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| Date: | January 21, 2011 | | Contact Name: | Chris Van Guilder | | Contact Phone: | 651-296-1388 | | Contact Email: | christopher.vanguilder@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS FORM MINNESOTA RURAL CAUCUS |
(ST. PAUL) – In an organizational meeting early Tuesday morning, Republican members of the Minnesota Senate and House formed the Minnesota Legislature's Republican Rural Caucus. The group, open to all Republican legislators, seeks to discuss with greater focus and awareness the issues that face rural legislators within their respective chambers.
Senator Doug Magnus (R-Slayton), Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and House counterpart Representative Rod Hamilton (R-Mountain Lake) were elected Co-Chairs of the Rural Caucus. Other members elected to the executive committee include Senator David Senjem (R-Rochester), Representative Mary Franson (R-Alexandria) and Representative Carolyn McElfatrick (R-Deer River).
“This is an important step for the people we represent in Greater Minnesota,” commented Senator Magnus. “Our strength is in our cohesiveness. This group will regularly work with leaders and policy experts to focus on long-term trends in Minnesota’s rural economy. In doing so, we will be more informed, more organized, and better prepared to serve our constituents.”
"I believe this caucus can help teach many of our metro colleagues about the challenges facing rural Minnesota, and will also support Speaker Zellers' vision of strengthening rural Minnesota's economy and quality of life," added Representative Hamilton.
Tom Gillaspy, State Demographer, spoke to the group on Tuesday about demographic changes in rural Minnesota and issues of particular interest for the next several years. “Dramatic demographic changes this decade will affect Minnesota’s economy and government budgets,” Mr. Gillaspy remarked. “While these will involve the entire state, specific concerns in rural Minnesota will be heightened. These include redistricting, effects of an aging rural population, a slowing growth of the labor force, rural health care and worldwide trends related to agriculture demand.”
The Republican Rural Caucus will meet on a weekly basis and regularly invite policy experts, state leaders and others to participate in their discussions. Over 30 legislators from the Minnesota Senate and House attended the first meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 25.
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State Senator Doug Magnus encourages and appreciates constituent input, and can be reached at 651-296-5650, by mail at 205A Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155, or via email at sen.doug.magnus@senate.mn.
