Hello Neighbor,
We are only a few short weeks from the start of the 2020 legislative session and I have been in St. Paul this week to prepare for the start on February 11.
I want to give you a brief update on what has been happening and an overview of the vision for the upcoming session.
Chronic Wasting Disease in Pine County
Earlier this month, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health announced that Chronic Wasting Disease was discovered in a doe on a Pine County farm.
We are taking the threat posed by Chronic Wasting Disease extremely seriously and we will explore every option to prevent this from becoming a full-fledged crisis. I am hopeful that this will be an isolated incident in Pine County and that it hasn’t spread any further.
In 2019, the Minnesota legislature dedicated $1.8 million to the University of Minnesota for surveillance, research, and preventive measures to protect Minnesota’s deer populations, including a live test to detect Chronic Wasting Disease. The legislature also implemented new rules on farms, such as stricter fencing regulations and a requirement of double gates.
Clean Energy First
The Minnesota Senate Energy and Utilities Finance and Policy Committee held two hearings recently to consider legislation designed to modernize Minnesota’s energy resources.The legislation, known as ‘Clean Energy First’, aims to prioritize clean energy as the state plans its future energy needs.
I serve on this committee and was in attendance at the Rochester and Minnetrista hearings where we discussed legislation that will require Minnesota utility companies to prioritize carbon-free technology in their future plans and will direct the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to consider whether utilities’ new energy projects are in the public interest. The legislation includes nuclear, solar, wind, hydropower, carbon sequestration, and municipal solid waste as clean energy.
This all-of-the-above approach to clean energy is more flexible and less costly with a diverse energy portfolio that includes renewables, large hydropower, innovative coal and groundbreaking nuclear power technologies.
The ‘Clean Energy First’ legislation is expected to be introduced near the start of the 2020 legislative session, which begins on February 11. Click hear to learn more about my thoughts on Clean Energy.
Vision 2020 agenda
A few weeks ago, Minnesota Senate Republicans unveiled a Vision 2020 agenda aimed at strengthening family budgets, reducing health insurance and prescription drug costs along with many other issues that we have compiled from countless conversations we have had with Minnesotans across the state..
This agenda is our clear commitment to Minnesotans on things we stand for as we enter the 2020 session. We have had tremendous success on the issues Minnesotans care about and I am excited to build on that success again this year.
Our 2020 Vision for energy includes the Clean Energy First proposal that will help Minnesota accomplish the transition to clean energy through careful resource planning and coordination.
You can read the full Vision 2020 agenda by clicking here.
Department of Human Services update
At the end of last year, I wrote a column about an idea to break up the Department of Human Services in order to address the crisis that has engulfed the agency.
After hearing your feedback and talking to a number of people who have close experience with the issue, I think there is a better option: let the counties run the show entirely.
Human Service programs are already mostly administered by the counties, but they are supervised by DHS. Let’s reduce DHS’ staff and responsibilities, then take that funding and give it out to county human service departments. Counties are far more hands-on, they know the people they are working with, and they will see any potential fraud and abuse much quicker.
You can hear more from me on DHS by clicking the photo.
Cloquet High School skilled trades programs
Last week I visited Cloquet High School to learn more about their terrific programs to introduce kids to skilled trades such as auto tech, welding and machining, and woodworking. They already have an agreement with the carpenter’s union to help match students with careers in the trades, and they are working with the pipefitters and electricians to develop similar programs.
I love what Cloquet is doing. There are more career paths out there than traditional 4-year degrees, and Cloquet is doing a great job of making sure kids know about ALL of their options. This is the direction we should go with more MN schools.
President Hammitt fourth president of FDLTCC
In November, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College officially removed Stephanie Hammitt’s interim title and named her the permanent president of the college. She is the first female to serve in the role, is a member of the Fond Du Lac Band, and has deep ties to the community and the school. She is a fabulous choice to lead the college going forward. I was very pleased to be in attendance last week to join the celebration.
Stay in Touch
I’d like to remind residents that I am always available to answer your questions or concerns. Please email me anytime at sen.jason.rarick@senate.mn or call my office in St. Paul at 651-296-1508.
Thank you for giving me the privilege of serving you in the Minnesota Senate!
Sincerely,