Dear neighbors,
The 2018 legislative session is underway. As committees begin their work and bills continue to be drafted, much of the week has been spent meeting with constituents and other stakeholders about some of the issues before us this year. On Thursday, the House and the Senate both passed the first legislation of the session – restoring the legislative funding that was vetoed by the governor last spring. Without this funding, staff would be furloughed and operations would cease within the next several weeks. This budget is much more than legislative salaries, as it deals with many different groups in the capitol that work to move the legislative process along. It is good to have that battle behind us and leaves us ready to face the challenges ahead.
– Bill
Find me on Facebook
I encourage you to follow me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SenBillWeber) for updates on the latest from the Capitol. I will post video updates on my Facebook page as things continue to unfold in Saint Paul and encourage you to provide your feedback. With a short session, things will move quickly – so stay tuned.
New legislative assistant
I want to take this opportunity to thank Darrin Lee, who has served as my legislative assistant and committee legislative assistant since 2013. Darrin will still be with the Senate, but in a new role as the committee administrator for the Energy and Utilities Finance and Policy Committee. Many of you who have contacted my office on issues, for appointments, with questions, and more have commented to me about the respectful, helpful reception Darrin has given you, and I am grateful for the assistance he has provided this office in serving you. We all wish him well in his new duties!
That said, I am pleased to introduce my new committee legislative assistant, Alec Biorn! Alec has worked in the caucus for the past several years and is an able addition to my office. I am confident that Alec will provide you with the same quality of service you have experienced in the past and I look forward to working with him on the issues of concern to our district.
MNLARS
If you purchased a new vehicle, renewed your license plate tabs, or attempted to transfer a title since last summer, you are likely familiar with the state’s new licensing and vehicle registration system known as MNLARS.
After nearly $100 million and a decade of planning, MNLARS was released this summer and has proved to be the latest example of failed government bureaucracy. With hundreds of thousands of titles in backlog and a software rendered virtually useless, MNLARS has been a headache for consumers, auto dealers, and deputy registrars alike – with no accountability or solutions from the state agencies responsible.
I am confident the legislature will act quickly to address both the short- and long-term aspects of the software. It is also a priority to make things right for the deputy registrars – small business owners themselves – whose costs are mounting due to MNLARS.
We have set up a website for Minnesotans to share their experiences with MNLARS and to continue to apply pressure to the administration to get this fixed. Share your story at www.MNLARSmess.com.
Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Committee
The policy and finance committees will meet jointly next Monday to consider a report on the state of agriculture in Minnesota. This will include state officials and other industry stakeholders to discuss what has happened over the past year, as well as the outlook for the future. The work of the committee will continue to get underway in earnest as the session progresses. While a comprehensive agriculture budget was passed last year, housing and daycare availability are two issues getting a lot of attention across the district. We will address these needs this session, along with other issues important to our area.