During
my two election campaigns, and during my 14 months in office,
I have knocked on most of the doors in this district, heard
from many people by phone, mail, and e-mail, visited with
constituents at numerous events, and held town hall meetings.
I've learned that the people of my district want
their elected officials to work hard, be fair, and focus on
issues that make a difference in people's lives.
That is what I have done and that is what I will continue
to do if the voters honor me with a second term.
Since
my election I have worked hard for the people of this community,
and we have had many successes. In fact, some have
said that the last legislative session was the most successful
session that Rochester has ever had. During the
last session we received millions of dollars to expand the
Mayo-U of M genomics partnership, which is already advancing
our medical knowledge, and which will create new economic
opportunities in our community and our state.
We received millions of dollars for new science labs at RCTC,
to let students have better opportunities to study allied
health care fields and to improve health care for all of us.
We got authority from the state to extend our local
sales tax for education and transportation projects, and we
pried $3.2 million out of a tight budget to begin charting
our higher education future.
With
the attention of the state focused on us, we are finally starting
to get the recognition we deserve for both our great assets
and our challenges. This is no coincidence.
When you elected me and Representative Andy Welti--two Democrats--you
put Rochester on the state's political map. Just a few months
after the election, the Governor, who had rarely been here
in the first half of his term, came to Rochester and proposed
a new University, which our community has been seeking for
many, many years.
During
my first legislative session I worked hard--along with the
rest of the Rochester delegation--to get the funding and authority
for the Rochester Higher Education Development Committee.
I attended most of the committee's meetings and I supported
the goal of expanding higher education opportunities here.
The report recommends an expanded presence for the
U of M in Rochester with signature academic and research programs
in health sciences, biosciences, technology, and engineering.
It is not everything Rochester could have wanted in
Higher Education, but it is a smart, focused proposal.
It identifies a critical opportunity for the State, for the
University of Minnesota, and for Rochester. I enthusiastically
support the proposal and I am already working hard to win
support in the legislature. I will continue working
hard to make the proposal a reality.
My
first legislative session was a success in other ways as well.
During the two years-- when my opponent was in office
the state cut funding for K-12 education for the first time
in its history. It also cut funding to our public colleges
and universities, and cut many low income Minnesotans from
MinnesotaCare. My opponent voted for those cuts.
The result was that Rochester schools and colleges struggled
to prepare our children for the future with less money.
College tuition rose sharply while schools cut programs and
raised fees
But
in 2004, Democrats gained 13 seats in the Minnesota House.
Although we are still 2 seats short of a majority,
we were able to stop the bleeding in education. We
also kept thousands of low income working Minnesotans from
losing their MinnesotaCare health insurance, and we raised
the minimum wage for the first time in eight years so that
people who work have a better chance to earn a living.
I am proud of those accomplishments.
Rochester
still faces many challenges. In our own community, many of
our neighbors are struggling with poverty, lack of access
to affordable health care, transportation, and housing.
Hunger is among us. And many who were born in
other lands are working hard to contribute to our community,
if we only give them the opportunities they need. I
have been listening to their concerns as well, and am proud
to represent them in the Minnesota House of Representatives
and to help them build and share the American dream.
We
face many challenges with our state budget, which has been
balanced with shifts, tricks, and gimmicks. While proclaiming
"no new taxes," the governor has shifted more and more of
the taxes we pay from the wealthy to the middle class.
This is especially hard on homeowners with fixed incomes,
who can't afford to pay any more property taxes, and it is
just not fair. Those highest income-earners among us
have received large tax cuts under President Bush and the
gap between the wealthy and the middle class gets wider and
wider. Those who have received these benefits
can afford to contribute more. I will keep working
to make sure that everyone pays his fair share and no one
is overburdened.
Health
care will continue to be a huge challenge for Minnesotans
and for our nation. Employers--especially small employers--are
struggling to provide health insurance for their employees.
Everyone lucky enough to have health insurance is paying
higher premiums and deductibles, but too many have no coverage
at all.
Health
care is not only an expense; it is an investment in the productivity
of our people. No one should lie awake at night wondering
how they will pay for essential medical care. During
the last legislative session I worked to help small employers
provide health insurance to their employees, and to keep health
insurance companies accountable.
I
will keep working to provide affordable coverage to every
Minnesotan.
With
the retirements of Representative Fran Bradley and Senator
Sheila Kiscaden the Rochester delegation is losing much of
its legislative expertise in the health care area. When re-elected
I will work to give Rochester a new expert voice on health
care policy. Most of you know that I am an attorney, but many
don't know that I also earned a Masters Degree in Public Health.
I will ask to serve on the Health Care Committee
in the House for 2007-2008 and continue to work hard for our
community and our state.
Energy
and our environment are ever more pressing concerns.
This session I will be introducing legislation to move us
forward on energy conservation. This will save money,
reduce the pressure on our environment, and move us toward
energy independence. I am listening to your energy
concerns. We must stand up for our future and our children's
future by demanding clean, renewable energy, cleaner vehicles,
and other innovations. I am working hard to address
these issues.
This
is no time to focus on issues that divide and distract.
This is no time to place ideology before innovation.
This is no time to place partisanship before priorities.
We
have had a great start and we must not turn back. We
must work together to prepare for the future for ourselves,
our community, and our kids. I ask for your trust,
your help, and your vote. |
