Our DFL caucus has presented its six priorities for the session. These priorities reflect the views of the members of our caucus, but each of us has some other personal favorites. Here are a couple of mine.
I am the new chair of the Public Safety Budget Division in the Senate. The budgets for Corrections, Public Safety and the BCA, Human Rights, Sentencing Guidelines Commission, Peace Officers Board, and Private Detective Board are in the purview of the division. My guiding principle for the committee is that everyone, regardless of where they live, deserves to live in a safe neighborhood. Our committee will stress prevention, especially at the juvenile level. Another issue that is getting a lot of interest is reentry from prison. It is in all our best interest to make sure prisoners successfully transition into the community and do not reoffend.
Many people have said that predatory lending will be the sleeper issue for 2007, since it affects the entire state. I represent North and Downtown Minneapolis, and many residents in my district have been victims of crooked appraisers, adjustable rate mortgages, inappropriate mortgage products and other predatory practices that lead to foreclosures. I've been very impressed with the knowledge and commitment of the people on Attorney General Lori Swanson's task force on predatory lending, and I know that we will present a very strong bill to the legislature.
I've carried the e-waste bill for four years so far, and one of these days it should pass! The issue of how to recycle computers and peripherals, but especially the monitors, has plagued us for several years. A couple years ago, we banned them from landfills in the state, but we haven't been able to come up with a plan to recycle them. Most people agree that we should deal with the issue, but details on the details elude us. We hope to put together a bill that can be adapted by the other states in the region.
I am the new chair of the Public Safety Budget Division in the Senate. The budgets for Corrections, Public Safety and the BCA, Human Rights, Sentencing Guidelines Commission, Peace Officers Board, and Private Detective Board are in the purview of the division. My guiding principle for the committee is that everyone, regardless of where they live, deserves to live in a safe neighborhood. Our committee will stress prevention, especially at the juvenile level. Another issue that is getting a lot of interest is reentry from prison. It is in all our best interest to make sure prisoners successfully transition into the community and do not reoffend.
Many people have said that predatory lending will be the sleeper issue for 2007, since it affects the entire state. I represent North and Downtown Minneapolis, and many residents in my district have been victims of crooked appraisers, adjustable rate mortgages, inappropriate mortgage products and other predatory practices that lead to foreclosures. I've been very impressed with the knowledge and commitment of the people on Attorney General Lori Swanson's task force on predatory lending, and I know that we will present a very strong bill to the legislature.
I've carried the e-waste bill for four years so far, and one of these days it should pass! The issue of how to recycle computers and peripherals, but especially the monitors, has plagued us for several years. A couple years ago, we banned them from landfills in the state, but we haven't been able to come up with a plan to recycle them. Most people agree that we should deal with the issue, but details on the details elude us. We hope to put together a bill that can be adapted by the other states in the region.