Monday, June 25, 2012
My belief is that a healthy economy starts with people earning a living and/or seeking financial independence, fiscal responsibility in government, and debt reduction.
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Monday, June 25, 2012
Patch.com has graciously offered political candidates in the area to introduce ourselves and maybe even start a blog. I am not a blogger, but I am always happy to have a conversation with you in person, via email, or on the phone. In addition, I have Library Listening Sessions open to the public. I will be at the Woodbury Days Booth for GOP Candidates in August as well as the State House of Representatives Booth at the State Fair (exact date not set yet—but I will let you know). I hope many of you will already recognize my name, but if not, I am Andrea Kieffer, your current State Representative and the endorsed Republican candidate for the new District 53B. It has been an honor to serve as your representative for the past two years. Over …
Friday, March 23, 2012
Ann Marie Metzger is seeking the DFL endorsement in new House District 53B.
Woodbury resident Ann Marie Metzger on Friday announced that she will seek the DFL endorsement for the state representative in the new House District 53B. Metzger filed in December of 2011 to run for the House seat in 56A, according to a press release, and has filed an amended filing for the new 53B House District, which is comprised of mostly the eastern half of Woodbury. “In the last 15 years, I have been able to participate in many community building efforts here and in the Twin Cities,” she said in a statement. “These opportunities have blessed me with many relationships that have allowed me to witness the values we share.” Metzger has 15 years of experience in banking and finance beginning at Chase Manhattan Bank in New York and …
Monday, March 5, 2012
Rep. Nora Slawik considered a run for the Minnesota Senate, but said she didn't want to lose her seniority.
After considering a run for the Minnesota Senate, Rep. Nora Slawik said she’ll campaign to return to the Minnesota House in her new district—53A. The district includes Landfall, and parts of Woodbury, Maplewood and southern Oakdale. Slawik (DFL-Maplewood) said she decided to run again in the House because she didn’t want to give up her seniority. She’s served seven terms in the House, so if the DFL takes the majority, she said, she would be a committee chair. “I would be able to influence the direction of education and human services and jobs and a lot of the issues that are important to Minnesota,” she said. “For me, it’s just the right decision, and to have to start all over with seniority is very difficult.” No Senate incumbents were …
Monday, May 23, 2011
Rep. Andrea Kieffer voted for the measure that will place the amendment on the ballot; Sen. Ted Lillie says decision should be left to voters.
Members of the Minnesota House—including Woodbury Rep. Andrea Kieffer—recently voted to put a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman in front of voters on the 2012 ballot. After an emotional five-hour debate, the vote came in at 70-62, mostly along party lines, although four Republicans voted against the bill. The question will appear on the Minnesota ballot as a constitutional amendment in 2012. In his most recent newsletter, Sen. Ted Lillie, a Republican who represents Woodbury, said his position is “no different from President Barack Obama’s who said he believes ‘that marriage is the union between a man and a woman.’ But I recognize that not everyone shares our belief,” he said. “There are a variety …
Friday, May 20, 2011
The bill, backed by a Woodbury family, would require driver’s education classes to teach about the dangers of car carbon monoxide poisoning and place a question on permit tests.
Woodbury resident Kelly Lavers was feeling pretty good on Friday. The Minnesota House on Thursday unanimously supported (131-0) the law her family has been helping push through the Legislature. The bill, known as Tyler’s Law, would require driver’s education classes to teach about the dangers of car carbon monoxide poisoning and place a question on permit tests. Lavers’ son Tyler died from carbon monoxide poisoning in December 2010. The bill’s House author is Rep. Andrea Kieffer (R-Woodbury). “I am honored to help Tyler’s family pay tribute to his memory and help save lives,” Kieffer said in a statement. Lavers, who had never been involved in the legislative process, said her efforts to pass the bill (HF650) has bee “educational and …
Monday, May 16, 2011
Rep. Andrea Kieffer (R-Woodbury) says the lower chamber is “on task” and hopes Gov. Dayton will get things moving on his end.
