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April 28, 2010 Dear Neighbors, I wanted to remind you of the Town Meeting I’m hosting tomorrow night, Thursday, April 29 at 7:00 at Eagan City Hall. Joining me will be State Demographer Tom Gillaspy, as well as Representative Mike Obermueller and Senator Jim Carlson. We’ll be talking about Minnesota’s changing demographics and the public policy implications for Minnesota’s budget in the coming decade. There’s much more at stake for Minnesota than just whether or not we hold on to a congressional seat. Census information is used to attract new businesses, plan for hospitals and school projects and create maps to speed emergency services to households needing assistance, so it’s important to get an accurate count to help us effectively plan for Minnesota’s future. In addition to the census information, we’ll be providing a brief overview of the 2010 Legislative Session so far and a roadmap of the work remaining in the final few weeks of the session. It’s a good opportunity to learn more, ask questions, and weigh in on the issues so drop by if you can. I always appreciate the feedback I get at meetings with constituents. If you’re unable to make it to the meeting, please continue to contact me with your questions and concerns. I always appreciate your input. I hope to see you tomorrow night! Sincerely, Sandy State Representative Sandra Masin House District 38A Posted 04-28-2010 April 27, 2010 The Pioneer Press published a Sainted and Taintend list on 04/23/2010 in their Opinion page [downloaded on 4/27/2010 from here.] An excerpt of the list is reproduced below: SAINTED Ruben Rosario, Rep. Jim Carlson, Rep. Sandy Masin, Eagan Chief of Police Jim McDonald and Rep. Mike Obermueller for not only taking their time, but truly participating with local residents in a conversation about the local aftermath of the immigration fallout. We, in Eagan, truly appreciate their willingness to talk about the complicated and uncomfortable topic of immigration reform. Gracias for the recognition that, although our federal policy makers will have great debate and final decision-making, "all politics is local." We look forward to further discussion. Danielle Baas Molliver, South St. Paul The writer is pastoral associate for justice and charity at St. John Neumann Church, Eagan. Posted 04-27-2010 March 31, 2010 Dear Neighbors, The 2010 Legislative Session is only half-over. But already state lawmakers have made significant progress on much of the work we set out to do. In just six weeks, we have passed two major jobs initiatives, resolved one-third of the budget deficit, restored health care for 70,000 of Minnesota’s poorest, sickest people, passed comprehension absentee ballot reform, and made needed progress on a bipartisan small business agenda. Bonding Bill (HF2700) – The Minnesota House has passed a jobs-targeted bonding bill that will put many Minnesotans back to work. The bill makes strategic investments in high-priority, shovel-ready infrastructure improvements. Economic Development (HF2695) – Continuing our focus on the economy and job creation, we passed new tax incentives that will help small businesses, spur needed economic development, and create jobs in bioscience, manufacturing, construction, and the emerging clean energy economy. General Assistance Medical Care (HF2680) – Working together, lawmakers have passed a bipartisan solution that partially restores basic health care for 70,000 of Minnesota’s poorest, sickest people, and prevents 20,000 working adults from losing MinnesotaCare coverage. Budget Cuts (HF1671) – The Minnesota House has resolved one-third of the state’s $1 billion budget shortfall. Making carefully-crafted, strategic budget cuts, lawmakers have already trimmed $312 million in state spending. Our work on balancing the budget continues as we wait to hear how potential federal dollars could impact Minnesota’s budget outlook. Bipartisan Small Business Agenda The bipartisan Small Business Caucus I am a member of is taking action to make Minnesota a better place to do business. Eight bills backed by the Caucus would free up needed capital, cut red tape, and better-connect small businesses with existing state resources. Several of those bills passed this week in the economic development bill (HF2695) including an Angel Investor Tax Credit and expansion of Minnesota’s Research and Development Credit. Work on the other six bills is ongoing. Election Reform (HF3108) – Acting on lessons learned during the 2008 US Senate election recount, lawmakers passed bipartisan election reforms to make our voting system the most reliable in the nation – while helping Minnesotans cast their