Dear neighbors,
I hope you and your loved ones had a good Labor Day weekend! Here’s the latest news from the Capitol:
Chlorpyrifos Ban Update
As I mentioned in last week’s email, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is banning a dangerous insecticide that’s widely used in Minnesota. Chlorpyrifos has been linked to neurological effects, lower birth weights, reduced IQs, and developmental problems in children. Prohibiting it will help protect children, farmworkers, and our environment. Over the weekend, the Star Tribune published an article about the new restrictions and how they’ll impact Minnesotans. You can read it here.
State Fair Poll Results
More than 5,000 people took a 12-question survey offered at the Minnesota House of Representatives’ booth at the State Fair. The results were released this afternoon. You can view them here.
Upcoming Events
Hearing on CWD
The House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee is holding a hearing on chronic wasting disease (CWD) next week. I encourage you to tune in if you’re interested in hearing the latest information about the disease and efforts to stop it from spreading. You can watch the hearing live on Tuesday, September 14 at 10 a.m. or view it later on House Public Information Services’ YouTube channel.
Back to School
Finally, I want to wish our local students a safe and successful school year and thank all of the teachers and staff who work so hard to help them succeed!
The E-12 Education budget legislators approved this year contains the largest investments in public education that our state has made in 15 years. We voted to increase per-pupil funding by 2.45 percent in the coming year and by an additional 2 percent the year after that. Under the new formula, South St. Paul Schools (SSD 6) will receive $374 more per student next year and $536 more per student the following year. West St. Paul – Mendota Heights – Eagan Area Schools (ISD 197) will see per-pupil increases of $240 and $385 during that period. This funding will help our schools retain teachers, keep class sizes from growing, and provide academic and emotional support for students who experience learning disruptions and other challenges due to COVID-19.
Please keep sharing your questions, ideas, and feedback and feel free to reach out if I can be of assistance.
Sincerely,
Rick Hansen
State Representative