303 State Capitol

75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther

King, Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155

Capitol UpdateFebruary 26, 2015

www.senate.mn/
senatorwiklund

Highlights:
I serve on the following
committees: Health, Human Services, and Housing, E-12 Education Policy
and Finance, State & Local
Government.
The February budget
forecast, which will influence our budget planning
this year, will be released
on February 27th.
Im also looking forward
to meeting with Bloomington and Richfield residents about issues that
will be discussed this year.

How to contact me
at the Capitol:
Phone:
651-297-8061
E-mail:
sen.melissa.wiklund
@senate.mn

Rep. Linda
Slocum (50A):
651-296-7158
rep.linda.slocum
@house.mn
Rep. Ann
Lenczewski (50B):
651-296-4218
rep.ann.lenczewski
@house.mn

February 26, 2015

SD50Bloomington, Richfield

Working for Richfield and Bloomington

Im proud to represent diverse and dynamic communities
like Richfield and Bloomington
in the Senate. Im carrying several bills that address projects in
our area.
I am the Senate author of
bills to provide for an upgrade
to the Mall of America Transit
Station. With the 2017 Super
Bowl set to be in Minneapolis,
and the increased Mall traffic
that will accompany that, Im
hopeful that we can begin this
important work this year.
The MOA Transit Station is
the busiest transit station in the
state, and the upgrades would
help to improve efficiency of bus
and train operations, improve
station amenities and visitor
experience, provide clear and
convenient pedestrian access,
and simplify access for mass
transit vehicles. I look forward
to working with Rep.

Lenczewski on this.
Im also the Senate author
(with Rep. Lenczewski) of a bill
to provide for redesign and
improve the 494-35W interchange in Bloomington. On
Tuesday, I attended a press
conference with Lieutenant
Governor Tina Smith, Transportation Commissioner Charlie
Zelle, Metropolitan Council
Chair Adam Duinick, and other
community legislators and leaders, to highlight this project. It
was worth braving the cold
weather to bring attention to
this interchange, which is the
19th worst bottleneck in the
country.
Additionally, Im the author
(as I was last year) of a bill that
would provide an appropriation
for The Works, a museum in
Bloomington that specializes in
hands-on learning for young
students in the areas of science,

technology, math, and engineering. Ive toured The Works

with the Chair of the Education
Committee, Sen. Chuck Wiger
(DFL-Maplewood), and Ive been
impressed with their focus on
elementary-age students, as well
as professional development
training for teachers. Sen. Wiger has also signed on as a coauthor of this bill.

Working on Education
I continue to serve on the E12 Education Policy and Finance
committee, and work on different issues related to education
in our state.
Im the Senate author of a
bill that would extend to seven
years the duration of the English
Language Learner program in
Minnesota schools. This proposal was also included in Gov.

Daytons budget. Im also carrying bills to allow school districts

more flexibility with compensatory revenue. Giving districts
flexibility would allow Bloomington and Richfield schools the
ability to make plans that serve
their students best. Both districts testified in support of the
bill in the Education Committee
when it was heard.

Stay in touch! My contact

information, and the information for the House
members from our district
is on the left, please feel
free to contact my office
with any questions, comments, or concerns you
might have. I work for you,
and the more I hear from
you, the better I can do so!

Page 2

Capitol UpdateFebruary 26, 2015

Around the District

Congratulations to Bloomington students

Nicole Jacobson and Sara Aamot for their
Gold Key Awards from the MN Scholastic Art Awards!

Congratulations to everyone involved with

Richfield High Schools store, Spartan Avenue, for receiving gold-level certification
from DECA, a national organization geared
towards educating high school students on
business, for the fourth year in a row!

Bloomington Jefferson High Schools Band

Pops Concerts are Friday and Saturday,
February 27th and 28th, at 7pm in the Auditorium (4001 W 102nd St).

the Richfield Municipal Center (6700 Portland Ave S), and will feature prominent
mental health advocates and experts.

Richfield Mayor Debbie Goettel will be

having her monthly Mayors Hour on Saturday, February 28th, from 9:30-10:30am at
Wood Lake Nature Center (6710
Lakeshore Dr).

Reminder: Daylight Savings Time begins on March 8th! Spring forward and
set your clocks ahead an hour!

Minnesota History: On February 26th,

1985, Minnesota native Prince sweeps the
Grammy Awards, as his soundtrack to
Purple Rain wins best soundtrack, best
rock performance, and best R&B song.

A Forum on Mental Illness in Youth

will take place on Saturday, March 14th at

Committee Work Moves Forward

We are now less than a month away from
the first committee deadline (when all policy bills
must be through all policy committees in either
the House or the Senate). That means that committees are working overtime to hear and debate
bills and move them forward in the process.

committee heard the bill to reform MNsure as a

state agency, and discussed the policy items in
the proposed Health and Human Services budget. HHS is the largest item in the budget, and
many policy proposals will come before the committee for review before the first deadline.

This week alone, the Education committee

heard several specific appropriations requests,
as well as bills to increase the basic funding formula (including one that Im a co-author of), and
a bill that would increase the states share of the
costs associated with school lunches.

The State & Local Government committee is

hearing a variety of bills related to land surveying,
state boards (including one that Im the chief
author of), establishing a working group on violence against Asian women, a task force on
health care regulatory review, and modifying the
when counties may appoint certain officers.

The Health, Human Services, and Housing

Looking Ahead...
Ill be attending a meeting with city
officials and legislators from Richfield to discuss
issues specific to the city. I also look forward to
meeting with other Hennepin County legislators
and constituents representing long-term care
providers, service employees, and charter
schools. On March 4th, the House and Senate
will meet in a joint convention to elect members
of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents.
The February budget forecast will be released on
the 27th, and will inform our budget discussions
this year. I hope youll stop by the Capitol and
say Hi!. Otherwise, Ill see you around town!

Sen. Wiklund presents a bill before the Health

and Human Services Finance committee.