Dear Neighbors,
Sadly, many of our friends and neighbors are suffering from opioid addiction. Too often lives are cut short and families are faced with the harsh difficulties of drug addiction. In Morrison County one group is leading the way to help reduce the amount of pills on our streets and find solutions. I was pleased to host the Morrison County Drug Taskforce team and volunteers on Tuesday during the Opioid Awareness Day. They are doing difficult work.
Anti-Discrimination Legislation
Last night, my anti-discrimination bill, HF400, passed out of the House on a bipartisan 98-28 vote. It’s a simple bill to bar the state of Minnesota from engaging in business contracts with businesses or organizations who boycott Israel. I was happy to see such wide bipartisan support, and look forward to passing this bill on to the governor. With all the divisiveness and hate in the world, anti-Semitism has no place.
Education Bills
I’m a former teacher, and have a passion for helping Minnesota’s students. I’m authoring two education bills this session that recently received hearings in committee. The first relates to student discipline standards, and the second provides a tax credit for those who choose to donate to a non-profit that provides K-12 education scholarships. When I author these bills, students and parents are who I’m trying to help, not any one special interest or political party. I was recently interviewed by MinnPost to give my thoughts on these bills, as well as the difficulties in starting to discuss both of these issues.
Around Town
Provided we have enough ice, there’s a fishing contest on Long Lake tomorrow from noon until 3pm. The event is being put on by the Swanville/Sobieski Lions, and should be a fun event for all.
Sports, Sports, Sports
I have been watching our local high school sports teams closely. The Long Prairie girls basketball team have been strong with a nice four-game winning streak. Go Thunder! And the Little Falls boys hockey team lost a tough one in double overtime. And lastly, our Little Falls/Brainerd girls hockey team also lost a nail-biter up north! Great seasons and love to see our athletes playing their best!
Please Contact Me
If you have any questions about what’s happening in St. Paul, please contact me at rep.ron.kresha@house.mn or by phone at 651-296-4247. My door is always open, and I welcome your feedback and input.
Have a great weekend,
Ron