Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I am very proud of what we were able to accomplish during my first session at the legislature.  We were able to finish our budget work on time, without the need for a special session, for the first time in almost a decade.  And we made important strides forward in the areas of education, health care and the environment that have laid a foundation for a stronger state.

On education we were able to provide some stability to our K-12 funding while beginning to fund the unfunded mandate of special education.  At the same time we passed reforms that will help us get a handle on the increasing costs of special education as we move ahead.  We made important investments in early childhood education that will pay great dividends in the long run.  We also passed the best higher education bill in more than a decade.  It should keep tuition increases to a minimum, expanding access to higher education and creating a better educated workforce.

On health care we expanded access to affordable health care so that almost 60,000 more Minnesotans will be covered (including 37,000 children).  We provided increased funding for nursing homes so they can attract and retain quality staff and maintain a high standard of care for our vulnerable senior citizens.  We also passed health care reforms that will streamline the delivery of care and begin to get a handle on skyrocketing costs.

Some of the greatest successes of the session were in the area of energy and the environment.  Bi-partisan majorities in both houses passed the most aggressive renewable energy standard in the country that will begin to reduce our dependence on foreign oil by requiring 25% of our energy to come from renewable sources by 2025.  In addition we passed the global warming mitigation act that will reduce our production of greenhouse gases by 80% by 2050.  

Surely there is more to be done.  School districts are still not made whole from the damage that was done with 2 years of flat funding 4 years ago.  Though we covered more kids, we haven’t found the resources to cover all kids yet.  We still have much work to do filling the more than $1.5 billion annual shortfall in transportation funding.

However, we used the resources we did have wisely to make investments in the things that pay the most dividends for the families and businesses of this state.  We are moving in the right direction again, and I’m proud to have had the opportunity to serve my district and be a part of this past session.

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

Will Morgan
Minnesota House of Representatives District 40A