ballots more easily. With seven weeks left in the legislative session, we still have important work left to do. The Legislature is scheduled to adjourn May 17th. Please contact me in the weeks ahead with your questions, suggestions, or concerns. As always, I look forward to hearing from you. Whether you celebrate Easter or Passover, I hope you all have an enjoyable holiday weekend. Sincerely, Sandy State Representative Sandra Masin House District 38A Town Hall Meeting with State Demographer Tom Gillaspy Please join me and State Demographer Tom Gillaspy for a town hall meeting at 7:00 PM on April 29 at Eagan City Hall for a discussion on the 2010 Census. We’ll be talking about Minnesota’s changing demographics and the public policy implications for Minnesota’s budget in the coming decade. Much attention has been paid to the forthcoming 10-year census because it will determine whether Minnesota retains or loses one of its eight seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. The census count also impacts everything from the way local city council wards get drawn up to the way legislative districts are redesigned. Perhaps most important, according to Masin, is the influence the census will have on the way federal money is distributed to state safety net programs, low-income housing loans, local government aid and a host of other federal, state and local programs. There’s so much more at stake for Minnesota than just whether or not we hold on to a congressional seat. Census information is used to attract new businesses, plan for hospitals and school projects and create maps to speed emergency services to households needing assistance, so it’s important to get an accurate count to help us effectively plan for Minnesota’s future. In addition to the census information, I’ll be providing a brief overview of the 2010 Legislative Session. I hope you’ll come with your questions and concerns about the census and any other issue related to state government. May 5 - Veterans Career Fair To celebrate Hire a Veteran Month in Minnesota, the annual Minnesota Veterans Career Fair will be held on Wednesday, May 5, in Brooklyn Center. Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are available. The event is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Earle Brown Heritage Center, 6155 Earle Brown Drive. Employers can sign up or get more information by calling 763-785-6461 or by sending an e-mail to char.morgan@state.mn.us. More details are available at www.PositivelyMinnesota.com/Veterans. Sandra Masin State Representative 38A 527 State Office Building 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155 (651) 296-3533 Direct (651) 296-8803 Fax www.house.mn/38A Posted 03-31-2010 March 24, 2010 Dear Neighbors, I hope you’ve all been enjoying our early spring weather -- I know I am. Those who are familiar with the Capitol complex know that all of the House offices are located in the State Office Building across the street from the Capitol. During the winter months we travel back and forth from our offices to the Capitol using a long underground tunnel. As we move further into the legislative session, our days get busier and floor sessions last longer, so it’s always a nice break to enjoy the warmer weather by making the trips back and forth outside. I read in the paper today that we stand a good chance of having a snow-free March for the first time since they started tracking weather data in 1884. This week has been one of the busier ones in an already unusually busy session. Monday we passed a bill to balance one-third of our state’s $994 million budget deficit. The cuts came from 10 different service areas and total $312 million. Excluded from these cuts are Health and Human Services and K-12 education. We are currently trying to determine the impact the federal healthcare reform legislation that President Obama signed into law yesterday will have on Minnesota, but we know we stand to gain significant funding for both Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements that will help offset our budget challenges at least a little. So before making additional cuts, we are waiting to get a clear picture from Washington. My fellow legislators and I have also made significant progress on a jobs-focused agenda that aims to address our serious economic and fiscal challenges facing Minnesota. Well ahead of schedule, we’ve passed legislation that will put thousands of Minnesotans back to work, provide basic health care for 85,000 poor, sick Minnesotans, help small businesses compete in a global economy, and make Minnesota’s election system the best in the country. We still have difficult decisions ahead, but just as we’re seeing signs of spring, we’re seeing bits of good news on the horizon – not the least of which is that for the first time since 2005, Minnesota added jobs to the economy in January. While we still have a long way to go to achieve a full recovery, we need to take our good news anywhere we can. In the weeks ahead, I’ll continue working to get people working again and to return our state to firm financial footing. Please continue to contact me with your questions, suggestions and ideas. I always appreciate your input. Sincerely, Sandy State Representative Sandra Masin House District 38A
