Monday, May 14, 2012
Retiring Rep. Nora Slawik said Legislature’s become a “frustrating place,” and she’d like to see a new tone.
When Minnesotans look back on the legislative session that ended last week, one issue likely comes to mind—the Vikings stadium. “Unfortunately the session was dominated by the Vikings, and I just wish we’d get back to basics,” said Rep. Nora Slawik (DFL-Maplewood). “I want to talk about education, health care, jobs.” Oakdale’s legislators said there were some disappointments in the session that ended last Thursday, but also some big accomplishments. Sen. Chuck Wiger (DFL-Maplewood) said he was shocked he was able to get $2 million in funding for renovations for the Harriet Tubman Center East back into the bonding bill after it had been eliminated by leadership and in the version passed in the House. Although he doubted the amendment would …
Monday, April 9, 2012
Oakdale Patch checked in with local representatives as the Minnesota Legislature started its Easter/Passover break.
Minnesota State Legislators are on Easter/Passover recess this week. We thought it would be a good time to check in with Oakdale’s representatives to get their thoughts on how the rest of the session will play out. Here’s what they had to say: On adjournment: Rep. Nora Slawik (DFL-Maplewood) said she expects the Legislature to adjourn at the end of April. Sen. Chuck Wiger (DFL-Maplewood) said he expects it will be the end of April or early May. On bonding: Wiger said he expects the Legislature to pass a bonding bill yet this session. There are many needed improvements included in the Senate’s proposed bonding bill—like classroom additions at Century College—and passing a bonding bill will create jobs, he said. Through debate and compromise…
Monday, April 2, 2012
Sen. Chuck Wiger is sponsoring a bill that would reinstate the state board of education.
A bill authored by Sen. Chuck Wiger would create a state board of education made up of citizen appointees. The state used to have such a board, Wiger said, and reinstating it would bring more direct citizen involvement into education. He said the board was repealed at a time when the state was cutting back on its number of advisory committees, commissions and boards. The thinking was that the commissioner of education could seek out citizen input in other ways, he said. “I’ve had a number of people who’ve said that we’d rather have a state board of education,” he said. “It’s just strengthening the citizen role.” Members of the committee could not be elected officials or school district employees, according to the text of the bill. Because …
Monday, March 19, 2012
At the request of a constituent who owns land in northern Minnesota, Rep. Nora Slawik sponsored a bill that would eliminate mining companies' ability to take land through eminent domain.
Rep. Nora Slawik is working with a group of northern Minnesota landowners who are worried that a mining company might seize access to their property through eminent domain to explore or drill for minerals. "We do have a lot of homeowners in our area who do have cabins in the north area that are very worried that a mining company can seize a person's land by eminent domain," she said. A bill she sponsored that would strip mining companies of their ability condemn land if they can’t reach an agreement with the landowner didn’t get a hearing this session, but the issue isn’t dead yet, Slawik said. Now, she’s drafting a letter to Attorney General Lori Swanson requesting an opinion on whether the state's current eminent domain statutes could be…
Monday, March 5, 2012
The state owns 2.5 million acres of land and 1 million acres of mineral rights, set aside to benefit schools. A bill by Sen. Chuck Wiger would put those lands under the jurisdiction of a legislative committee, rather than the DNR.
The down economy and shifts in state payments have left school districts hurting for money, and Sen. Chuck Wiger said he sees untapped potential in the more than 2.5 million acres of land and 1 million acres of mineral rights constitutionally guided to provide funding to the state’s schools. Wiger said his bill SF1982—which would take the Permanent School Fund out of the jurisdiction of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and put it instead into the purview of a legislative commission—is the first step in maximizing the assets’ potential payout for schools. “We’re looking at ways to more effectively get money from trust land,” said Wiger (DFL-Maplewood). “Whether it’s on the sale [of land] or the mineral rights.” School District …
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Sen. Chuck Wiger sponsored bills intended to stop dogs from dying in body grip traps, and to incentivize school districts to settle collective bargaining agreements with teachers by Jan. 15.
News accounts and personal stories of dogs dying in traps intended for raccoons and bobcats inspired Sen. Chuck Wiger to introduce a bill Wednesday that would restrict the use of body grip traps. The traps—which are designed to kill their prey quickly by breaking their neck or windpipe—have killed at least six dogs in the state in recent months, according to a press release from Wiger’s office. “We’re not trying to outlaw trapping,” Wiger said, “but we’re trying to reach a reasonable, responsible balance so that we don’t put the dogs in harm’s way.” The bill, SF1736, requires the traps to be set 5 feet above the ground or completely submerged in water to target their intended prey while limiting the risk to dogs, he said. Twenty-five other…
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Oakdale's representatives say the Legislature ought to focus on the budget.
Oakdale’s representatives in the Minnesota Legislature are divided on whether the current legislative session will end on time on May 23, however, both said the body is losing focus on its most important task—the budget. While Sen. Chuck Wiger, DFL-Maplewood, said he thinks by working late nights and Saturdays, everything could still come together in the last two weeks, Rep. Nora Slawik, DFL-Maplewood, said it’s not likely the legislature and governor will reach a budget deal by adjournment. In past years, by this time in the session the majority has typically passed their budget bills and was negotiating with the governor, Slawik said, however this year, conference committees are still hammering out the bills to send to the governor. Both…
Monday, May 2, 2011
The bill would require additional carbon monoxide information be taught in driver's education classes.
A bill sponsored by Sen. Chuck Wiger that seeks to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning through education got a hearing in the Minnesota Senate last week. Woodbury residents Kelly and Jeff Lavers testified in favor of the legislation, dubbed Tyler’s Law, Tuesday before the Senate Transportation Committe. The bill would require driver’s education courses to address the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and require a question about it on permit tests. The Lavers' 19-year-old son Tyler—a sophomore at the University of Minnesota—died from carbon monoxide poisoning in December 2010 while working on his car in a garage. The door was wide open. There is some question regarding how the law would be presented in its final form—as part of a larger …
Monday, April 25, 2011
Growing corporate ownership of manufactured home parks necessitates bill, resident said.
At the request of area mobile home park residents, Rep. Nora Slawik introduced legislation this month that calls for a formal dispute resolution process for park owners and their residents when a violation of state law is alleged. The bill, HF1430, would give manufactured home park owners and residents the opportunity to settle disputes through an administrative law judge at a lower cost than legal action. The legislation is needed, Slawik said, because in the past mobile home park residents have had no recourse when they’ve disagreed with decisions made by park owners. “This legislation gives residents a continued voice with the owners when they may be unwilling to move forward on certain issues,” said Slawik (DFL-Maplewood). Part of the …
Monday, April 4, 2011
Republican leaders sped up passage of the major budget bills this session.
New leadership at the Capitol this year has shifted more than the Minnesota Legislature’s ideological bent. The Republican leadership set an earlier timeline for passing major budget bills this year, and has also shifted the way it accounts for savings in bills, said Rep. Nora Slawik, (DFL—District 55B). Slawik raised concerns last month that Republicans were assuming cost savings in some of their major omnibus bills that had not been verified by the appropriate state agency or agencies—a practice called fiscal notes. “I’ve just never seen a majority in the house operate like this,” said Slawik, who is serving her seventh term. Another big change is that the houses passed the large omnibus bills—or catch-all bills that include all the …
Patty Busse
7:27 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012
Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed the tax bill that included Oakdale's TIF extension. Here is the letter: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/120486955/Ch_296_HF_247_Veto-attach. Earlier today, I incorrectly posted that a bill he had signed contained the Oakdale provision. Sorry for the confusion! more ›