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2323 MN Senate
Building Capitol UpdateFebruary 23, 2016
95 University Ave W
St. Paul, MN 55155

I serve on the following February 23, 2017 SD 50 Bloomington, Richfield

committees: Health and
Human Services Policy &
Finance, E-12 Education
Finance, and Local Gov- Bills Move Forward
ernment. As the legislative session
The first Committee continues, bills move through
Deadline is March 10th.
the process at different times
and different speeds. It can be
Im also looking forward confusing to track different bills
to meeting with Bloom- as they move through the
ington and Richfield resi- House and Senate, and Id en-
dents about issues that courage you to make use of the
are being discussed this
Revisor of Statutes website
year. (www.revisor.mn.gov) or con-
My Senate website is tact my office if you have ques-
www.senate.mn/ tions.
senatorwiklund
Ive heard from a number of
district residents regarding S.F.
580, which would prohibit es-
How to contact me
tablishing a minimum wage, sick
at the Capitol: and safe time, or rules relative
to benefits, terms of employ-
ment, or working conditions
Phone: above what the state currently
651-297-8061 mandates. This bill would es-
sentially preempt local govern-
ments from raising the minimum
E-mail: wage or mandating benefits like
sen.melissa.wiklund paid family leave.
@senate.mn
This bill, authored by Sena-
tor Jeremy Miller (R-Winona)
came before the Local Govern-
ment Committee, which I serve
on, on February 15th. I voted
against S.F. 580 because it takes
broad authority away from cit-
ies and Minnesotans seeking
better working conditions, with
no assurance that state action
to address those concerns will
be taken.
Another bill Ive heard quite
a bit about from constituents is
S.F. 85. This bill, authored by
Senator Andrew Mathews of Senator Wiklund speaks on the Senate
floor.
Milaca, would allow Xcel Energy
to construct, own, and operate
a natural gas-fired electric pow- but I remain concerned about
er plant without approval of the ensuring that the PUCs over-
Minnesota Public Utilities Com- sight role is properly maintained.
mission (PUC). This plant Im also concerned that this
would be a replacement for two erodes the PUCs ability to pro-
coal-fired plants that will close tect ratepayers.
in 2023.
S.F. 85 came before the full
I appreciate the need to Senate on February 16th, and I
replace the jobs that will be lost, voted against it.

Representative
Linda Slocum
(50A)
651-296-7158 New Bills Introduced
rep.linda.slocum Since my last update, several S.F. 1021 pertains to the
@house.mn more bills that Im authoring 77th Street Underpass in Rich-
Minnesota History:
have been introduced. S.F. 535 field. This bill would allow the On March 10th, 1983,
Representative
Andrew Carlson
would provide funding for a city to use any funds remaining Mickeys Diner in St.
voluntary school social worker after right-of-way acquisition on
(50B) aid program. As a former construction of the actual un- Paul, built in 1934, is
651-296-4218 school board member and derpass itself. listed on the National
rep.andrew.carlson member of the E-12 Education
Register of Historic
Finance Committee, I know Ive also introduced bills
@house.mn relating to higher education,
how important these school Places and becomes a
prescription medications, and
services can be. protected landmark.
local lodging taxes.
Page 2 Capitol Update February 23, 2016

University of Minnesota Regents Elected

In addition to passing legislation, the Minneso-
ta legislature is also tasked with electing mem-
bers of the Board of Regents for the University
of Minnesota. This involves a joint convention of
the legislature, and each legislator casts one vote.
On Wednesday February 22nd, the legisla-
ture convened to elect regents for six-year
terms. Eight regents are elected by congression-
al district, and four are elected at-large. This
year, there are four expiring terms, representing
Congressional Districts 2, 3, and 8, and one At-
Large regent.
The process begins with applications. There
were 35 applicants for these positions, and the
Regent Candidate Advisory Council (RCAC)
selected 17 of those applicants for interviews.
The RCAC then made recommendations for
each seat.
On February 7th, the Senate and House
Higher Education Committees met in a joint
hearing where they asked questions of the candi-
dates. Additionally, at that meeting, new candi-
dates were nominated. At the conclusion of the
meeting, the joint committees nominated former
Regent and former Speaker of the House Steve
Sviggum (CD 2), incumbent Regents Darrin
Rosha (CD 3), and David McMillan (CD 8), and
incumbent CD 2 Regent Tom Devine for the At-
Large seat.
On Wednesday February 23rd, the joint legis-
lative convention elected Sviggum, Rosha, and
McMillan, in addition to electing former General
Mills CEO Ken Powell for the At-Large seat.
Speaking as both a legislator and a U of M alum, I
look forward to working with these regents to
continue advancing the goals of the University.

Students Visit Capitol

Nearly every day, a wide variety of constitu-
ent groups visit the Capitol, and I often have the
opportunity to meet with them. Occasionally,
these groups are students from schools in our
district. I always enjoy the opportunity to inter-
act with students at different age levels, talk to
them about serving in the legislature, and answer
questions.
On February 8th, a group of about 60 4th
graders from Hillcrest Community School came
to St. Paul. They had the opportunity to see the
Capitolincluding the House, Senate, and Su-
preme Court Chambers, and the Governors
office.
On February 23rd, I met with a group of
seniors from Kennedy High School in Blooming-
ton. These students were visiting with their
Government class, and were able to observe the
Senate floor session, and committee meetings.
They also posed some interesting questions
about how the legislature works, and current
issues being discussed.
I look forward to more school groups touring
the Capitol in the coming weeks, and would
encourage you all to do the sameeven if youre
not in school!

Looking Ahead...
In the coming weeks, the February Budget Forecast will be
released. This forecast will be a current statement of the states
fiscal picture, and will inform budget discussions this session.
The first Committee Deadline, the date by which all bills must be
through all policy committees in either the House or the Senate,
is March 10th. I also look forward to meeting with constituents
representing arts advocates, the building trades and other labor
unions, the Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome,
and the Minnesota Catholic Conference. It is an honor to repre-
sent you in the Senate. If you have time, I hope youll stop by
the Capitol and say Hi! otherwise, Ill see you around town! Senator Wiklund listens to a presentation in the
Local Government Committee