Legislators' Three Rs: Reading, Writing and River

Education is on the minds of Fridley-area legislators, from big funding bills to charter-school finance tweaks.

State Sen. Pam Wolf (R-51) introduced a bill last week intended to give charter schools better bargaining position when they renegotiate leases for rented space. Landlords know the state's formula for providing lease aid and seek to charge the full amount no matter what market conditions dictate, said Wolf aide Joyce Bentser. Schools also lack incentive to get better lease deals because the state funding can only go toward rent.

Wolf's bill would reward schools that are able to negotiate cheaper leases with half of the savings and let them apply that amount other purposes. 

K–12 Education
Meanwhile, state Rep. Tom Tillberry (DFL-51A) is cheering Gov. Dayton's education funding proposal.

“I’m pleased to see that Governor Dayton understands that our schools need more funding — period," Tillberry said in a statement. "The governor’s education budget bill not only increases funding, it targets it to the areas where we need the most help and where it will be the most successful. Placing the focus on early childhood education, excellence and innovation will not only help work toward closing the achievement gap, it will lead to greater excellence throughout our entire education system."

Coon Rapids Dam
A bill that would create a commission for the Coon Rapids Dam as well as appropriate more than $400,000 for design work to make the dam an invasive-species barrier gets a hearing today before the Senate State Government Innovation and Veterans Committee. Wolf is a co-author of the bill.

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

Sen. Barb Goodwin (DFL-50)
Co-author of S.F. 895 and chief author of S.F. 975, bills appropriating funds for public safety, the judicial-standards board, tax court and secretary of state, and easing land-sales requirement for state-owned property. 

Sen. Pam Wolf (R-51)
In addition to S.F. 977, Wolf co-authored S.F. 894, which would prohibit abortions at 20 weeks or later, unless to avert death or substantial and irreversible physical impairment of the woman; S.F. 898, which would require financial reports for state-funded rail projects; and S.F. 921, which would allow no-bid purchasing contracts for public safety equipment if only a single supply source exists. 

Rep. Carolyn Laine (DFL-50A) 
No new bills authored or chief-authored since . 

Rep. Tom Tillberry (DFL-51B) 
Co-authored H.F. 1113, which would let Ramsey County continue to impose a mortgage registry and deed tax. No new bills chief-authored since last month. 

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