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<br /> <br />Gem Lake News Page 5 of 6 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Senator Bev Scalze Spells Out Priorities for 2013 <br /> <br />It will be a busy year in Minnesota, according to State <br />Senator Bev Scalze. While in Gem Lake recently for <br />the Oath of Office Ceremonies for our city council, <br />she had the opportunity to discuss priorities for the <br />year ahead. <br /> <br />1. Balancing the budget will be key this year. There is <br />still a projected deficit for 2013. The exact amount of <br />the deficit will be made more clear when detailed <br />revenue projections come out in February. By law, <br />the state paid back $1Billion borrowed from the <br />school system. The budget shortfall could still be $1 <br />Billion! Some tough choices will have to be made. <br /> <br />2. Bev plans to work on a possible bonding bill, <br />depending upon the outcome of the budget debate. <br /> <br />3. Data privacy will be a priority for Bev in 2013. She <br />is personally introducing a bill that would allow you to <br />keep some information, such as an email address, <br />private after you have provided it to a government <br />entity for a specific purpose. The amount of privacy <br />you are entitled to would depend on how and why the <br />information was provided. However, the goal is to <br />prevent easy access to email information by <br />organizations like telemarketers, in situations where <br />you may have provided your email address to your <br />government for another reason. <br /> <br />Bev has bi-partisan support for the bill. Initial <br />hearings will take place in late January or early <br />February. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />4. Several infrastructure bills are very important this <br />year for Bev. One of them deals with the Rice <br />Street Bridge over Interstate 694. Another deals <br />with highway improvements on the west side of the <br />Twin Cities Arsenal property. <br /> <br />5. Lake levels have become a hot topic this year, <br />especially in the Northeastern suburbs. "We are <br />currently using more water than is being easily <br />replenished," says Bev. "We are going to have to <br />deal with this issue, rather than put it off for the <br />future." Again, it may be a situation where tough <br />choices will have to be made. For instance, she <br />says cities like Shoreview have instituted quantity <br />pricing on water usage. <br /> <br />She is currently working closely with former <br />Minnesota Representative Carol McFarlane and <br />Senator Roger Chamberlain on this issue. <br />Chamberlain represents the White Bear area, <br />which is directly impacted by declining water levels <br />in White Bear Lake. <br /> <br />In 2013 Bev Scalze will be involved in four <br />committees: <br />a. Capital Investment <br />b. Environment and Energy <br />c. Finance Committee: Environment, Economic <br />Development and Agriculture Division <br />d. State and Local Government <br /> <br />Bev Scalze is newly elected to the State Senate, <br />representing District 42. From 2005 to 2012 she <br />served in the Minnesota House of Representatives, <br />covering District 54B. She also served several <br />terms as a member of the Little Canada City <br />Council. <br /> <br />Bev welcomes your feedback. She can be reached <br />at 651-296-2105. Her office is at 124 Capitol in St. <br />Paul. Her email address is: <br />sen.bev.scalze@senate.mn <br />