Goodwin: Balance Budget 'without Gimmicks or Shifts'

State Sen. Barb Goodwin (DFL-41) emailed this announcement Monday—a day before the new session begins at the Minnesota Legislature:

Thank you all for re-electing me to serve you in the State Senate. As the 2013 legislative session begins, I look forward to calls, e-mails, letters and office visits from people in our district. My new office is in the Capitol on the first floor, 124 D. Please call anytime you want to discuss an issue, give an opinion, or visit me. I can be reached at 651-296-4334.

I have been assigned to four committees. I will serve as Vice Chair of the Judiciary Committee. I will also serve on the full Finance Committee, Commerce, and State and Local Government. My focus, and hopefully all of ours, will be to concentrate on producing a balanced budget without gimmicks or shifts. We must also plan how we are going to pay back our schools. Of course, many other issues will arise as well, but hopefully the controversial ones will be held off until next year. After too many years of skirting the issue, a balanced budget will move Minnesota forward faster than anything else we can do. Again, thank you for putting your faith and trust in me. I will do all I can to earn it.

Same-Sex Marriage Issue
Goodwin, an outspoken opponent of amending the state Constitution to ban gay marriage, appears to echo Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook), who has said since the amendment's defeat that he doesn't see legalizing same-sex marriage as a front burner issue.

Update: Goodwin confirmed in an interview Monday that she would like same-sex marriage to wait until 2014. Look for more thoughts on the session from Fridley's legislative delegation in a separate upcoming post. 

In contrast, Sen. John Marty (DFL-Roseville) saw the election as keeping same-sex marriage on the table and has vowed to introduce a bill to legalize gay marital unions.

See:

• Goodwin Re-tries Adding No-Divorce to Gay-Marriage Ban

Fridley's Legislators
Fridley's representatives in the Minnesota Legislature, after redistricting and elections last year, are Goodwin in the state Senate and Connie Bernardy (DFL-41A) in the state House of Representatives.

Related:

• What Issues Should the Minnesota Legislature Focus on in 2013?
• PHOTO: MN Legislature Gets Ready for 2013–14 Session
• VIDEO: Rep. Kate Knuth's Farewell Speech to Minnesota Legislature