2014 Legislative session begins

Here's an article that didn't get published this week featuring the start of the 2015 Minnesota Legislative session. District 12B State Representative Paul Anderson returned a call to the Bonanza Valley Voice on Tuesday and offered a few responses on local topics.

Rep. Paul Anderson took his fourth oath of office to serve in the Minnesota House of Representatives Tuesday, Jan. 7 at noon in St. Paul at the State Capitol.

"Hopefully we can get some important work done this session with mixed power as it is," said Anderson.

"I want to see us figure out how to scale back some taxes while increasing nursing home funding and transportation funding. There's a very real crisis going on with rural nursing homes. The need is great."

In terms of Governor Dayton's recently-announced transportation package, Anderson said, "I'm not really keen on what Dayton put out. The 12-cent a gallon hike on gasoline at the wholesale level may not seem like much at current gas prices, but if gas goes back up again inflation will make that hurt a whole lot worse."

Anderson stated his willingness to consider Dayton's focus on education and support ideas that make sense for rural Minnesota and school districts in District 12B.

As a farmer and a legislator, Anderson will serve as chair of the House Agriculture Policy Committee this biennium. He also will be on Ag. Finance, Education Finance, and the Property Taxes & Local Government Finance Division.

"In terms of agriculture policy, we'll hold hearings on the issues out there. I know water issues are a concern right now for our part of the state. The Department of Natural Resources has put a big spotlight on water usage, and I want to work with them to make sure they aren't setting up a system that will adversely hurt our farmers. I want to see more evidence of what the DNR is saying that farmers are doing wrong. I'm not sold on what they're trying to do."

By law, the DNR has been directed to study water usage and irrigation practices of farmers. In 2012, White Bear Lake sued the DNR over the lake's diminished water level and blamed it on agency approval that allowed surrounding communities to draw more water from an aquifer located beneath the lake.

"It's certainly not a bad thing to look at water issues, but the actions taken by the DNR have to be reasonable. We can't just shut down irrigation or place an unfair level of fees on farmers," added Anderson.

Anderson’s post as an agriculture chair will allow him to continue working on issues that impact Greater Minnesota, something he has made a priority his first three terms in the House.

“Our top job this session will be to set a new two-year budget and I look forward to that challenge,” Anderson said. “It always is a good feeling to start a session fresh with goals and ideas of what you would like to accomplish. For me, serving as an ag. chair will really put me in position to make decisions that will help our area.”

Anderson welcomes input from local citizens throughout the year, particularly during the legislative session. He can be reached by emailing rep.paul.anderson@house.mn, or by calling (651) 296-4317.

“One thing I pride myself on as a legislator is being in touch with the people I represent,” Anderson said. “The feedback I receive from constituents helps me continue doing my best to voice their thoughts, ideas and concerns at the Capitol.”