Community Corner

Updated: Goodwin Sees 'Wisconsin politics' in Minnesota Teacher-union Bill

A bill on teacher unions puts 'Wisconsin politics into the Minnesota Capitol," says Sen. Barb Goodwin.

Changes to collective bargaining for public employees are making their way to Minnesota, according to state Sen. Barb Goodwin (DFL-50).

She accused Republicans of trying to "bring Wisconsin politics into the Minnesota Capitol" in a statement opposing a bill that would prohibit teacher strikes and put restrictions on teacher-contract negotiation process.

The bill, S.F. 208, got its first hearing Monday afternoon before the Minnesota Senate's State Government Innovation and Veterans Committee. Goodwin is a member of the committee. 

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UPDATE: Goodwin said the bill passed out of committee Monday on a party-line vote. She said she asked school-district and school-administrators representatives why their groups supported limits on teachers' contract negotiations but not on contract negotiations for principals and other school administrators.  

Bills from Fridley's Legislators
Here are the bills that Fridley's senators and representatives authored or co-authored since last week's Capitol Review.

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Sen. Barb Goodwin (DFL-50)
Introduced S.F. 656 (chief author): Issues $500,000 in state bonds to design and build  a bicycle and pedestrian trail along 85th Avenue westbound from the BNSF railroad tracks to East River Road and through adjacent park land to connect with the regional trail in Coon Rapids. Co-authored S.F. 603, requiring every college and university in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MNSCU)system to accept credit transfers from other MNSCU institutions; and S.F. 704, extending until 2016 the date by which health clinics with two or fewer physicians must use electronic medical records.  

Sen. Pam Wolf (R-51)
Co-authored S.F. 759, creating a Coon Rapids Dam Commission and appropriating $440,000 for design work to make the Coon Rapids Dam a barrier to invasive species.  

Rep. Carolyn Laine (DFL-50A) 
Co-authored one bill: H.F. 914, a Constitutional amendment defining personhood in state law. No new bills chief-authored since last week's Capitol Review

Rep. Tom Tillberry (DFL-51B) 
Co-authored two bills: H.F. 1043, creating special penalties for repeat violators of motor-vehicle property crimes ; and H.F. 847, requiring health plans to cover prosthetics and orthotics. No new bills chief-authored since last month

Who is your representative and senator? Type your address into the Legislature's online District Finder.


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