Michele Engdahl with Thomson Reuters, Eagan, receives an up-close look at a hog-producing facility – Baarsch Farms-Next Generation Pork, Inc. near Austin – as part of Leadership Minnesota. The Minnesota Chamber program is an exclusive look at the state’s changing economy and the issues that will shape its future. Grow Minnesota! events help businesses prepare for the economic recovery. Sharing their perspectives on how the recession has changed the job market were (from left) Simon Foster of SpencerStuart, Minneapolis; Sue Metcalf of Ecolab, St. Paul; and Jan Erickson of Medtronic, Inc., Fridley. Dee Schutte, executive director of the Litchfield Chamber of Commerce, visits with House Minority Leader Kurt Zellers at the Session Priorities event. Governor Tim Pawlenty congratulates John M. Rivisto, president and CEO of Wells Concrete Company, on its new facility in Sartell. The plant has created 50 jobs in central Minnesota and will add another 100 jobs over the next five years. Minnesota legislative leaders share their priorities at the Minnesota Chamber’s annual Session Priorities event: (from left) House Minority Leader Kurt Zellers, House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, moderator Tom Hauser of KSTP-TV Eyewitness News; Senate Minority Leader David Senjem; Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller. Governor Tim Pawlenty addresses nearly 1,600 business leaders and policy-makers at the Minnesota Chamber’s annual Session Priorities event, the largest legislative gathering of its kind.

TRANSPORTATION POLICY

Minnesota needs an infrastructure system that moves people and goods safely and efficiently. In addition, the state needs to plan carefully, invest wisely and implement useful recommendations to make transportation dollars go further. 

The Minnesota Department of Transportation and policy-makers should review the recommendations released in the spring of 2009 by the Strategic Management and Operations Advisory Task Force to explore policies that will lead to greater efficiencies and reduce costs. This analysis of operations was a requisite for the Minnesota Chamber’s support of the transportation package passed by the 2008 Legislature. The task force analyzed operations to determine whether private-sector practices can be applied to increase value.

2010 Legislative Priorities

We support the recommendations of the Strategic Management and Operations Advisory Task Force as a first step toward exploring greater efficiencies in the Minnesota Department of Transportation operations and projects.

We support a provision to allow individuals to pay for and receive an enhanced driver’s license to cross the Canadian and Mexican borders as an alternative to purchasing a Passport.

2009 Legislative Accomplishments

We defeated a proposed street utility fee that would have allowed cities to establish “utility districts” for infrastructure improvement projects, and would have allowed cities to expand the improvement project assessment area beyond the area where the work was being completed.

Chair: Doug Fulton, Cushman & Wakefield, Minnesota
Staff: Jeremy Estenson, (651) 292-4682, jestenson@mnchamber.com

LINKS
» Aviation
» Transit and High Speed Rail
» Freight
» Roads and Bridges
  

» State Agencies
» State Legislature

Prosperity Project

Privacy & Security|Contact Us|Send Feedback
© Copyright 2009 Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. All Rights Reserved.

This web site is developed and owned by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. Any use or reprinting is strictly prohibited without prior consent of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.