Please Share Your Input – Take My Legislative Survey With many serious issues confronting our state, I appreciate hearing from constituents. I believe open dialogue with the people of our district allows me to be a better representative, and I often find myself wishing all of my colleagues in the Legislature had the same common sense, compassion and savvy the people of our district seem to have. I have created an online survey for you to share your ideas about what you think our priorities should be. Please take a few minutes to complete it by visiting my House website. South Metro Communities in Race to Get Faster Internet Service Google has announced plans to build and test ultra-high speed broadband networks in a number of trial locations across the country. The network would deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today with 1 gigabit per second, fiber-to-the-home connections. Communities across the nation have entered the race to win one of the Google grants, including a couple of them right here in the south metro. Dakota Future, a collaborative effort of business, education and local units of government is submitting an application on behalf of Dakota County, and the Cities of Eagan and Burnsville are submitting applications as well. To learn more about the either the Dakota Future or the Eagan and Burnsville plans and applications, visit their websites at: Dakota Future Fiber City of Eagan City of Burnsville Posted 03-24-2010 March 5, 2010 The Dorothy Day Center provides meals, food shelf and medical care for homeless and near-homeless individuals in the Twin Cities metro area. FISHAPALOOZA, a large ice fishing event, took place on Feb 27, 2010. The event participants donated the the caught fish to the Dorothy Day Center in downtown St. Paul.
Posted 03-05-2010 March 3, 2010 Dear Neighbors, Last week the Minnesota House voted overwhelmingly – by a vote of 125-9 – to restore General Assistance Medical Care (GMAC). The bill we passed would have temporarily restored GAMC, a program which provides basic health care to 85,000 Minnesotans. The legislative solution represents three inherent Minnesota values – compassion, common sense and fiscal responsibility. The Governor’s plan to auto-enroll GAMC recipients in MinnesotaCare would provide care to only 21,000 persons per month at a cost of $937 per enrollee for six months. The legislative solution would provide care to 38,000 per month at a cost of $457 per enrollee for sixteen months. Rep. Erin Murphy said it best when she said “While Minnesotans are short on budgetary resources, we’ve got no shortage of conscience.” This legislation would care for our poorest and sickest citizens, protect jobs, taxpayers, businesses, and do so at a significantly reduced cost to Minnesota taxpayers. Unfortunately, within hours of the bill’s passage, the Governor vetoed it. While negotiations continued with his office throughout the weekend, an agreement was not reached, and an attempt to override the veto in the House on Monday was unsuccessful when the 38 Republicans who originally supported the bipartisan reform proposal voted to uphold the Governor’s veto. Starting this week, the Pawlenty Administration will move forward with its plan to auto-enroll former GAMC recipients into MinnesotaCare. That means more than 30,000 of our Minnesota’s poorest and sickest citizens will receive notice that they will be enrolled in another program that will end up costing the state more money and offer less coverage. Additionally, another 20,000 people will lose their healthcare as a result of these changes. At the time of this update, we continue to look for another responsible way to move forward, and I am committed to doing whatever I can to come up with a solution that is acceptable to all sides. I will continue to keep you updated as we move forward. Sincerely, Sandy State Representative Sandra Masin House District 38A Making our Roads Safer, Reducing Distracted Driving Last session, the Legislature passed and Governor Pawlenty signed a bill that made Minnesota one of nearly two dozen states in which it is