Minnesotans Pause to Honor Veterans

Jun 18th, 2009
by Rep. Phil Sterner.
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As most of you know, 2009 was a challenging budget year at the Legislature. But despite a record budget shortfall, Minnesota stood strong in its commitment to our veterans, active duty military members, National Guard members and their families.

With unanimous bi-cameral and bi-partisan support, the Legislature passed a veterans bill that increases funding for Minnesota Veterans Homes to allow them to maintain and improve their current level of service. The bill also increases funding for county veterans service programs and included the Governor’s recommendations to expand the Hastings Mental Health program that serves so many Dakota County veterans. We enacted a $3 million enlistment incentive program and improved transportation to VA hospitals. We also worked with the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, the Minnesota Departments of Commerce and the Veterans Affairs Division to clarify confusion over state and federal law that threatened the Disabled American Veterans organization’s ability to gather clothing donations. This means that the DAV can continue serving our veterans.

Minnesota’s commitment to our men and women in uniform has never been stronger. But it wasn’t so long ago that Minnesotans coming home were denied the warm welcome home, or the thanks that they deserved so much. That’s the reason I was pleased to co-author a bill that was signed into law designating June 13 of this year as Honoring All Vietnam Era Veterans Day in Minnesota.

On Saturday, June 13, Minnesota held its long-overdue Vietnam Veterans ceremony on the grounds of the State Capitol. The day, dedicated to honoring, respecting, and remembering Vietnam veterans and their families, started with a Gold Star Mothers prayer service, and culminated with a formal ceremony at 1:30. Thousands of Vietnam veterans and their families attended the event, including Tom Werner, the past commander of the Rosemount American Legion. It was a moving tribute to all of the men and women who served our country in the Vietnam War, including the 1,080 Minnesotans who gave their lives and the 43 Minnesotans who remain missing in action.

Today, Minnesotans in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world spend months and years away from their families. They continue to sacrifice a great deal to make our world a safer, more just place to live. To all of those who have stood in service to our state, our nation and to a higher ideal – including all of our military families who share their husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, daughters and sons with us – we thank you, and we are proud of you.

I look forward to seeing many of you throughout the fall and summer, and am honored to serve as your State Representative. As always, please continue to contact me with any questions or concerns related to state government. I look forward to hearing from you and look forward to your input.

Posted in: Capitol News, Legislation.

Sterner Discusses First Session

May 31st, 2009
by Rep. Phil Sterner.
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In my first term as your representative, I expected to face significant challenges. However, an unprecedented $6.4 billion budget shortfall made this session one of the most difficult in Minnesota history.

For the most part, the Legislature and Governor Pawlenty worked well together. The Governor signed most of our bills, enacting provisions to protect K-12 and early childhood education, preserve public safety, create jobs, and support veterans. I was proud to sponsor some of the earliest bills he signed, including one to reduce the risk of shaken baby syndrome in young children and another to improve Minnesota’s lakes.

Unfortunately, we were unable to reach agreement on a final budget. Both sides proposed budget cuts to close the shortfall (the House proposed more cuts than the Governor), and both agreed that cuts alone would cause too much long-lasting damage to our state.

The primary disagreement surrounded what kind of new revenue is most responsible and fair. The Governor proposed borrowing $1 billion in one-time money, and paying it back over 20 years at an additional cost of between $600 – $800 million. As a fiscal conservative, I’ve been dismayed by “borrow and spend” practices by the federal government, and could not in good conscience support a similar plan for Minnesota. By the same token, I voted against an early revenue- raising bill that reached too deeply into Minnesota families’ pockets, only favoring a more modest and responsible “pay-as you go” introduced later in the session.

Without consensus on a balanced-budget plan, the Governor will use the process of unallotment to balance the budget. To do so, he will need to cut about $3 billion, and has signaled his intention to focus largely on health and human services. He has already cut a program that provides funding for the state’s sickest and poorest citizens and the hospitals that care for them. Further cuts of millions or more from this budget area could devastate health care institutions statewide, forcing them to eliminate services and jobs. These changes will drive up health care costs for everyone and diminish overall quality of care.

As details of the unallotment plans are released, I’ll continue working with citizens and local officials to ensure we understand the nature of the cuts and to help minimize the impact on our community and our state.

Posted in: Capitol News, Letter to Editors.
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Memorial Day: Action and Reflection

May 25th, 2009
by Rep. Phil Sterner.
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I am just taking some time out of my day to wish everyone a special Memorial Day. Today must not be treated just as some time away from work, but a day of reflection. Today is a day when we remember the countless sacrifices of known and un-known faces. We enjoy a freedom unlike many countries because of the sacrifices of our armed forces.

