Kim Norton
for MN House
Legislative Accomplishments
Education
- Delivered $850 million in new funding for Minnesota schools including:
- $7.8 million for Rochester ISD #535
- Held down tuition at state colleges and universities
- Started a Teachers of Color pilot project for WSU/Rochester Schools and others
Health Care Reform
- Increased access to health care and made coverage more affordable
- Provided new incentives for preventative care
- Streamlined billing processes to eliminate costly administrative waste
- Increased funding for nursing homes
Public Health
- Revised building standards for new homes to reduce radon exposure
- Passed the "Freedom to Breathe Act" to protect workers from second-hand smoke
- Implemented a statewide public health improvement plan to reduce obesity and tobacco use
Jobs and Economic Development
- Made health care coverage more affordable for small employers
- Secured ongoing funding for the MN Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics at the U of M Rochester and Mayo Clinic
- Enhanced and continued the Lifetrack job skills training grant in Rochester
- Created 40,000 jobs through public improvement/capital investment efforts
- Encouraged entrepreneurship and investments in high-tech industries
Property Tax Relief
- Delivered $25 million in direct relief to homeowners based on ability to pay
- Provided an additional $60 million in Local Government Aid including:
- $1.5 million for Rochester
- $740,000 for Olmsted County
- Established a 3.9 percent levy limit over the next three years
Transportation
- Provided essential resources to maintain safe roads and bridges
- Increased efficiency through new oversight and accountability measures
- Enhanced safety measures for teen drivers
- Outlawed text messaging and e-mailing while driving
Environment and Natural Resources
- Improved flood mitigation, water treatment, and wetland restoration efforts
- Enacted new protections against invasive species
- Voters have the choice this November to dedicate a new portion of the sales tax (3/8 of one cent) to environment, parks, and cultural heritage
Energy Reform
- Implemented a nation-leading renewable energy standard
- Set the course for an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
- Established a committee to study and make recommendations on cap and trade
Veterans
- Ensured that overseas servicemembers, their families, and other Minnesotans serving abroad, have their votes counted in Minnesota elections
- Improved services for active servicemembers and military veterans
- Funded the construction of a new veteran's home in Minnesota
- Made sure all eligible veterans have access to full GI benefits for higher education
Capital Improvements
- Dedicated over 70 percent of this year's bonding bill to Minnesota's higher education institutions and economic development efforts
- Provided planning funding for the Rochester Mayo Civic Center and the Rochester Community and Technical College/Workforce co-location
- Delivered funding for a Southeastern Minnesota Regional Public Safety Training Center, dredging and restoration of Lake Zumbro, Chester Woods Trail, and HEAPR funding for Rochester Community and Technical College
