• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Subscribe
Program Guide
Watch Live

CCX Media

Skip NavigationMenu
  • News
    • Close
        • CCX News
          • CCX News Home
          • News Stories
            • CCX Daily Newcast
          • CCX News Special Reports
          • CCX Media Schools
        • Feature Segments

          • Business Matters
          • School Spotlight
          • Standout Student
          • Weekend Showcase
          • Newsmakers
        • News Tip

          Send us a story idea or news tip!
          Facebook Instagram Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
        • Apple News
    • Close
  • Sports
    • Close
        • CCX Sports
          • CCX Sports Home
          • Sports Tips
          • Hall of Fame
          • Upcoming Event Coverage
          • Play of the Week
        • Sports Coverage

          Adapted SportsAdditional SportsBaseballBasketballFootball
          GymnasticsHockeyLacrosseSoccerSoftball
          Swimming & DivingTennisTrack & FieldVolleyballWrestling
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
          Shop/Order
    • Close
  • Cities
    • Close
        • CCX Cities
          • CCX Cities Home
          • The Connection
          • In The Community
          • Our Town’s Story
          • Community Resources
          • CCX Media Schools
          • City Meetings
        • Your City

          Brooklyn Center Local News and Events
          Brooklyn Park MN Local News and Events
          Crystal
          Golden Valley
          Maple Grove
          New Hope
          Osseo
          Plymouth
          Robbinsdale
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Create
    • Close
        • CCX Create
          • CCX Create Home
          • Channels
          • Resources
          • Meet The Create Team
          • CCX Create Virtual Tour
        • Get Creative

          • Make Your Own Show
          • Free Classes
          • Contact Us
          • Polka Spotlight
          • Diversity Minute
        • RueShare

          • Member Login
          • Member Guide
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Subscribe
  • Program guide
  • Watch Live

House Speaker Hortman Optimistic about Session Goals

5:59 PM | Thursday, January 31, 2019

With the sound of thunderous applause, Rep. Melissa Hortman took the gavel on January 8, 2019 to begin her new role as House speaker.

In the three weeks since, the Brooklyn Park DFL lawmaker says her new job has been filled with 17-hour work days.

“So I’m a little bit of a workaholic. It fits well,” Speaker Hortman said. “I have plenty of time to dedicate to public service now. When my kids were little and we were running around for swim meets, it was more challenging. So it was the right time in my life to have a pretty hefty workload.”

That workload of House speaker includes meetings with fellow lawmakers and various stakeholders, along with trying to get her legislative priorities passed with a Republican-controlled Senate in place.

“I think it will get more and more difficult as the session goes on for both parties to find things that they can support and get behind,” Hortman said.

Legislative Priorities

A couple of the DFL priorities this session include allowing more people to buy into the MinnesotaCare health coverage program, and pushing for paid family and medical leave for all employees.

“When you think about all the things we’re trying to accomplish, across a broad array of issue areas, the question we’ll ask at the end of session is: ‘Have we made it easier for Minnesotans to afford their lives?” Hortman said.

However, Hortman says it’s too early to say whether these proposals, if passed, would result in tax increases.

“First we’ll take a look at all the places we’re currently spending money, and whether that money is being effectively spent,” she said. “And we’ll look at what the needs are.”

As House Speaker, it’s Hortman’s job to cater to the needs of her party. But she says she hasn’t forgotten about her constituency in Brooklyn Park and Coon Rapids

“The way that I keep in really close touch with what’s going on with my constituents is I read all my own email so I know what people are raising to me,” she said.

One other point Speaker Hortman brought up was the possibility of raising the gas tax to pay for transportation needs. The legislature has not raised the gas tax since 2008, and Hortman says policymakers have a responsibility to make an adjustment to that, considering that asphalt costs more now than it did in 2008.

Delane Cleveland, reporting

Brooklyn Park

Related Stories

Newsmakers: Hy-Vee Shares Hydration Tips and Tricks:  It's more important than ever to stay hydrated… Read More
Plan Your Route Before You Go, 511MN.Org:  There are more than 200 projects underway on state roads… Read More
Brooklyn Park Fire Officials Urge Safety Ahead of July 4th Celebrations:  Grilling and Fireworks are… Read More
Edibles, Beverages, Containing THC Now Legal in Minnesota:  A new state law that went into effect on… Read More
Hennepin County Monitors Water Quality on Local Lakes Weekly:  Hennepin County public health staff… Read More
Concerns Raised Over Blue Line Extension Light Rail Project:  Project Leaders Address Concerns Raised… Read More

Footer

NAVIGATE

  • CCX Media
  • NEWS
  • SPORTS
  • CITIES
  • CREATE
  • Job Opportunities
  • Meet the CCX Media Team
  • ABOUT CCX MEDIA
  • Annual Programming Reports
  • CABLE COMMISSION

SUBSCRIBE

Get email updates for daily story previews. “Week in Review” video links, and programming previews.

Subscribe Today

CONNECT

HAVE A NEWS TIP? CALL OUR TIPLINE AT:  763-533-1710
Send us story ideas and comments!
Get in touch with us
               
 NEWS   SPORTS
 SHOP/ORDER

LOCATION

CCX Media
6900 Winnetka Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

Main Phone:  763-533-8196

CCX Media serves the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota, including Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.
Copyright © 2022 CCXMedia | All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement
Web Design and Development by CEL Marketing PR Design and BizzyWeb | Log in