I am happy to report that this session I was an author of SF1142 which made June 13, 2009 a day to honor all Vietnam Veterans and made March 25 as a designated Medal of Honor day to honor individuals from Minnesota who have received the Congressional Medal of Honor.

This last session, despite a record budget shortfall, the House DFL introduced and passed legislation that increased funding for Veterans homes by $4.4 million or 5.3% and we have increased Veterans Services programs by $1.7 million. We increase funding for the Minnesota Assistance Council of Veterans and Veterans’ Service Organizations. Beyond taking care of our veterans, we also passed an appropriation increase for the Department of Military Affairs (Minnesota National Guard) by 7.67% and provided new funding for $3 million in enlistment incentives.

This summer I plan to continue my work on veterans issues. I introduced three bills late last session that were not given hearings. These bills would make financial counseling services availability required for recently discharged veterans, mental health counseling services availability required for recently deployed service members and would allow unpaid leave of absence from employment provided for an immediate family member of a person ordered into active military service during a time of war or other national emergency.

I believe it is important to highlight what actions we have and will continue to take to honor and provide for our service members and veterans. I think it is important that we reflect, honor and cherish the service that so many have given to our country. I hope you were able to take some time out of your day to reflect on the wonderful freedom that has been provided to us.

Posted in: Campaign News, Capitol News, Legislation.
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Sterner Passes Law Protecting Childrens Health

May 14th, 2009
by Rep. Phil Sterner.
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Representative Sterner co-authored House File 326 which, according to non-partisan House Research “bans the sale in Minnesota of certain products designed for use by children under 3 years of age– bottles and cups to be filled with food or a liquid, and pacifiers and teething rings – that contain the chemical bisphenol-A. Manufacturers may not, as a result of this prohibition, substitute a chemical for bisphenol-A that is known or reasonably anticipated to be a carcinogen, or identified by the EPA as causing birth defects, hormone disruption, or reproductive or developmental harm.”

The bill passed with overwhelming bi-partisan support and was signed into law by Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty. The bill gives businesses until January 1, 2010 to comply. This makes Minnesota the first state to ban this unsafe product for children.

Posted in: Legislation.
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Sterner co-authors bill to improve quality of Long Lake

May 8th, 2009
by Rep. Phil Sterner.
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On a vote of 120 to 12, a bill to authorize temporary draw downs of lake levels to improve water quality overwhelmingly passed the Minnesota House today. Co-authored by State Representative Phil Sterner (DFL-Rosemount), the legislation would make it easier for local officials to temporarily lower lake water levels by requiring them to secure approval of three-quarters of lake front property owners before proceeding with the drawdown.

“Lakeside living is a hallmark of Minnesota’s quality of life, and preserving those lakes is essential to maintaining that quality – not only for people who live by the lake but for everyone who enjoys them,” said Rep. Sterner. “This bill is a common-sense compromise that helps preserve the integrity of our lakes while still giving homeowners a voice in how that’s done.”

When a public lake becomes impaired with algae or other invasive weeds, local governments are restricted in their efforts to correct the problem under current law. House File 1539 would make it easier for local governments to perform temporary draw downs by reducing from 100 percent to 75 percent the number of votes required by affected property owners. Originally written to require local officials to obtain the permission from 60 percent of lake front property owners, the bill was amended to the 75 percent threshold in order to draw broader support. The compromise eased concerns of homeowners and city officials who were concerned that the lower threshold might have allowed one large lakeshore property owner to vote against the objections of many smaller property owners.

Temporary drawdown of lake water levels are used to eliminate plant and invasive species overgrowth in shallow lakes without having to use toxic chemicals and pesticides. In Apple Valley, a drawdown would be used to improve the water quality of Long Lake which has been plagued by algae blooms and weed problems. City officials are planning for a drawdown this winter to minimize the aesthetic impact to lakeside homeowners and restore the lake for next summer.

According to Apple Valley Mayor Mary Hamann-Roland, who testified in support of the compromise legislation at the State Capitol, the bill would help the City of Apple Valley to proceed with necessary remediation of Long Lake.

“By a large majority, the landowners living adjacent to Long Lake want to move forward to clean-up the lake,” said Hamann-Roland. “This legislation would allow us to do so, and help the City to comply with water quality improvements required by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.”

“This legislation is a perfect example of striking a good balance between homeowner’s rights and our responsibility to protect one of Minnesota’s most valuable natural resources – our lakes,” said Sterner. “This is the land of 10,000 Lakes after all – we want to be able to enjoy them for years to come.”

Posted in: Legislation.
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