BLOG: Your Voice at the Capitol

The 2013 Legislative Session convenes today. I want to say “thank you” to the citizens of Eagan for giving me the honor to serve you in the Minnesota House of Representatives. I’m excited to be the voice of our community at the Capitol, and I'm ready to get to work on your behalf. As your new state representative from District 51B in Eagan, I take the responsibility to represent our community seriously.

For many months prior to the election, I heard a resounding call from the people of Eagan for our legislators to work together and get the job done. Minnesota has a rich history of working together to create long-lasting, positive solutions, but compromise and cooperation have been missing for quite some time at the Capitol.

I look forward to working with members of both parties on one of the top priorities of the legislature this session: creating a structurally sound, responsible budget. The citizens of our state sent a clear message that they want a legislature that gets past the gridlock and focuses on the basics. We need a budget that adequately funds priorities like education and keeps our state economically competitive now and for the future.

Minnesota is facing a number of challenges, but I believe that if we work together, we can tackle them and make Minnesota an even better to place to live, work, and raise a family.

I invite you to be part of this ongoing conversation. I want to hear your ideas, concerns, and questions. You can reach me by phone at 651-296-4128, or by email at rep.laurie.halverson@house.mn. You can also visit my legislative website to read news or sign up for my email updates. Finally, I encourage you to stop by and visit the State Capitol--after all, it is your house. Citizens are key to making government work well, and I look forward to being your voice in St. Paul.