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Health & Fitness

Legislative Update: Brought to You by the Letter B

Every hot topic at the Capitol right now seems to start with a B: the budget, bonding bill, ballot issues, blackjack, baseball, bullets, and business development/reform.

With apologies to old episodes of Sesame Street, this update is brought to you by the letter B and the number 1.  

Every hot topic right now seems to start with a B: the budget, bonding bill, ballot issues, blackjack, baseball, bullets, and business development/reform.  The reference to the number 1 will make more sense when you read the final item. 

BUDGET.  The greatly-anticipated state budget forecast will be out soon.  Depending on the updated figures, this could have a huge impact on the course of the legislative session. 

Find out what's happening in Inver Grove Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

BONDING BILL.  This is the State's capital improvement program.  This year's bonding bill will focus mostly on maintenance and repairs.  Not exactly sexy, but important.  

BALLOT ISSUES.  Still on a scorching pace, we are now up to 42 proposed constitutional amendments.  If passed, they would impact things like health care, taxes, the voting age and the need for an ID to vote, worker rights, and a host of other topics. In Inver Grove Heights, the ISD #199 School Board has also placed a referendum on the ballot for March 27th to consider a technology levy.  More information will follow on that. 

Find out what's happening in Inver Grove Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

BLACKJACK.  Ah, gambling expansion, the funding source for everything from school funding to a stadium, or at least you would think so if you looked at all of the gambling proposals floating around.  It is genuinely hard to keep track of them all.  I suspect we will see some of the proposals emerge as front-runners in the next few weeks. 

BASEBALL.  Yes, you read that right.  Baseball, not football.  More specifically, funding for Target Field has become a hot subject.  It turns out the county-wide sales tax in Hennepin County being used to pay for the Twins stadium is generating millions of dollars more than necessary to just pay for the stadium and other obligations.  Re-purposing of the unexpected funds is now being discussed as a source of funding for a new football stadium.  I have also suggested reducing the tax or paying off Target Field sooner. 

BULLETS & BURGLARS.  A bill known as the "Castle Doctrine" is winding its way through the legislature.  It would allow the use of deadly force with a weapon if people believe they are in imminent danger while defending a dwelling.  

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & REFORMS.  In a nice nod to bipartisanship, all sides at the Capitol seem to be actually looking for ways to make government work better, faster and cheaper, not just for individuals but for businesses as well.  In local business development news, there was a significant surprise regarding the scheduled opening of the new Target at 80th and Robert.  More details about an unexpectedly early opening can be found at www.facebook.com/State.Rep.Joe.Atkins.  Inver Grove Heights also saw a sharp increase in commercial development in 2011 over 2010, according to a report released last week.  New construction more than doubled from $19 million in 2010 to $39 million in 2011, with commercial construction increasing more than 400% from $2.7 million in 2010 to $12 million in 2011.  

BASKETBALL.  All right, so this has nothing to do with government.  If you didn't hear, the Simley girls basketball team upset #1 Richfield last week in a nail-biter of a game.  Abby Kain, just an 8th grader, had 21 points to lead the Spartans.  Along with several other local teams, this is going to be a fun group to watch in years to come.

As always, I am interested in hearing from folks about these or any other legislative issues.  I can be reached at the Capitol at 651-296-4192 or by email at Rep. Joe.Atkins@house.mn.

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