Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Thank you for all your support during last November’s election. Even after getting off to a late start, we were able to put together a campaign of fresh ideas and hope for the future. I received 8499 votes, only 419 fewer than my opponent, the incumbent.

Though it was disappointing to lose, I was pleased with the positive response I got from the community. After spending the holidays with family, and after consulting with my wife, we decided to run again in 2006. I know that with an extra year’s hard work, and your continued support, we will turn the tables next time.

I’m sure many of you were as frustrated as I about this latest legislative session. Fortunately, Democrats were able to stand strong and keep the Governor from raiding the state’s health care access fund again. If I’m elected I will work hard not just to stop this unethical shift of funds intended to make health care accessible to the working poor, but I will support efforts to restore access to affordable, quality health care for those hard-working Minnesotans who were victims of the massive budget cuts in 2003. You can find more background on this issue in the “Hot Button” on health care to the left.

One of the greatest accomplishments of this session was the additional investment made in education. Public schools (K-12 as well as colleges and universities) will see a significant increase in funding this biennium. After the cuts in funding for education that caused increases in class sizes in school districts across the state and double-digit increases in tuition, this is a welcome change. Hopefully, we will see a commitment to a consistent, stable source of funding in the future. Unfortunately, districts with declining enrollment will be faced with continuing struggles and will likely have to go to taxpayers to maintain current programs. I will include more information on this issue under the “Hot Button” on education.

Unfortunately the Governor blew an opportunity to make a significant and much needed investment in reducing congestion and helping businesses and families save time and money when he vetoed a bipartisan transportation bill. 10 Republicans from the House of Representatives (most of them from the suburbs) voted with almost every Democrat for this bill. Those Republicans crossed the aisle at great political risk because they knew it was best for suburban commuters. It was a bill that would have improved our traffic problem South of the river significantly. Unfortunately my opponent did not support this bill. With your support I will work hard to be part of a veto proof majority to support investments in reducing congestion and helping commuters get home to their families faster. I will try to provide information from the 35W Solutions Alliance and other organizations about comprehensive plans to reduce congestion here in Burnsville and Savage. Look for this material on the “Hot Button” on transportation.

Please check back often for more information on these and other issues. Feel free to e-mail and consider a contribution to my campaign. The contribution limit for an individual to my campaign in an off-year is $100. Remember you may be eligible for a refund of up to $50 of that amount each year.

Thank you, again, for your support in the past. Thank you in advance for your support in the future.

Will Morgan
Candidate for House of Representatives