Rep. Thissen describes changes to the state constitution he thinks may be proposed during the 2012 legislative session.

Rep. Slocum says it's important for lawmakers from both parties to work together and describes two bills she plans to introduce during the session.

Sen. Kelash points to the bonding bill--proposals to borrow money to build and repair buildings, roads, bridges and schools--as important to the state's economy and its efforts to create jobs.

Ways to create more jobs for Minnesotans, potential amendments to the state constitution and taxes were all addressed by the legislators.

Audience members wanted to know their views about a new Vikings stadium and how obstacles to employment and creating new jobs could be overcome by lawmakers. Also during the meeting, Richfield residents who oppose a proposed housing project in Richfield explained their concerns about the Pillsbury Commons apartments.

Rep. Paul Thissen, District 63A

Thissen, who is also the DFL's minority leader in the state House of Representatives, listed jobs, property taxes and constitutional amendments as three important issues facing the legislature in 2012.

He said more money for training and retraining workers and incentives for businesses to create more jobs for people who have had trouble finding jobs would be the focus of the legislature's efforts this year.

Lawmakers will also address changes in the property tax that resulted in bigger tax bills for some and replace some of that revenue with higher income taxes on the wealthiest Minnesotans, Thissen said.

Constitutional amendments likely to be proposed by Republican lawmakers, he predicted, include:
- A requirement that voters show an ID on election day
- A supermajority of lawmakers would have to approve of state tax increases
- A provision making Minnesota a so-called Right to Work state.

Rep. Linda Slocum - District 63B  

Rep. Slocum said California became a "paralyzed state" after adopting as similar tax-increase amendment and said it would be "a bad idea, all the way around" for Minnesota.

She said she plans to introduce two bills this session to:
- Prohibit insurance companies from using people's credit scores to determine their insurance rates, and
- Do something about huge salaries being paid to the CEOs of non-profit organizations.

Sen. Ken Kelash - Disctrict 63

Kelash stressed the importance of the state bonding bills, which authorize the state to borrow money for construction projects, as a way to fix Minnesota's buildings, road and bridges, improve schools and put people back to work.

He also offered details about the proposed Phase II at the Mall of America in Bloomington, saying:
-  He will be working to expand the tax increment financing district that will provide money needed for the expansion
- $15 million worth of contruction to lower Lindahl Lane could begin in 2013
- The mall has already found tenants to replace Bloomingdale's, which will close in March
-  A clinic, hotel and shops will all be part of the mall's new addition north of the current complex.

Kelash also said he thinks Republicans, who are in the majority in both houses of the legislature and control the agenda, will opt for a short session and avoid controversial votes, with the exception of the constitutional amendments.