Friends,
Congratulations to the Pioneers and Royals women’s basketball teams! Both had hard-fought victories last week. I am so proud of the Royalton-Upsala boys wrestling team. They are section champions and headed to state!
This week House Democrats offered a $1 Billion dollar bill with proposed payments to frontline workers. The presented bill is unworkable, and I believe creates classes of workers. Everyone has been inconvenienced and changed by the pandemic, and believe in the work of our nurses, doctors and first responders. But, the COVID crisis has divided us too much already and we do not need the government to offer more handouts and to pick favorites. We need to be focusing on workforce recruitment, small business growth, and rural community resurgence.
In short, we must rebuild our economy and communities and get back to community involvement. Companies are hiring in every industry and there is no shortage of opportunities. Now is the time to move away from government programs and to unleash unbridled entrepreneurship and innovation. Government handouts don’t’ motivate and encourage innovation, they stifle productivity.
Closer to home, I am excited to report that my legislation for the water improvement project in Swanville was heard in committee. Folks, I am tired of the Twin Cities getting all the glory. Whenever they need infrastructure, they get it. We need this project, and I am hopeful it will pass soon.
I offered a bill providing vocational grant funding for students. I expect that to go before committee soon. I care about our children. They need options and opportunities to reach their full potential.