illegal to text while driving. In 2008, more than 6000 deaths nationwide were attributed to distracted driving. As a result, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is pushing to ban texting while driving in all 50 states. Today, David Teater of the National Safety Council (NSC), one of the nation’s foremost authorities on distracted driving will testify on the issue at a hearing of the House Transportation and Transit Policy and Oversight Division. Most recently, Mr. Teater served as a board member, investor and consultant to Aegis Mobility, a company developing technology solutions to distracted driving. He joined the NSC because of his passion to save lives, particularly related to distracted driving. Six years ago his 12-year-old son, Joe, died in a crash when the Teater car was struck at an intersection by a young woman who ran a red light while talking on a cell phone. Since then, David has made it his life’s work to advocate for the need to stop cell phone use while driving. David has spoken to many groups and appeared before several legislatures, advocating for bans on cell phone use while driving. SMALL BUSINESS SURVEY RESULTS This fall, the bipartisan Small Business Caucus has been working to identify and address some of the challenges facing small businesses in Minnesota. That work began with a coordinated effort to listen to the concerns of small business owners. We collected input from nearly 1,100 small business owners statewide through a legislative survey. While not scientific survey, it did provide valuable insights that will help us shape policy proposals to help create a more favorable business climate. A comprehensive summary of the results can be found at http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/10smallbusinessresults.pdf. Members of the Small Business Caucus have begun considering this input and are crafting specific policies to help make Minnesota an even better place to do business. A story about some of those proposals appeared in the business section of the Pioneer Press last week. Read more about them at http://www.twincities.com/business/ci_14473803?nclick_check=1. Posted 03-03-2010 February 16, 2010 Dear Neighbors, It’s hard to believe that the 2010 Legislative Session is less than 2 weeks old. The pace of the session is faster than any I’ve seen since coming to Capitol. Last night, we passed a signature piece of our jobs agenda – the House Capital Investment Bill. Also known as the bonding bill, it is one of the few ways that state government can give our weak job market a boost. Even more important, it is the way the state invests in critical infrastructure, higher education and clean water infrastructure and environmental protection measures. I was pleased that the bill includes a provision I authored to add a third lane to reduce congestion on Cedar Avenue. It also included funding for our state colleges and universities, including nearby Dakota County Technical College was included in the bill. Enrollment at our state higher education schools are at an all-time, especially in important workforce development and worker re-training programs. My top priority as your legislator is to do whatever I can to get people working again – whether through legislation like the bonding bill, or by working on strategies to create a more favorable climate for the small businesses that are our state’s largest job creators. While I am not supportive of every single project in the bill, I am hopeful we can act swiftly to pass this very important legislation. Creating jobs and investing in the future of our state shouldn’t be a partisan issue. I hope that spirit will guide us toward the successful passage of an affordable, reasonable, and jobs-focused bonding bill. Sincerely, Sandy State Representative Sandra Masin House District 38A LOOKING FOR A JOB? The United States Census Bureau needs a number of temporary employees to work on the 2010 Census. These short-term jobs offer good pay, flexible hours, paid training, and reimbursement for authorized work-related expenses, such as mileage incurred while conducting census work. [see more here] Census taker jobs are excellent for people who want to work part-time, those who are between jobs, or just about anyone who wants to earn extra money while performing an important service for their community. For more information, visit: http://2010.census.gov/2010censusjobs/ OTHER RESOURCES FOR JOB SEEKERS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS I want to make sure job seekers and small business owners are aware of every resource that is available to them from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and Workforce Centers.
