Friends and neighbors, Big news in the House this week: Representative David Gottfried of Roseville was officially sworn in on Monday, returning the Minnesota House to the 67-67 tie voters intended last November.  I’m thankful the period of partisan chaos and uncertainty under Republican rule in the House has come to an end. Despite roadblocks put up by Republicans over the past few months, Democrats have successfully stood up to stop bad-faith bills that would harm Minnesotans. As for me, I have continued to fight for our Rochester community. Last week, I had two bill hearings on local projects, the first being a bill to fund the Rochester sewer improvement project. I welcomed Rochester City Council President Randy Schubring and Rochester Assistant City Administrator Ryan Yetzer to testify to the bill and how it would benefit Rochester. This project is a vital step in supporting Rochester’s rapid growth so that more people can be a part of our community.  I also had a bill hearing on a proposal to procure a liquor license for the Historic Chateau Theater. The Chateau has become a vibrant community hub for all sorts of events in Rochester. One of my favorite events I’ve been to at the Chateau is the yearly Christmas market. Should this bill pass, we (those of us over 21) would be able to sip a glass of glögg while perusing the handiwork of local vendors! Thank you for a fantastic town hall! My sincerest thanks to everyone who came to last weekend’s town hall with Attorney General Keith Ellison. While the main reason for gathering was to talk about medical debt, we had a robust conversation about a whole host of issues affecting our community. KIMT reported attendance between 200 and 300 people – that just might be record town hall turn out! We are looking to hold another forum towards the end of April, so keep your eyes peeled for a save the date coming soon. Puppy Day!Of all the days at the Capitol, Puppy Day has got to be one of the cutest! Thanks to the Animal Humane Society for bringing 3 (!!!) litters of puppies for an hour of socialization, pets, and snuggles. We have to take care of our furry friends, which is why I'm carrying a bill to outlaw the cruel practice of declawing cats. It's up to us to stand up for those who cannot stand up themselves—my new furry friend Scarlet agrees! All of the puppies will be available for adoption soon through the Animal Humane Society!  Community ConnectionFor 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: - Mystery Book Club, March 24th, 1-2pm. Adults.
- Craft & Chat, March 25th, 4-7pm. Adults.
- Meet Pete the Cat!, March 26th, 4:30-5:30pm. Ages 6-12.
- Folktales Family Storytime, March 31st, 10:30-11am. Ages 0-12.
- Li'l Petey's Robot Shop, March 31st, 2:30-3:30pm. Ages 6-12.
- April Fools' Day Scavenger Hunt, April 1st, All Day. All ages.
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 |