Town Hall Meetings in June

Representative Deb Kiel (District 1B) and Representative Steve Green (District 2B) are hosting a number of town hall meetings in June, updating constituents on law changes and other happenings of the 2016 legislative session, and gathering input and answering questions about issues important to the area.

Rep. Kiel’s Town hall meetings will be held:

Crookston: Saturday, June 4, 2016, at 10:00 AM at the Irishman's Shanty (1501 South Main Street)
East Grand Forks: Monday, June 6, 2016, at 5:00 PM at East Grand Forks City Hall (600 Demers Ave)
Fertile: Wednesday, June 8, 2016, at 5:30 PM at Erickson's Smokehouse (605 S Mill Street)
Oklee: Thursday, June 9, 2016, at 12:00 PM at Oklee Café (301 Main Street)
Brooks: Thursday, June 9, 2016, at 5:00 PM at the Brooks Community Center (200 Main Street)
Red Lake Falls: Thursday, June 9, 2016, at 7:00 PM at City Hall (108 2nd Street SW)
Fosston: Saturday, June 11, 2016, at 12:30 PM at the Embassy Community Center (603 3rd St NE) with

Representative Steve Green’s Town Hall Meetings:

Park Rapids: Friday, June 3, 2016, at 10:00 AM at West Forty Restaurant (906 1^st St W)
Menahga: Friday, June 3, 2016, at 12:00 PM at Cottage House Café (119 Main St. NE)
Frazee: Friday, June 3, 2016, at 2:30 PM at Palace Café (111 E Main Ave)
Mahnomen: Saturday, June 4, 2016, at 10:00 AM at Red Apple Café (116 N Main St)
Callaway: Saturday, June 4, 2016, at 12:00 PM at Callaway City Hall (321 Main Ave)
Bagley: Saturday, June 11, 2016, at 10:30 AM at D&R Café (27 Central St W)  with Representative Dave Hancock
Fosston: Saturday, June 11, 2016, at 12:30 PM at Embassy Community Center (603 3^rd St NE)

Rep. Deb Kiel Schedules Town Halls

Crookston, MINN—Representative Deb Kiel (R-Crookston) has scheduled town hall meetings in a number of communities across her district. Rep. Kiel will review the 2016 legislative session, discuss changes to state law and answer questions from constituents. The meetings are open to the public, and she encourages people to attend.

The meeting in Crookston will take place on Saturday, June 4, 2016, at 10:00 AM at the Irishman's Shanty (1501 South Main Street).

The meeting in East Grand Forks will take place on Monday, June 6, 2016, at 5:00 PM at East Grand Forks City Hall (600 Demers Ave).

The meeting in Fertile will take place on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, at 5:30 PM at Erickson's Smokehouse (605 S Mill Street).

The meeting in Oklee will take place Thursday, June 9, 2016, at 12:00 PM at the Oklee Café (301 Main Street).

The meeting in Brooks will take place on Thursday, June 9, 2016, at 5:00 PM at the Brooks Community Center (200 Main Street).

The Red Lake Falls Town Hall will take place on Thursday, June 9, 2016, at 7:00 PM at City Hall (108 2nd Street SW).

"It's an honor to be a state representative for Northwest Minnesota, and I appreciate the questions, comments and input that folks share with me during town hall meetings," said Rep Kiel. "I look forward to sharing our accomplishments from the 2016 legislative session, and gathering input and answering questions about issues important to our area. I am hopeful that people will attend and share their ideas on how we can make our great state even better."

House DFL announces Statewide Tour over the Legislative Break

Saint Paul, Minnesota – Working with Governor Dayton, legislators started quickly and have worked at a fast-pace this session to build on Minnesota’s progress. Before the Easter/Passover Break, the Minnesota Legislature has:

:

·         Funded emergency provided propane assistance: In the first week of session, the legislature increased assistance to Minnesotans struggling to pay their heating costs during our terribly-cold winter.

·         Provided middle-class tax cuts: Enacted tax cuts for more than one-million middle-class Minnesotans — married couples, adopting families, working families, homeowners, college students and parents.

·         Raised the minimum wage: Just yesterday, the legislature raised Minnesota’s minimum wage in stages to $9.50 for large business $7.75 and small businesses by August 2016. More than 350,000 Minnesotans will get a raise.

Heading in to the Easter/Passover break, legislators are continuing to push for more progress during a statewide tour. Speaker Paul Thissen and Majority Leader Erin Murphy will lead a tour in Greater Minnesota to make the push for priorities that remain this session:

·         Statewide Bonding Bill: The legislature is focused on passing a statewide bonding bill to make critical investments in Minnesota’s infrastructure, including higher education, transportation, housing, economic development, clean water and wastewater systems.

·         Invest in a Greater Minnesota: The House has already passed a supplemental budget that makes critical investments to grow our economy in Greater Minnesota, such as broadband infrastructure, economic development resources, and farm-to-food shelf legislation.

·         More Middle Class Tax Cuts: The House has passed “Tax Bill 2”  - providing $103 million in further tax cuts for Minnesota homeowners, farmers, renters, and small businesses.

·         Women’s Economic Security Act: The House has passed the Women’s Economic Security Act, aimed at closing the gender pay gap, strengthening workplace protections and flexibility for pregnant mothers, and expanding employment opportunities for women in high-wage, high-demand professions.

“This legislature has been very efficient this session to build on Minnesota’s economic momentum, from passing tax cuts for middle-class Minnesotans to approving a minimum wage increase for 350,000 Minnesotans,” said Speaker Paul Thissen. “We still have a lot more work to do this session and we are excited to get on the road to talk with Minnesotans about the priorities that remain for the 2014 session.”

Here is the schedule for the “Building a Greater Minnesota” Tour:

Monday, April 14

Brainerd

Majority Leader Erin Murphy, Rep. Joe Radinovich, and others 

Location: Brainerd Lakes Airport, 16384 Airport Rd, Brainerd, MN 56401

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Saint Cloud

Majority Leader Erin Murphy, Rep. Zach Dorholt, and others

Location:  SCSU, Eastman Hall, 720 4th Ave S, St Cloud, MN 56301

Time: 1:00 p.m.

Tuesday, April 15

Mankato

Speaker Paul Thissen, Rep. Clark Johnson, Rep. Kathy Brynaert, and others

Location: Verizon Wireless Center - Ellerbe Room, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Mankato

Time: 11:00 a.m.

Albert Lea

Speaker Paul Thissen, Rep. Shannon Savick and others

Location: Albert Lea City Hall 221 E Clark St, Albert Lea, MN 56007

Time: 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday, April 16

Sandstone

Speaker Paul Thissen, Rep. Tim Faust and others  

Sandstone City Hall 119 4th St, Sandstone, MN 55072

Time: 10 a.m.

Bemidji

Speaker Paul Thissen, Rep. John Persell, Rep. Roger Erickson, and others

BSU, Memorial Hall, Birchmont Dr NE, Bemidji, MN

Time: 3:00 p.m.

Willmar

Majority Leader Erin Murphy, Rep. Mary Sawatzky, Rep. Andrew Falk, and others

Location: TBD

Time: TBD  

Cyrus

Majority Leader Erin Murphy, Rep. Jay McNamar and others

Cyrus Fire Hall, W Main Street, Cyrus MN 56323

Time: 11:30 a.m.

Moorhead

Majority Leader Erin Murphy, Rep. Ben Lien, Rep. Paul Marquart, and others

Moorhead City Council Chambers, Moorhead City Hall, 500 Center Avenue

Time: 3:00 p.m.