Schools
     • 01/05/2012: Scott Ruthford

EP City Council
     • 01/26/2012: Kathy Tyler
     • 01/12/2012: Fred Koppelman

Obamacare
     • 01/05/2012: John Tyler

Caucus
     • 01/26/2012: David Johnson

Legislative Updates
     • 01/27/2012: Rep. Kirk Stensrud
     • 01/26/2012: Rep. Kirk Stensrud
     • 01/20/2012: Rep. Kirk Stensrud

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Kirk Stensrud (42A) - Email Newsletter

Dear Neighbor,

The first week of the 2012 legislative session is drawing to a close. We did not spend much time on the floor, but spent most of our time getting committees started.

The House Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee approved a bill related to Gov. Dayton's efforts to unionize daycare providers earlier this week. The bill stated that union dues and fair share fees could not be deducted from a parent's child care assistance payment. I voted in favor of the measure.

Another House committee approved a bill that would allow a county attorney or assistant county attorney to carry a firearm on duty, provided they have a state-issued permit to carry. This measure is in response Cook County Attorney Tim Scannell being shot while doing his job at the courthouse.

I will keep you updated as both of these bills make their way through the Legislature. Meantime, the Eden Prairie News ran a session preview this week, highlighting a number of issues with local importance. Click here to see the article.

Sincerely,

Kirk

2012 Legislative Session = Reform
By: Rep. Kirk Stensrud, 42A

The 2012 legislative session is going to come down to one word which is both simple and enormously complex: Reform.

The simple part about reform is we all understand inefficiencies exist in our government. We can make better use of our tax dollars if we find ways to eliminate duplication, stop performing unnecessary practices and work together across levels of government.

The complex part about reform is that change is difficult. Government has a track record of being far less nimble than families and businesses. Our state is till trying to adjust to our recession, years behind the private sector in making common-sense improvements.

Our aging workforce means change is on the way one way or another.

Reports show more Americans will reach age 65 in the next decade than the four previous decades combined. That will leave us with fewer workers supporting a greater percentage of non-working citizens.

Government revenue will slow more than overall economic growth.  The same crisis European countries are facing in paying for past promises will become an increasingly large problem here unless we take action.

I continue to believe we must shift the budget debate past the old limited choices of cutting spending or raising taxes. Our discussion now must include a wider vision to drive economic growth and help government provide better service at a lower cost.

I am addressing the latter with a number of bills I plan to introduce in 2012. One of the first places we can reform is at the Capitol to cut costs; more on that later. Other proposals reduce the size of the executive branch and trim the number of legislators.

Citizens deserve an opportunity to discuss whether 201 legislators is an appropriate number or if a reduction is in order.

Local input is very important to me as we prepare to make key decisions in these areas and others. Please continue providing me with your thoughts on the issues by emailing rep.kirk.stensrud@house.mn or by call (651) 296-3964.

We get what you elect
By: Kathy Tyler, Eden Prairie

Liberal social engineering. Have you had enough of it yet Eden Prairie? A previously-elected Eden Prairie School Board hired former Eden Prairie School District Superintendent Melissa Krull. Result? Liberal social engineering in the form of student busing across town to non-neighborhood schools, and a serious number of student transfers out of Eden Prairie to Minnetonka.

A new, more conservative School Board is now trying to undo that damage. Now, with the single exception in Councilman Brad Aho, the Eden Prairie City Council is attempting to give domestic partners the same status as married couples within Eden Prairie city government.

Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens portrayed herself as a Republican in her door knocking campaign efforts, knowing full well that associating herself with a fiscally conservative SD42 Republican Party, she would portray an image of someone much more conservative that she is -- even though the Republicans endorsed Councilman Jon Duckstad. Lukens chastised the Republicans for daring to endorse candidates they favored. The result -- Lukens defeated Councilman Duckstad for mayor.

The rest of the field of Ron Case, Kathy Nelson and Sherry Butcher-Wickstrom suddenly found fiscally conservative religion during recessionary times, portraying themselves during the last election as fiscally responsible in a manner they had rarely governed. Now, in a 4-1 vote, they are attempting to impose yet more liberal social engineering on Eden Prairie with the domestic partner issue, even though this will be on the ballot this November in a statewide election. Thank you Councilman Brad Aho for voting “no” on this domestic partner issue.

