Hello from the State Capitol,
This week, the Minnesota House Capital Investment Committee heard my bill that would restore a surface of a four-mile stretch of Minnesota Highway 74 near Whitewater State Park.
In 2021, with no public notice or input, MnDOT unexpectedly removed the surface from this state highway and turned it into crushed rock. In my opinion, it was completely unfair for the department to single out an area and treat the people who utilize this roadway differently. Since then, it has become a safety hazard and is unsafe as visibility from the dust makes it almost impossible to see.
My proposal would allocate $1.2 million to use otta seal pavement and create a more drivable surface.
When people see they’re taking a state highway on their GPS, they do not expect to encounter rock, potholes and blinding dust. Further, otta seal would cost about half the price of crushed rock and the problems that come with grading this section of highway. To me, it’s high time we improve the only unpaved highway in the State of Minnesota.
The bill was held over for possible inclusion in a comprehensive capital investment plan that could be unveiled later this session.
COUNTIES WORRIED ABOUT THEIR FINANCIAL FUTURE
In our House human services committee, we continue to hear from residents and county officials who are concerned that the State is going to pass its financial problems onto its 87 counties. With a $6 billion budget deficit looming, and numerous – and expensive – Democrat mandates taking effect, counties are rightfully concerned that the legislature won’t slow the implementation of these costly laws and force counties to raise property taxes to make up the difference.
SOUTHWEST LIGHT RAIL NEEDS TO BE PERMANENTLY SIDETRACKED
In this week’s Minnesota Legislative Audit Commission hearing, we heard about the continued overruns regarding the Southwest Light Rail project, which is hundreds of millions of dollars over budget and should have been operational years ago.
We heard about the late addition of a crash wall that was expected to cost $37 million but instead will cost more than $82 million. And despite that mammoth price tag, the Met Council didn’t bother to re-open the bidding process.
Listening to the Southwest Light Rail discussion is extremely frustrating. Blank checks continue to be given away, which is extremely unfair to taxpayers. It would make so much more sense to increase the number of buses in this area instead of continuing to throw money at this boondoggle. We need to end our support for Southwest Light Rail and cut our losses.
DIFFERING OPINIONS ON SCHOOL BUS STOP ARM FINES
If ever you wondered about the differences in beliefs between Republicans and Democrats, look no further than the school bus stop arm debate.
Current law requires drivers to come to a complete stop when a school bus has extended its stop sign arm, which signals to drivers that children are going to enter or exit the bus.
Minnesota Senate Republicans have introduced a bill that would increase the fine for drivers who have repeatedly been cited for driving through the bus stop arm. House Democrats are supporting a bill that would eliminate driver fines if they break the stop arm law.
BODY CAM FOOTAGE OF SENATOR NICOLE MITCHELL’S ARREST TO BE RELEASED?
You’ll recall last year that State Senator Nicole Mitchell was arrested for burglary after allegedly breaking into her stepmother’s home in Detroit Lakes. Body camera footage from the arresting officer exists, but to date has not been released despite a request by Alpha News to do so.
This week the Minnesota Court of Appeals reversed a lower court decision and ruled in favor of Alpha News in their request for the release of body- and dash-camera footage from her arrest. The ruling clarifies that releasing the footage would help Minnesotans hold elected officials accountable, which is a benefit to the public that the district court should have considered. This case will now return to the district court.
KEEP IN TOUCH
As always, if you ever have any legislative questions, please contact me. I can be reached at rep.steven.jacob@house.mn.gov or by phone at 651.296.2273.
Have a good weekend,
Steve