By Dan Sparks

State Senator, District 27

On Wednesday night, Gov. Mark Dayton delivered his annual State of the State address. Traditionally, the address is delivered in a joint session of the legislature in the House Chamber. Due to the ongoing capitol renovation, it was held instead on the University of Minnesota campus. While there was a change of venue, the Governor’s message was consistent with much of the goals of my colleagues and me in the Senate.

Gov. Dayton highlighted much of the economic success Minnesota has had over the past few years. We have received accolades naming us as one of the best states for business and for our state’s economic strength. Increasingly, Minnesota stands as one of the true national leaders in the recovery since the Great Recession.

However, the latest economic forecast did provide a note of caution as national trends aren’t looking as strong, and I am glad the Governor has taken note. While we do have a surplus, projections are not as strong as they had been.

With that in mind, the Governor called for continuing the responsible approach we’ve taken. Balanced budgets and responsible policy decisions have helped us get to a surplus after too many years of deficits. We must continue these policies if we are to continue to see success.

While we should be thoughtful for how we manage the surplus, it’s clear there are also shared priorities that need to be addressed. One is finding a solution to the growing needs of our transportation network. We must pass a comprehensive transportation bill that can provide dedicated and sustainable funding for our roads and bridges.

Secondly, we should pass a tax bill this year that can provide targeted tax relief for middle-class families in Minnesota. Many suggestions have been made and should be explored, including a desire to continue to hold down or reduce property taxes. In addition to helping individual taxpayers, I believe there may be opportunities for other adjustments that can directly help the small businesses that make up much of our economy. I look forward to working on these issues this year.

Another opportunity which would pay dividends for our area is broadband internet. This is proving to be a major need for communities across Minnesota to remain competitive and attractive for new businesses and new residents. Addressing this issue means not only providing financial resources to make connections, but also updating our regulations to make Minnesota more competitive in the digital age. I am consistently hearing from our cities and businesses about the importance of this issue.

I’m also glad Governor Dayton highlighted the water quality issues facing Minnesota. The governor is proposing a large investment in upgrading our water infrastructure through the bonding bill, including four projects in our district that will go a long way to protecting water quality.  I am also happy to work with Cedar River Watershed District, the City of Austin, Vision 2020 and the Hormel Foundation on their forward thinking waterways proposals.

The Governor and my colleagues share many of the same priorities. Now as we face a short session, is the time for us to get to work and ensure the state of the state is strong today and for years to come.

If you have questions or concerns about legislation and the session, I encourage you to contact my office at 651-296-9248 or at sen.dan.sparks@senate.mn.