Message to Ron Case, Nancy Tyra-Lukens, Kathy Nelson and Sherry Butcher-Wickstrom: We need strong, fiscally responsible leadership now more than ever -- don't you have anything better to do than social engineering? Message to Eden Prairie voters: Please stop electing liberals to public office. We get what you elect.

Take ownership of your government
By: David Johnson, Eden Prairie

The Republican neighborhood caucuses are an opportunity for area residents to show their support for our elected representatives and their support of fiscally responsible legislation. There is too much at stake this year to be spectators.

Do you believe we should have reasonable guarantees that felons, non-citizens and people who don't live in our district are not voting in our elections? Do you believe that a person shouldn't be forced to join and pay dues to a private union in order to get a job? Do you want to see the same financial savings to our state's government and school districts that Wisconsin now enjoys? Do you want conservatives and Republicans to maintain their majorities in the State Legislature to enact these common-sense ideas?

Then the first step is to come to the Republican Party precinct caucuses and begin participating in your government. If you don't get involved in the caucus and beyond to lend your voice to the call for fiscally responsible legislation and conservative values then the only voices involved will be those we heard in the Occupy Wall Street protests. Do they speak for you?

Then come to the Eden Prairie Republican caucus at the East Commons of the Eden Prairie High School on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 6PM You need to know what precinct you live in. To find out go to: www.sd42gop.com. If you don't take ownership of your government, just look at an OWS rally and see who will.

Kirk Stensrud (42A) - Email Newsletter

Dear Neighbor,

The 2012 legislative session is going to come down to one word which is both simple and enormously complex: Reform.

The simple part about reform is we all understand inefficiencies exist in our government. We can make better use of our tax dollars if we find ways to eliminate duplication, stop performing unnecessary practices and work together across levels of government.

The complex part about reform is that change is difficult. Government has a track record of being far less nimble than families and businesses. Our state is still trying to adjust to our recession, years behind the private sector in making common-sense improvements.

Our aging workforce means change is on the way one way or another. Reports show more Americans will reach age 65 in the next decade than the four previous decades combined. That will leave us with fewer workers supporting a greater percentage non-working citizens.

Government revenue will slow more than overall economic growth. The same crisis European countries are facing in paying for past promises will become an increasingly large problem here unless we take action.

I continue to believe we must shift the budget debate past the old limited choices of cutting spending or raising taxes. Our discussion now must include wider vision to drive economic growth and help government provide better service at a lower cost.

I am addressing the latter with a number of bills I plan to introduce in 2012. One of the first places we can reform is at the Capitol complex itself. A bill I've authored revamps back-office procedures at the Capitol to cut costs; more on that later. Other proposals reduce the size of the executive branch and trim the number of legislators. Citizens deserve an opportunity to discuss whether 201 legislators is an appropriate number or if a reduction is in order.

Local input is very important to me as we prepare to make key decisions in these areas and others. Please continue providing me with your thoughts on the issues by emailing rep.kirk.stensrud@house.mn or by calling (651) 296-3964

Sincerely,

Kirk

Vote no on domestic partnership registry
By: Fred Koppelman, Eden Prairie

“Eden Prairie is set to create a domestic partnership registry.” So starts an article in the last issue of the Eden Prairie News. My first thought was, “What the heck is a domestic partnership registry?” Checking into the issue, I discovered that there is a group of activists that have been attempting to obtain ordinances in cities throughout Minnesota creating “Domestic Partnership Registries” at the city level. The effort seems to be to circumvent some decisions forthcoming from higher levels of government.

Our Legislature has placed the definition of marriage as a constitutional amendment on the November 2012 ballot. A recent Hennepin County court case concerning the issue of same-sex relationships was dismissed. This is a real hot-button issue, let's not jump the gun and try to bypass the will of the people.

The Eden Prairie City Council approved the “first reading” on January. 3. It's due to come up for a “second reading” at the Jan. 17 City Council meeting. If the majority votes “aye,” it will become an Eden Prairie City Ordinance which would suggest that most of us Eden Prairie-ites agree with establishing a “Domestic Partnership Registry” and I don't think that's the case. Most everybody knows that the vast majority of Minnesotans would define marriage as between one man and one woman.

