Newsletter Archives

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

North Star Newsletter | March, 2011

Celebrating the "State of Hockey"

Hockey Day Minnesota festivities in Moorhead last month gave me the chance to meet players from the Roseau, Hill Murray, Wayzata, and Moorhead high school hockey teams who participated in this great Minnesota tradition. I had the honor of dropping the puck at the first game between Wayzata and Roseau, and I've also followed the state hockey tournament which ended on Saturday. A hearty congratulations to the Eden Prairie Eagles and the St. Thomas Academy Cadets on some great hockey.

Launching My Renewable Energy Listening Tour

A barrel of oil now costs more than $105, and Minnesotans are feeling it at the pump. Average gas prices in our state are over $3.50 a gallon right now, squeezing budgets of already cash-strapped families. The only real solution is for us to decrease our dependence on foreign oil and shift our country to homegrown renewable energy — something we already do a lot of in Minnesota. As a new member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, I'll continue to travel across the state on a Renewable Energy Listening Tour to seek input from Minnesota's renewable energy experts on how we can expand this growing industry in our state, create more jobs, and take control of our energy future.

Preparing for Spring Floods

Because of the heavy snow we've had this year, we're seeing forecasts predicting the possibility of major flooding in communities across Minnesota. I've been traveling around the state hosting flood preparation meetings and working closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to prepare for the spring floods. We need to make sure we do everything we can to be ready because even a few inches of water can cause tens of thousands of dollars of damage to a home. I urge homeowners, especially those in flood-prone areas, to take the necessary precautions as soon as possible and to get in touch with my office if you need any help or have questions.

Protecting Minnesotans' Privacy

I am proud to announce I've been appointed chairman of the new Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law, which will allow me to concentrate on ensuring Minnesotans can reap the rewards of new technology without jeopardizing their privacy rights. The boom of new technologies over the last several years has made it easier to keep in touch with family and friends, but it has also put an unprecedented amount of personal information into the hands of large companies. My committee will work to make sure that Minnesotans' information is not abused.