Dear Friends and Neighbors,I hope this message finds you well as we begin another exciting legislative session here in St. Paul. It’s an honor to represent Prior Lake, Jordan, Shakopee, Spring Lake Township, Sand Creek Township, Jackson Township, and Louisville Township and work on behalf of our shared priorities. With the new session underway, I wanted to share a few updates about what’s happening at the Capitol and the work I’m doing to make Minnesota an even better place to call home.  Swearing in and Start of Session On Tuesday, I took the oath of office to officially begin my second term as your state representative. Serving our district is a responsibility I take seriously, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to continue advocating for you. As we move past the current conflict and the session unfolds, I remain committed to working with all legislators to address the challenges facing Minnesota families. The Debate Surrounding Quorum You may have heard conflicting claims about the definition of a quorum. Simply put, a quorum is defined as the minimum number of people that can be present to make a meeting legitimate. The Minnesota State Constitution states that a quorum in the Minnesota House is the majority of all the members of the House. Typically, that majority of the House would be 68 of 134 total members. However, with the Democrat Candidate for 40B being ruled as ineligible to hold office, Republicans interpret a quorum as 67 of the now 133 total members of the House. While this is challenged and debated, I will continue to show up to work and find reasonable solutions to the issues facing our communities.  Committee Assignments As the only current school principal serving in any level of state government, I am honored to be Vice-Chair of the Education Finance Committee. I will continue to bring a "boots on the ground" perspective to the policies we discuss and work to build strong schools. I’m also excited to join the Labor and Workforce Committee. Already this week, we heard from public and private business leaders about the impact of recent business mandates passed and ideas to make these mandates workable. Stay Connected Your input is essential to me as I work on your behalf. Whether you have concerns, ideas, or questions, I encourage you to reach out. You can contact me by email rep.ben.bakeberg@house.mn.gov or by phone at 651-296-5185. I also look forward to hearing from you at one of my upcoming town halls—details will be shared soon. Thank you for trusting me to represent you at the Capitol. Together, we can make a difference and build a brighter future for Minnesota families. Have a great weekend! |