The 2010 legislative session has concluded and I want to share with you the highlights of our important work to balance the state budget and create jobs for a lasting economic recovery. In both areas, we were able to work bipartisanly to achieve significant results.

Before the session began in February we knew that Minnesota families and communities continued to feel the damage of the worst national recession

since the Great Depression.

With more than World 240,000 Minnesotans out of work, including 5,700 in Crow Wing and Morrison counties alone, the Legislature took action on several fronts to create jobs.

Our bonding bill passed early in the session has already begun to make a difference. In our region, several important projects are moving forward including: $3.3 million for the construction of the Little Falls truck station, $6 million for an emergency response training facility at Camp Ripley, and $1 million for renovations at the Camp Ripley Troop Support facility. These projects and others like it across the state will create thousands of construction jobs in the short-term, but also strengthen our region for the long-term.

We listened to small business owners and passed a series of tax reforms designed to make it easier for them to grow and prosper. The reforms include streamlining of the permitting process, reduction in mandates and duplicative regulations, and tax incentives to spark entrepreneurship to turn good ideas into good businesses.

While we worked on our aggressive jobs agenda, budget committees explored how we could most efficiently make spending reductions to balance the budget. That work paid off in the final weeks of session as we reached a budget agreement with Democrats, Republicans and the Governor. Difficult choices were required, but the budget deal protected our most important values. We reduced spending without direct cuts to K-12 classrooms, nursing homes or veterans and did not raise any taxes.

Timing was critical because our state could have faced a significant cash flow problem had we not reached an agreement. Without a budget deal, the state could have been in an unprecedented situation where we were unable to pay all of our bills. Our balanced budget agreement prevented the cash flow crisis and put our state on sound fiscal ground for the current budget cycle. We still have work ahead next year to balance our budget cycle that begins in 2012.

Protecting nursing homes was a top priority for me because of what has happened to nursing homes during past budget deficits. When the Legislature faced a multi-billion dollar deficit in 2003 nursing homes were cut signifi- cantly and many are still struggling as a result. Going back to our nursing homes for more cuts would have meant job losses and closures, especially in greater Minnesota. Holding the line for nursing homes funding will help ensure our seniors receive the quality care they deserve.

Thank you for the honor of serving our communities at the state legislature. With the session done ontime, I look forward to meeting with you over the summer and fall to discuss how we can work together to continue improving our communities and state.

I am confident our best days are ahead of us.

Doty is the representative for District 12B. He can be reached at 651-296-4247 or rep.al.doty@house.mn.