On a busy Monday at the Capitol, state Rep. Andrea Kieffer was on the House floor. “And that’s pretty much where I’ll be for the next two weeks or so,” she said. Kieffer said her colleagues are forging ahead in hopes of completing their work before the 2011 session comes to an end. But Gov. Mark Dayton seems to be “dragging his feet” and has asked to see budget proposals as one big package, she said. “Which is kind of ridiculous, because education is ready to go,” said Kieffer, a Republican from Woodbury. This week is primarily dedicated to omnibus hearings at the Capitol, she said, and lawmakers in the lower chamber are making headway on the large bills that will shape how the state settles its $5 billion deficit. “We feel that the house …
Thursday, March 17, 2011
After their son died from carbon monoxide poisoning in December, Kelly and Jeff Lavers began pushing for a bill that would require driver’s education courses to address the subject.
Woodbury resident Tyler Lavers died on Dec. 2, 2010, from carbon monoxide poisoning. His parents are now working to make sure no one else succumbs to the same fate. Kelly and Jeff Lavers sat before a Minnesota House committee Wednesday to testify on behalf of “Tyler’s Law,” a bill that would require driver’s education teachers to talk about the dangers of carbon monoxide and require a related question on permit tests. State Rep. Andrea Kieffer, a Republican from Woodbury, is the chief author of the legislation (HF650), which is being considered as part of the state’s omnibus transportation bill. It’s expected to go before the House for a vote on Monday. In December, Tyler, 19, a sophomore at the University of Minnesota, was installing a …
Monday, March 7, 2011
Rep. Kathy Lohmer, meanwhile, is sponsoring a bill to provide funding for homeless veterans.
Rep. Andrea Kieffer, a Republican from Woodbury, will have the second hearing for her bill to increase penalties for sex offenders on Thursday. The bill (HF532) relates to inappropriate conduct with minors and would sentence offenders to up to five years in prison if the individual has a qualifying prior offense. The bill has the support of Washington County Attorney Pete Orput, Kieffer said. “It should be a good one for our state,” she said. Kieffer has also been asked to carry a bill that would reform the state’s corporate income tax rate. It has yet to be introduced and details weren’t available, but she said she is “excited” about it. She is also busy with issues relating to workers compensation reform. Work at the state Capitol is …
Monday, January 31, 2011
Legislation marks first concrete step as legislators begin budget-balancing efforts in St. Paul.
Editor's Note: Capitol Review is a weekly look at what your state legislators are doing at the Minnesota Capitol—how they're voting, the bills they're writing and the issues they're getting behind. Come back to Patch every Monday for a new Capitol Review. The big news out of the state House of Representatives of late is a bill that would cut $181 million in spending over the current biennium and reduce the state’s two-year budget by $822 million. The state is wrestling with a $6.2 billion deficit and both House members representing Woodbury—Andrea Kieffer (R-Woodbury) and Kathy Lohmer (R-Lake Elmo) voted for the bill (HF130). It was the first bill the state House has passed this session; the margin was 68-63. Most of the cuts are …
Monday, January 24, 2011
The Republican senator who represents Woodbury now has his name attached to two pieces of legislation.
Editor's Note: Capitol Review is a weekly look at what your state legislators are doing at the Minnesota Capitol—how they're voting, the bills they're writing and the issues they're getting behind. Come back to Patch every Monday for a new Capitol Review. State Sen. Ted Lillie is backing a bill that would require zero-based budgeting and another piece of legislation that would reduce the state government workforce. Still, Lillie said these early days of the 2011 Legislature have reminded him of the “art of conversation.” Lillie, a Republican from Lake Elmo who represents Woodbury in the Senate, said he expects legislation to begin to get passed once the session gets rolling. The bill on state government is aimed at how state offices can …
Debbie Long
10:16 pm on Friday, March 23, 2012
Ann, this is exciting news! I remember all our volunteer years with Junior League. We should connect soon. more ›