For more information, contact the Dakota County Workforce Centers. Dakota County Workforce Center North 1 Mendota Road W, Suite 170 West St. Paul, MN 55118-4764 Phone: 651.554.5955 Dakota County Workforce Center East Southcross Commerce Center IV 2900 W County Road 42, Suite 140 Burnsville, MN 55337 Phone: 952.895.7600 Attend a Job Fair There are several job fairs scheduled in the Metro area. For a list of job fairs in Minnesota, e-mail: DEED.Jobfairs@state.mn.us. Employment Services for Veterans Several helpful resources for veterans, including those recently returned home can be found by calling (651) 259-7557 or go online at: http://bit.ly/dCNZRG. Small Business Assistance Office Business guidebooks and individual consultation is available to small business owners. For more information call (651) 556-8427 or e-mail deed.mnsbao@state.mn.us. Small Business Development Centers To attend a small business workshop, visit http://bit.ly/anvlKf. Small Business Loans and Grants Congress recently passed legislation to free up $4.5 billion more in needed lending for small businesses nationwide through an extension of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). To see if your business can take advantage visit: http://www.sba.gov/financialassistance/borrowers/guaranteed/. Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development For many other resources, visit www.positivelyminnesota.com or call 1-888-438-5627. STAY INFORMED In addition to these regular email updates, there are a number of ways for Minnesotans to follow major issues and get a behind-the-scenes look at the legislative process. The Senate and House produce award-winning weekly and daily news magazines during the legislative session online and in print. To subscribe or for general information about the House (651) 296-2146, Senate (651) 296-0504, and legislative process, visit the Legislature’s website and click on “general information”. You can also track bills I’m working on at my House website. MORE ON THE 2010 CENSUS
The Census is conducted every ten years to count everyone living in the United States. Beginning in mid-March, the Census Bureau will mail out short questionnaires to your home. When you complete and mail in your Census form, you are helping our state and community. The Census helps determine our state’s representation in the U.S. Congress and is used to allocate federal and state funding, which affects jobs, our economy, health care, and education. Census data is also used by businesses, governments, schools and non-profit agencies for program, business, comprehensive and service plans. You can find out more about the 2010 Census and its impact on Minnesota and our community. Sandra Masin State Representative 38A 527 State Office Building 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155 (651) 296-3533 Direct (651) 296-8803 Fax www.house.mn/38A Posted 02-16-2010 January 31, 2010 Dear Neighbors, On February 2, 2010 Please remember to attend the PRECINCT CAUCUS. This is the first step in election process. Each precinct in our District (SD38) will hold a caucus and provide its voice in the process. The SD38 Precinct Caucus will be held on February 2, 2010 Starting at 6:00pm at the Eagan High School on Braddock Trail in Eagan. Agenda: 6:00pm - 7:00pm Registration in Rooms assigned for each Precinct. There will be tables with PRECINCT FINDERS so you can find your Precinct, and the room where your Precinct convenes. 6:30pm - 6:45pm Rally for DFL Victory in the EHS Cafeteria 7:00pm Precinct Caucuses Called to Order and the Caucus begins. During the program, Resolutions will be considered and voted on. 8:00pm The Gubernatorial Preference Ballots are tallied and announced at each Precinct Adjourn after 8:00pm This is an important step in the democratic political process. Please come and join us! Posted 01-31-2010 January 27, 2010 Dear Neighbors, The new Legislative Session is slated to begin on February 4, 2010. This Legislative Session promises to be among the most challenging in the history of our State. It is more important than ever that I hear from you about your priorities, the issues that are important to you, and any feedback you may wish to provide to me as I, along with the other legislators, struggle with the budget and priorities and problems facing the state and each and every one of us! On Saturday January 30, 2010 between 10am and Noon, there will be a Listening Session at Rassmussen College in Eagan so we can hear your input! All three Legislators from Eagan will be in this Listening Session: Sen. Jim Carlson, Rep. Sandra Masin and Rep. Mike Obermueller. Please join us and let us hear from you! Updated 2010-01-27 January 20, 2010 Dear Neighbors, This Friday, January 22 from noon to 2:00 PM, members of the House Commerce Committee will join me and Rep. Mike Obermueller at Eagan City Hall for a roundtable discussion about small business issues, labor concerns and regulatory policies that impact Minnesota’s business community. After brief introductory remarks, we will open the floor to you for questions and remarks. This is a great opportunity for small