Seven metro and greater Minnesota legislators gave their take on the 2007 legislative session at the June 15 MnSF-Metro northwest chapter forum in New Hope. MnSF director of public policy, Lee Graczyk, moderated the session that included Senate Minority Leader David Senjem, Assistant Senate Majority Leader Tarryl Clark, Assistant House Majority Leader Melissa Hortman, Sen. Ann Rest, Rep. Steve Simon, Rep. Lyndon Carlson, Rep. Sandra Peterson and mayor of New Hope, Martin Opem Sr.

Graczyk introduced legislators and invited them to offer their impressions of the legislative session. Opem thanked legislators for their attendance and welcomed them to New Hope.

Overall, the group expressed satisfaction that the session finished on time. There were positive reflections on environmental issues, school and nursing home funding, and renewable energy legislation that will lead to use of renewable sources for electrical energy by 2025, and the “Freedom to Breathe” legislation that bans smoking indoors statewide. Included as negatives were the failure of property tax relief, comprehensive transportation funding and bonding bill’s failure to delay, among other projects, repairs to the state Capitol.

MnSF members asked questions of the group. Cable Access 12 from Brooklyn Center was on hand to record the session and interview attendees.