Driving through Todd and Douglas counties, you can see the signs of spring all around. Warmer temperatures, melting snow, and an early ice-out on the lakes have given many of us a case of spring fever. One of my favorite things to do at this time of year when I’m in St. Paul is to take a walk around the beautiful grounds of the Capitol complex. During the winter months we travel back and forth from our office building across from the State Capitol using a long underground tunnel. As we move further into the legislative session, our days get busier and floor sessions last longer, so it’s always a nice break to enjoy the warmer weather by making the trips back and forth with a walk outside.

By the time you read this column, the Legislature will be back in session following the traditional Easter break. The time we spend away from the State Capitol gives us a good opportunity to reflect on our progress and preview our upcoming tasks. It’s also a good time for us to touch base with the people in our district to gauge their reactions to the work we’ve done so far. As a former teacher, I think of it as a sort of mid-term report, before our final grades come out in May.

I want to thank everyone who took time to attend the Town Hall meetings I had with Senator Ingebrigtsen recently. I also want to thank the many of you have made the trip to St. Paul to share your concerns and ideas, or just to take a tour of the State Capitol and stop by to say hello. I always enjoy hearing from constituents, and I believe conversations with the people of our district allow me to be a better representative. I often wish all of my colleagues in the Legislature had the same commonsense, compassion and good judgment the people of our district seem to have.

I also want to take this opportunity to give you an update on our work at the Capitol so far. In just the first six weeks of the 2010 Legislative Session, we have already made significant progress on many of the serious economic and fiscal challenges facing Minnesota.

Well ahead of schedule, we’ve passed legislation that will put thousands of Minnesotans back to work; provide health care for 85,000 poor, sick Minnesotans; help small businesses compete in a global economy; and make Minnesota’s election system the best in the country.

We’ve also passed a bill that resolves one-third of the state’s $1 billion budget shortfall by setting priorities and imposing cuts in at least nine major budget areas. I’m very pleased with the work we’ve accomplished so far, most of which has been on a bipartisan basis. We’ll need that spirit of cooperation to continue as we face the final weeks of this challenging session.

I also wanted to let you know about a new effort sponsored by Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) and the Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) that is focused

on getting Minnesota youngsters involved in band

and orchestra. Most K-12 schools throughout the state – especially those rural Minnesota have a great need for

more instruments so more students have the opportunity to participate in band or orchestra. In today’s economy however, schools lack the funds to buy new instruments and many families cannot afford to rent instruments for their children. The idea behind this program is that no child who wants to play an instrument will be denied the opportunity simply because a flute, viola, or trombone is financially out of reach.

The program would put hundreds, and possibly thousands, of gently used instruments in the hands of kids who need them most. Throughout the month of April, MPR and MMEA will be working with local schools to collect as many gently used instruments as possible. Minnesotans are encouraged to donate their used instruments directly to local schools. To participate, local school districts need to:

o Visit the: Play It Forward website at :www.mpr.org/ playitforward for more information

o Agree to accept donated instruments using the simple online form.

The program is absolutely free to every school in Minnesota – but the program’s success relies on local schools and area citizens’ participation. I hope every school in our district will take advantage of this great opportunity so that every young music lover will be able to make music a special part of their lives.

Just like a child filled with anticipation at the prospect of learning to play an instrument, no matter what our challenges, I always feel a renewed sense of optimism come spring. While we still have a long way to go before Minnesotan returns to firm financial footing, we are seeing small signs that things are getting better, and I’m confident our best days are still ahead.

Mary Ellen Otremba is the State Representative for District 11B. She can be reached at 651-296-3201 or 800-709-0796, by e-mail at rep.maryellen.otremba@house.mn, or at 445 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Saint Paul, MN 55155.