congratulations to the Bois de Sioux Watershed District and their partners for entering the next phase of this important project! Protecting our region from flooding is a key priority for me, and I am glad to see significant progress being made. Last session, I helped secure $5,000,000 in flood hazard mitigation funds for the Redpath Impoundment and other Red River Valley projects. I will continue to advocate for the needs of our communities at the Capitol. If you wish to read further, visit the Wahpeton Daily News. | My District, My Minnesota | The Minnesota Senate is once again inviting K-12 students to submit a drawing or a photograph of life in their district. One drawing or photograph per Senate District will be chosen and will hang in the Minnesota Senate Building for the following calendar year. This is an annual program, and it’s such a joy to see the creativity of our youngest constituents! | A few logistical details: - Students must be enrolled in K-12 for the current school year (or the one about to start).
- Students may submit one drawing or photograph through December 31, 2023.
- Students can either submit their drawing/photo via email or can mail it in. Addresses are listed on the following page for both options.
- Please note: mailed submissions will not be returned unless expressly requested.
- I will go through all the submissions and choose the one I think best represents our district.
- Minnesota Senate staff will reach out to the student to inform them their submission has been chosen and to arrange for proper formatting as needed.
| For any further questions, please reach out to the Senate Information Office at [email protected]. Email submissions: [email protected] Mailing submissions: Senate Information Office Minnesota Senate Building 95 University Ave W St. Paul, MN 55155 | Senator Jordan Rasmusson District 9 | |