I would hope that the council would vote “No” on this issue, or at least table it, but I'm afraid that, unless a lot of us go to that meeting on January 17 and voice our opinions, they will approve it. There was a time, not so long ago, when the City Council was representative of the people of Eden Prairie. I'm afraid that's not the case anymore. Cities are supposed to see to things like plowing know when it snows, putting out fires, providing police protection, etc. Otherwise, leave us alone. We don't need them to “work for the freedom of all of our residents to pursue happiness.” That, we can take care of ourselves!

Reverse the failed policy
By: Scott Ruthford, Eden Prairie

I have heard many times that the recent School Board election was about restoring transparency, accountability, and providing better engagement with the stakeholders. That was definitely part of what this election was about and those things are important, but in a typical School Board those things should be a given. Let's be honest about what this election was really about.

A radical boundary change and grade transformation was implemented with almost universal opposition from the community, followed by a School Board election with record turnout where the four candidates voicing the most opposition to the boundary change and grade transformation got almost triple the votes of the four others. I would say that's a pretty clear mandate to reverse this policy, wouldn't you?

I support the new board majority when they say they will review the data and weigh the pros and cons before a decision is made, but actually the results are already in. Enrollment is down, the building capacity and diversity targets were not met, and diversity in grades five and six is guaranteed to be reduced. This was all easily predicted by those of us who opposed this policy.

Furthermore, the community has provided the district and the School Board overwhelming evidence that using boundary-based forced school assignment is the least effective method to narrow the achievement gap. The few on the fringe who disagree, like [former Superintendent Melissa] Krull and [Myron] Orfield are way outside the mainstream of current education policy.

Majorities can be short lived. The time is now to reverse the transformation and the non-contiguous boundaries to to the extent that is reasonably possible given existing building capacities. Then let's work on incentive-based, school choice policies that have been proven to best address the achievement gap. Will it really be a radical, disruptive change to move our children back to a school and a group of friends they had less than a year ago? The sooner we can reverse this failed policy the better.

Obamacare blocks economic recovery
By: John Tyler, Eden Prairie

A reader recently wrote praising Obamacare because they were able to obtain preventative care coverage on their individual policy, and other coverage benefits. As a licensed health agent, I can tell readers that preventative care and the other benefits mentioned were available in Minnesota pre-Obamacare.

The issue is much larger than indicated by the writer. The writer indicated it wasn't such a bad law and really was health-care “reform.” I'm afraid the writer hasn't been paying attention to the reality of the impact of this oppressive law upon America. Has the writer noticed we are in the middle of a national and statewide recession?

The most recent front page of a local newspaper announced that Minnesota has lost yet another 7,400 jobs to the recession. Obamacare is one of the primary causes blocking economic recovery, and presents the greatest threat to job creation and our future state and national fiscal sustainability. This estimated $2.6 trillion legislation, with its far-reaching regulations and government mandates, is causing havoc and uncertainty for states, businesses and American families.

Recently a federal judge in Pennsylvania joined the growing number of federal judges and appellate courts that have struck down all or part of this health-care “reform” law. So far, 28 states are suing the federal government, challenging the law's constitutionality. Regardless of the legal uncertainty surrounding this legislation, this administration continues to spend billions of dollars implementing a law that may be struck down by the Supreme Court.

Though not yet fully in place, small businesses are finding this law's mandates and regulations a huge obstacle to growing their businesses and hiring. Businesses are still experiencing unprecedented premium increases due to Obamacare's mandate-compliance rules. As a result of this law, all Minnesota individual health insurance carriers have stopped writing stand-alone individual coverage for children because of the guaranteed-issue without pre-existing limitations. Once these rules are in place for all in 2014, there is no guarantee individual coverage products will be available to anyone. Only the Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association, the state's high-risk pool, is willing to write these policies, and it has only a limited menu of very expensive plans to offer.

Misguided federal employer penalties for not carrying health insurance coverage is likely to have the opposite effect than intended. A study by McKinsey & Co. estimates one in three businesses will drop employee health insurance and opt to pay the law's fines, forcing their employees to find “government-approved” insurance on their own, if they can.

More than 6,000 pages of new regulations have been issued by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to implement Obamacare “reform.” An estimated $500 billion in new taxes on premiums, and medical supplies and services are included in this law.

It should be no surprise that the more people see of Obamacare, the less they like it, including Congressman Erik Paulsen. Congressman Paulsen was certainly right, along with his GOP colleagues, to pass legislation to repeal this terrible law before the damage and cost to America are beyond repair.