Letter - 2012 legislative agenda: Reform 2.0

To the editor:

This session headlines won’t be dominated by a deficit, but rather in November management and budget forecasted an $876 million surplus. By reducing government spending and introducing reforms we are saving money. I am looking forward to a few bills that will be introduced this year to continue reducing the size, scope and red-tape of government.

In 2011, we passed permitting reform, as well as alternative teacher licensure, to give teaching opportunities to qualified professionals. Reform 2.0 is a legislative reform initiative that has been developed out of numerous meetings with residents, business owners, and local government officials all around Minnesota last fall. The priorities Minnesotans talked about during those meetings are the priorities for this session; to help foster job creation, raise student achievement and put more Minnesotans in charge of their own health care decisions.

Businesses need a more competitive tax climate, reduced regulatory burdens, and reduced government intrusion in order to get our economy back on track. Simply put, many small businesses are trapped by government regulations, and in listening to many of your ideas we are going to reduce some of these regulations so that it will be easier to do business.

Some of the common sense proposals that will be introduced include, creating a small business regulatory review board that will review and repeal rules that are outdated and have a negative impact on the economy. Reform prevailing wage laws to reflect actual wages being paid in a region to lower the cost of construction projects and make Minnesota more competitive with surrounding states. We will also create an advisory inspection program so small businesses can fix issues without the threat of penalties and fines from impersonal state agencies.

Many of these reforms should have been tackled years ago. 2011 was our year to tackle the budget and we are making a commitment to make 2012 the year of reform.

Representative Torrey Westrom,

R-Elbow Lake, MN

Tags: opinion, letters