Dear Neighbors,
Mark your calendars for Townhall meetings I am co-hosting with our state senator, Rob Farnsworth, on March 25th. We are planning to have two meetings, one in Coleraine and another in Hibbing. This is a great opportunity for you to chat with Senator Farnsworth and me to discuss your thoughts, questions, and concerns about what’s going on in St. Paul. Details can be found below for March 25th’s townhalls:
- Mt. Itasca in Coleraine at 10:00 AM
- JJ’s Coffee and Cream in Hibbing at 1:00 PM
I hope to see you there!
House Approves Public Infrastructure Bill
On Monday, the Minnesota House approved two bills that fund public infrastructure projects around the state.
Thank you to everyone that has reached out and thanked me for my support of these bills. There were two critically important local projects included in this package that local officials, residents, and myself have been working on for years. Your support and efforts are greatly appreciated.
I have also heard from some of you that are disappointed or angry about my vote in support of these projects. I understand your frustration, but we’ll have to agree to disagree on this one.
As legislators, we have an obligation to represent the priorities and concerns of all the individuals and communities we are elected to represent. Not just a select few.
For the communities of Bovey, Coleraine, and Taconite, the threat posed by rising water levels at Canisteo is quite literally a matter of life and death. This bill will address that issue and make sure that property, public safety, and water quality are protected from rising water levels at the mine pit complex.
For the entire region, the construction of a public safety training center in Hibbing will make it easier for emergency services to do their jobs and keep us safe.
While other projects in this package did not deserve to be funded and I definitely would have preferred to use general fund dollars to pay for all the projects instead of just a select few, I nevertheless believe that we have a duty to take care of state-owned property and infrastructure—especially when it directly impacts public safety. This bill fulfills that duty.
Moving forward, I hope that this bipartisan support continues on other important issues like tax relief and the exemption of social security benefits from state income tax.
Staying in Touch
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions or concerns you may have. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-4936 or via email at rep.spencer.igo@house.mn.gov
Have a great day,
Spencer