Legislative town hall meeting

On Saturday morning, February 9th, Senator Wiger, Representatives Lillie and Slawik, and County Commissioner Reinhardt held a town hall meeting at the Maplewood Library in anticipation of next week's opening of the 2008 legislative session. A quorum (Juenemann, Rossbach, Nephew) of the Maplewood City Council was among those assembled.

Major issues:

• Transportation - Wiger expects a comprehensive transportation funding bill to again be passed by both houses, and again face a likely veto. The 'Eastern Transportation Alliance' is focused on seeing that the east metro's needs are represented in the bill. Ramsey County's set of compromises aimed at hitting federal funding targets for the central corridor project will be debated and voted upon at the Februrary 12th county commissioner meeting. NorthEast Suburban Transit (NEST) is funded for the next year.
• Constitutional amendment for DNR funding.
• Educational funding. A group called P.S. Minnesota is advocating for sustainable funding.
• There is a legislative hearing Wednesday February 13th that will include bonding for Tubman's women's shelter at the St. Paul's Monastery site.