business owners in Eagan to share their concerns about the challenges they face in the current economy, and what state policymakers can do to facilitate a more favorable business climate for the long term. I hope to see you Friday. If you're unable to make it, please feel free to contact me at my office via phone or email. I value your opinion, and your input helps me better represent you at the State Capitol. Warm regards, Sandy State Representative Sandra Masin House District 38A 527 State Office Building 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155 (651) 296-3533 Direct (651) 296-8803 Fax www.house.mn/38A State Reps. Sandra Masin and Mike Obermueller invite you to a Small Business Roundtable Conversation House Commerce & Labor Committee, Rep. Joe Atkins, Chair Eagan City Hall, Council Chambers Friday, January 22 Noon – 2:00 p.m. Updated 2010-01-20 December 10, 2009 Dear Neighbors, Here is an article written by MORDECAI SPECKTOR about the trip of the group of legislators. Thee article was published on NOVEMBER 27, 2009 in The American Jewish World. [PDF, 2.2MB] Enjoy! Warm regards, Sandy Sandra Masin State Representative 38A 527 State Office Building 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155 (651) 296-3533 Direct (651) 296-8803 Fax www.house.mn/38A Posted 2009-12-10 December 1, 2009 Dear Neighbors, I wanted to remind you about the Town Hall Meeting I’ll be hosting with Rep. Mike Obermueller this Thursday at the Eagan Community Center. We’ll be in the Lone Oak Room from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. I hope you’ll take this opportunity to stop by to share your questions, concerns and ideas about the serious issues we’re facing as a state and what you believe our priorities should be. With the start of the Legislative Session just 2 months away, the feedback I get from constituents is more important than ever. If you’re unable to make it on Thursday, please contact me at anytime. I value your opinion and input to help me make decisions that will help keep Eagan and Burnsville great places to live, work and raise a family. Warm regards, Sandy Sandra Masin State Representative 38A 527 State Office Building 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155 (651) 296-3533 Direct (651) 296-8803 Fax www.house.mn/38A Posted 2009-12-1 Thanksgiving Day 2009 Today is Thanksgiving. I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! It is hard to believe how fast time flies. Things at the Capitol are already gearing up as we prepare for the 2010 Legislative Session. With the start of the session less than 3 months away, the agenda is full with serious issues, but none is more pressing than getting Minnesota’s job market back to good health. Over 240,000 Minnesotans have lost their jobs during the recession so far - including many of our neighbors. Many people may be next. Many thousands have already exhausted their unemployment benefits. The House Jobs Task Force, of which I am a member, met with economists, business leaders, employers and workers to develop strategies to move our state forward and get people working again. A Legislative Small Business Caucus, to which I belong, launched a survey to gather information from small business owners about the obstacles they face and what state government can to do to facilitate a more favorable business climate. You can find the survey online at http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/smallbusinesssuggestions.asp. I encourage every small business owner in our community to participate. At one of our recent meetings, we were fortunate to hear from two of our local businessmen who made presentations about the unique challenges they face, including the rising cost of health care. This month, I had an incredible opportunity to travel to Israel and the West Bank as part of a Minnesota legislative delegation. The trip was filled with unforgettable moments, but one of the memorable was a visit to Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Memorial and Museum, located at the foot of Mount Herzl on the Mount of Remembrance in Jerusalem. Our group, each of whom paid our own expenses, included State Rep. Bernie Lieder, who as part of the 102nd Division of the U.S. Army was among those who liberated the Gardenlagen concentration camp during World War II. During our visit to the Holocaust History Museum and Children’s Memorial, Rep. Lieder was honored with the privilege of rekindling the eternal flame and laying a wreath at a special ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance. It was an emotional tribute to one of Minnesota’s own Greatest Generation, and it was an honor for me to be a part of it. (see below on this page for the press release on the trip.) As always, please contact me with your questions about any state government issue. Warm regards, Sandy State Representative Sandra Masin House District 38A
