Sailer announces roll-out of 1^st bills of Legislative session

ST. PAUL – Rep. Brita Sailer (DFL – Park Rapids) joined her colleagues in the House today to roll out the first bills to be introduced in the legislative session. The bills all reflect the "stick to the basics" agenda the new majority has promised, focusing on the key issues of a great education for our kids, access to affordable health care, and lower property taxes.

Rep. Sailer is co-author of two of the first bills, the 25/20 Renewable Energy Bill that would increase the percentage of retail electric sales generated from eligible renewable sources to 25% by the year 2020, and the Early Education Bill that restores funding to 2003 levels and increases school readiness and Head Start funding.

"I'm pleased to take the lead on both of these initiatives," said Sailer.  " The people of Minnesota are ready to get serious about alternative energy. Not only can renewables save money, they also create good Minnesota jobs, reduce our dependence on Mideast oil, and cut down on pollution.  And investing in our youngest learners through Head Start and other early childhood and family programs enables our children to enter school better prepared to learn."

The package of proposals also includes bills to provide health coverage for all Minnesota children, and two others related to education; all day kindergarten, and an increase in the basic formula for K-12 schools.  Rounding out the list are two tax bills, one which would provide property tax relief using a combination of aid increases to cities, counties and schools, and one which would provide $20 million in tax relief to Minnesota taxpayers, including college students and their families, teachers and military personnel.

Sailer expressed optimism about the eventual passage of the proposals.  "These are initiatives Democrats and Republicans alike can get behind," she said. "They address key issues in a fiscally responsible way and achieve goals we all support, like lowering property taxes, fairly and adequately supporting our great system of public education, and making sure every child in Minnesota has health care."