Turbulent" Legislative Session Foreseen

ST. PAUL, MN-In the wake of historic property tax reform last session and the growing problems in the local and national economies, the 2002 session of the Minnesota Legislature promises to be a “turbulent” one, says David Anderson, president of the Economic Development Association of Minnesota. In a recent letter to the group’s 400 some members, Anderson says the group will assume a more active and visible effort on priority economic development issues.

That will begin with regional legislative forums this fall and meetings with Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development officials and key legislators prior to the2002 session, he adds. The St. Paul-based group will discuss its legislative goals at its upcoming meeting Oct. 18.

Other goals for the group this year is to expand and diversify its membership. “As the definition of economic development evolves, so does the makeup of our membership base,” Anderson says. The group will also install the Association Management Online System as a means of managing the association from any location.