Wright County Legislators Weigh in on 2012 Session

Wright County legislators Sen. Amy Koch (R-Buffalo) and Rep. Joe McDonald (R-Delano) sent legisative previews to St. Michael Patch recently, touching on what should be a speedy 2012 session that won't be without its controversial moments.

As for controversy, Koch put an end to some of the questions surrounding her Monday, when she told the Associated Press that she will, indeed, step away from the Minnesota Legislature when the 2012 session ends some time this spring.

Koch, who announced she was both stepping down from her leadership position and was retiring from the Legislature before news of a scandal broke last December, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune and WCCO recently she was regretting making that decision so quickly. Now, it appears, she's standing by the earlier statement.

Koch's status would have been in doubt, anyway, with Senate District 19 certain to be redrawn in the February judgement on Minnesota redistricting.

In regards to the 2012 session, Koch said the focus needs to be on jobs and job creation.

"I see the 2012 session as an opportunity to continue to improve the business climate, reduce burdensome regulations, and provide the environment for small and large job providers to succeed here in Minnesota," Koch wrote. "Last year was just a good start."

Now out of the leadership loop, Koch said she's not sure where the state's high profile topic–a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings–will go. She said last fall the stadium debate was moving ahead, carefully.

"You don't want a repeat of the Twins' situation at the state level, where you ask for a vote and it fails. No one wants to see them gone," Koch said.

McDonald said he was pleased to hear of the budget surplus forecast for 2012, but emphasized more reform is needed, especially for local schools.

"We should all hope the next budget forecast in February shows more black ink so we can look at other things like accelerating the payback of shifted K-12 funds. I was disappointed delayed K-12 payments were part of this year's budget compromise and I cannot emphasize enough how satisfying it would be if we are able to settle up ahead of schedule," McDonald wrote.

Hard cuts were made, McDonald said. But more of the same should be expected in 2012.

"There were some extremely tough budget decisions to make last year, but now we are beginning to reap the rewards. The key was in bringing kitchen-table economics to the state level, establishing priorities and not spending more than what the state has in the checkbook.  Plenty of work remains and we have been busy shaping up a series of bills to bring us even more cost-saving measures to make better use of our hard-earned tax dollars. Many systemic changes are necessary to providing our state with a steadier future and the news our first round of changes are working should give us extra incentive to remain committed. I am eager to hit the ground running in the 2012 session and continue to welcome input on this subject and others," McDonald wrote.