Posted 2009-11-26 November 23, 2010 Here is a press release about a trip to Israel which I just returned from: A group of ten Minnesota legislators, including State Rep. Sandra Masin of Eagan, took part on an eight day trip to Israel, and the West Bank this month. In addition to visiting sites of religious and historical significance, the group of legislators participated in meetings with local officials and discussed: • The current state of peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority including meetings with chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, and an official from the Israeli Foreign Ministry • Met with the parents of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, and presented proclamations from the cities Minneapolis and St. Paul demanding his release from Hamas captivity in Gaza, as well as numerous letters of solidarity from Minnesota residents • Participated in a ceremony at Israel's Holocaust Memorial Museum, Yad Vashem, honoring Representative Bernie Lieder for his role in liberating Nazi forced labor camps in World War II • Discussed joint Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian initiatives to address regional water issues. The group visited Peace Island in the Jordan River, the site of a proposed international peace park to promote tourism, water conservation, and other cross-border cooperative ventures between Israel and Jordan • Toured West Bank city of Bethlehem and met with Palestinian civic leaders and youth • Visited three Israeli high tech companies, Bright Source Energy, Cima Nanotech, and Better Place which are conducting intensive research and development of technologies to promote solar energy, and electric vehicles. Cima Nanotech is headquartered in St. Paul with its R&D operations in Ceasaria, Israel • Visited an Israeli pre-school for Ethiopian Jewish immigrants, funded in part by donations from the Minneapolis Jewish Federation • Toured the Golan Heights and received a briefing on security issues along Israel's border with Syria and Lebanon with a retired Israeli General. • Met with the director of the Geneva Initiative, a non-governmental organization that has developed a joint Israeli and Palestinian blueprint for a peace agreement. “This trip was filled with unforgettable moments, and the journey itself has been eye-opening,” said Rep. Sandra Masin (DFL-Eagan). “Experiencing the historical significance of this region first-hand helped me gain insight into the complexity of the current conflict, and the importance of forging a path to peace that will make the region and the world safer and more secure. It was an incredible opportunity and I was honored to be a part of it.” Minnesota lawmakers joining Representative Masin on the visit include Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL-Minneapolis), Sen. Terri Bonhoff (DFL-Minnetonka), Rep. Bernie Lieder (DFL-Crookston), Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL-Rochester), Rep. Steve Simon (DFL-Saint Louis Park), Rep. Jeremy Kalin (DFL-North Branch), Rep. Sarah Anderson (R-Plymouth), Sen. Ann Rest (DFL-Golden Valley), and Rep. Phyllis Kahn (DFL-Minneapolis). “This was a very successful trip,” said Hornstein. “Our interfaith and bipartisan group had a chance to experience many dimensions of this dynamic region, including diverse perspectives on the peace process. It is more important than ever for leaders at all levels of government to develop a global perspective, especially in a region of such significance for Christians, Jews, and Muslims.” Members of the delegation are available for interviews concerning any of the above topics and to share general perspectives on the trip. All of the trip participants covered their own expenses, and the delegation's visit was not sponsored by any organization. Several local groups assisted with specific meetings. The Minneapolis Jewish Federation coordinated the visit to the child care center, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas and Israel Programs Center of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation arranged the meeting with Gilad Shalit's parents, and the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce – Minnesota helped to connect the delegation with Cima Nano Tech, an Israeli high tech company. Updated 2009-11-23 8-23-2009 Thank you so much for your vote of confidence in re-electing me last November 2008 to represent you in the Minnesota House of Representatives! As most of you are aware, the legislative session was difficult and I will write about more, so please come back to this website to keep up with what is going on. On August 20, 2009, House Speaker Margaret Anderson-Kelliher announced my appointment to the Minnesota House Jobs Task Force, which, according to a news release, "will focus on economic development, capital investments and tax policies that will create significant job growth for Minnesotans." The group is expected to begin meeting in September. I look forward to working with each of you to address these issues and continue the work to make Minnesota an even better place to live. As always, my door is open to all and I'd like to hear your thoughts and ideas. And, again, thank you all for your continued support! Sandra Masin, Representative District 38A Posted 2009-08-23 |
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