By Rep. Tom Anzelc, Minnesota District 3A

It’s Thursday morning, I’m preparing for a long session on the House floor, and it seems like a good time to summarize the 2008 legislative session for the people of the Borderland.
Session began in February, and we have already seen significant accomplishments for northern Minnesota. I look forward to coming home when we adjourn no later than May 19, but before then, we still have important work to do.
The state's nearly $1 billion budget deficit (the total two-year budget is $34 billion) has dominated the session, but we still have delivered results for northern Minnesota. The transportation initiative we passed will help speed up necessary maintenance and new construction on highways and bridges. The long-awaited improvements to Highway 11 from Baudette to International Falls will get done and other timely maintenance will move forward.
The state's borrowing bill included $28 million in infrastructure funding for our state’s first steel mill to be located near Nashwauk on the Iron Range.
I look forward to seeing the results of the $400,000 study on plasma torch gasification that could lead to a new plant and new jobs in International Falls. The plant would convert solid waste into electricity and construction materials.
These results are encouraging, but there is a lot of work left to do. We must balance our state budget responsibly, and that means setting out the correct priorities that will benefit the Borderland. Above all else, we need to keep our commitment to public schools and nursing homes.
In 2003, the last time we faced a significant budget deficit, Gov. Tim Pawlenty cut funding for schools and nursing homes. This year the governor proposed no new funding for schools and $30 million in cuts to nursing homes. We absolutely cannot do this to our schools and nursing homes again.
As part of our House budget bill, we included a much-needed funding increase for both education and nursing homes, while still balancing the budget responsibly. In the next month, the House and Senate will work out differences in our budget proposals and send the governor a final budget bill. I will work to ensure that the bill we send him responsibly balances our budget and invests in our schools and nursing homes.
While I am dedicated to finishing the session out strongly, I do look forward to spending this summer and fall in the border country. I look forward to watching the revitalization of the Western Mesabi Iron Range. I look forward to the economic boost and new jobs being created across northern Minnesota. And I look forward to getting input from everyone across our district about the ideas and direction you all have for northern Minnesota in the coming years.
See you this summer.