| | Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.  Dear neighbors, The Capitol is buzzing with energy and purpose as committee and Floor Sessions convene! I want to take a moment to thank my community for your support during the first few tumultuous weeks while we denied quorum to protect our free and fair elections here in Minnesota. It's truly a privilege to represent the great city of Rochester during these important times. Our community's values and needs remain at the forefront of my mind as we tackle the challenges of a split legislature ahead, and I’m excited to reach across the aisle and work with all of my colleagues. I'm honored to be serving on the Agriculture Finance and Policy, Commerce Finance and Policy, and Taxes committees for the next two years. This year, we are tasked with passing a state budget that is balanced and people-forward, so I’m especially excited to be on Taxes to fight for a more equitable system for Minnesotans. I’ve already introduced a bill to implement a “CEO tax” for companies whose CEO makes more than 50x their median worker wage, sliding based on the amount of the disparity. I also introduced legislation for capital investment for the Olmsted Recycling Facility. I joined the rest of the Rochester delegation in January to tour the facility, which is seeking investment to build and equip a bigger and better Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). Building an MRF in Rochester would be a great benefit to neighboring municipalities and counties, helping the entire region manage and recycle parts of waste rather than continuing to send trash to the Twin Cities for disposal or incineration. As we look to 2040 energy goals, an MRF facility would allow better use of discarded materials and help keep recyclables out of landfills. One of my top priorities this session is defending the significant progress we achieved over the past two years, especially reproductive freedom, Paid Family Leave, and expanding human rights for marginalized communities. While we made remarkable strides forward, some of our colleagues across the aisle have signaled intentions to roll back these hard-won gains. Rest assured, I remain committed to protecting our accomplishments while continuing to push for policies that benefit all Minnesotans. Visit from the University of Minnesota Rochester I had the pleasure of sitting down with a group of my constituents – students from the University of Minnesota Rochester! We had a lively conversation about student life, opportunities for career advancement in our community, and life in Rochester. I was thrilled to see so many of these students chose to move to Rochester from elsewhere to pursue higher education. It speaks to our strong community being a hub of advancement and innovation. Thanks for making the journey to Saint Paul!  A Warm Place to Be While we experience some of the coldest parts of a Minnesota winter, Rochester Public Transit is offering fare-free rides for those in need of relief from the cold through February 19th. Those caught outside in a dangerous situation can simply notify an RPT driver upon boarding that they need to escape the cold and warm up, and no fare will be charged to board the bus.  Call for Clergy in the House The Minnesota House of Representatives is seeking clergy to open legislative days with a prayer during the 2025 legislative session. If you are or know of a faith leader who may be interested, please reach out to my office. Faith leaders of all religions are welcome. Community Connection For many of us, the news coming out of Washington has been overwhelming lately. In between calling my congressmembers and working to protect our progress here in Minnesota, I’ve made a point to spend time connecting with community. No matter who we are or where we come from, it’s vital that we know and care for our fellow neighbors - we must find common ground with each other and love our community like family. We are lucky to have a fantastic library here in Rochester that puts on exciting events for people of all ages. I’ll be featuring free community events from the library and other local partners here this session so you can join in on fun happenings. Registration is required for some events, so be sure to check them out early. Here are some fun upcoming events to meet neighbors and make new friends. Rochester Public Library: Community Partners: - Book reading of “The Rainbow Parade” with author Emily Nielson, 5:40pm at Peace United Church of Christ, 1503 Second Ave NE.
If you know of exciting free events in our community, send them to me at rep.andy.smith@house.mn.gov to be added to the list! Stay Connected!Unfortunately, due to technological constraints, replies to this newsletter won’t reach my email account. To share your input or ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance, please feel free to reach out at rep.andy.smith@house.mn.gov or 651-296-9249, and I will be happy to help. If you were forwarded this email and you’d like to subscribe, click here. If you have a friend or neighbor who would be interested in receiving these, please forward this and encourage them to subscribe! Warmly, Andy Smith,
State Representative |