As we move past midpoint of the legislative session, the pace is definitely speeding up. With the approach of the first committee deadline &045; by next Friday, all policy bills must have had their first hearing, or they’re &uot;dead&uot; for the session &045; the legislature is moving into high gear. Legislators, lobbyists and staff are all busy making sure things are on track, and legislative committee schedules are full &045; and growing.

On March 18, I traveled with members of the Senate Transportation Budget Policy Committee to Austin to hear from the people in our area about how proposed state budget cuts will affect our area. The committee hearing was held at the Austin Public Library and residents were invited to take part in the meeting through an open-forum discussion.

For two hours we heard testimony about the transportation needs of our area, begun by Mayor Bonnie Rietz, who explained that regional centers such as Austin are in great need of state aid because our small tax base does not provide adequate means to raise funds for repair and maintenance. She also expressed concerns related to Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s proposed cuts to local-government aid (LGA).

The committee heard from a number of other folks as well, including officials from the Austin Chamber of Commerce, the three area counties (Mower, Freeborn and Fillmore), MacFarland Truck Lines, Hormel Foods, and others. Concerns were raised about various potential cuts to the transportation and transit budgets as well as rising fuel taxes and insurance costs.

Committee members also had an excellent lunch at the Spam Museum, and an informative tour of the facility. Some of my metro-area colleagues who previously had not spent much time in our area mentioned to me they were impressed with the community and would take some new thoughts and ideas with them back to the Capitol.

Over the next few weeks the Legislature needs to act to close a $4.2 billion budget crisis, and Tuesday’s hearing was part of an overall effort by the Senate to gather testimony throughout the state. I was very pleased with the warm welcome we received and that so many people took the time to join us to participate in the discussion about Minnesota’s future.

Democrats in the DFL-controlled Senate will soon be offering an alternative to Gov. Pawlenty’s proposed budget based on information gathered from hundreds of hearings and town hall meetings across the state.

We are working hard to put together a proposal that more accurately reflects Minnesota’s values &045; caring for the most vulnerable, investing in our children and protecting our quality of life.

Input from citizens has been especially important in shaping the discussion we are now having. Again, I want to extend my thanks to everyone who has taken the time to attend a town hall meeting or to contact me personally about the state budget situation.

Finally, in this time of war, I want to express support for our overseas troops in the war against the Iraqi regime. I pray for peace and for our armed forces personnel and all innocent civilians abroad and at home who may suffer injury.

Please feel free to contact me at my Capitol office, at (651) 296-9248, G-24 State Capitol, 75 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.

Sen. Dan Sparks, DFL-Austin, represents District 27, which includes Freeborn and Mower counties and part of Fillmore County, in the Minnesota Senate.