Dear Friends,
Committees are finalizing our omnibus budget bills, which we will be debating and passing off the House floor in the next couple of weeks. I will be sure to keep you updated on the bills as best I can. If you have questions, please email me at
rep.dave.baker@house.mn or call
651-296-6206.
My promise to our community when I ran for office was that shared government (with two parties at the table) works best when common sense people roll up their sleeves and get the work done to ensure the priorities Minnesotans care about are delivered in the most efficient manner possible. It's important to protect what makes Minnesota a great place to live while not over-taxing the families who pay for state government.
Please know I'm here fighting hard for you. I have been talking with my colleagues, committee chairs, and people from the Governor's office on many issues I want to see delivered.
I will fight for smart broadband support, I fought to make sure we took action on the Avian Flu outbreak, and I am working on funding for education, mental health, nursing homes, and other things families in our area care about. Already my Greater Minnesota colleagues and I have been successful in pushing for more broadband funding. We will continue that fight.
When you see people saying the "sky is falling" and criticizing our budget proposals, please know we have 4 long weeks of work ahead of us. Shared government requires give-and-take and good faith compromises which will be taking place over the next month.
I am proud to represent Kandiyohi County more than I can describe, and I hope you trust my leadership and know that I'm fighting here for the friends and neighbors in our community.
Avian Flu
Kandiyohi County has been hit hard by the avian flu outbreak.
Reports indicate we've lost more than 276,000 birds to date. Yesterday the House unanimously passed almost $900,000 in emergency funding to help health officials continue to respond to this growing crisis.
Governor Dayton, producers, as well as the federal, state, and local officials have done a great job responding to this situation, and have been doing everything they can to control it. I'm continuing to monitor this situation as closely as I can and have been working to remain in frequent contact with our turkey producers.
Please remember: According to health officials there is no risk to our food supply, and the risk of the disease being transmitted to humans—even those who work in the poultry industry—is extremely low. Keep our turkey farmers and producers in your prayers during this difficult time.
Announcements
The Middle Fork Crow River Watershed District is hiring an intern for the summer of 2015. It's a great opportunity for anyone interested in working in the environmental field. Applications are due April 30. Details on the MFCRWD website here: