Dear Friends,

We ended the year by protecting education and providing a stable state budget. The bipartisan agreement that ended two months of negotiations avoided deep, deep cuts in education, and while we are all still are hurting because of the recession, our children's education has been protected.
 
Part of the agreement was to test recommendations made by a Construction Study Commission by going forth with three pilot projects at three universities. This will give us information to help in future deliberations as the issue of construction reform is considered in the full legislative process. We also streamlined the waiver process for those school districts that don't think they'll be ready for all day kindergarten until 2012.

I am excited that I passed my first bill -- one that took months of negotiations with many stakeholders to reach a compromise that satisfies all and accomplishes the original goal. Basically, if you're going to use state capital money to construct a new building you have to meet certain environmental and energy savings standards -- a win-win for everyone, creating jobs and protecting our environment.

2010 promises to be very busy for the House and for me personally. I have several bills that I'm working on, I continue to work with communities and constituents in my District on issues and problems and I'm running for re-election!

I'll be meeting with elected officials from the District in January to see what the priorities are. And my door is always open to all my constituents. Please feel free to contact me -- and if you want to help on my campaign hit the volunteer button on my website. I need people to host neighborhood House Parties so I can get to know the neighbors! I need people to knock on doors, make phone calls  and help however they can -- lots of things to do to keep me where I am -- representing the families in the 19th House District.

So I look forward to your support and your ideas, to meeting you at a coffee or town hall meeting and to working with you to make life better for all of us.

Marian