The Madelia Messenger doesn't have much online presence, so a reader sent us a PDF scan of a letter in the paper by Christensen Communications executive and MN Telecom Alliance president/CEO Brent Christensen ripping New House Republican Caucus member Jeremy Munson, Lake Crystal, ripping HF2181, the Telecommuter Forward! certification for Minnesota communities.
The bipartisan bill, which passed 106-19 in the Minnesota House on April 8, 2019, was modeled after a program in Wisconsin. Ann Treacy discusses the Badger State program in Keeping an eye on Wisconsin with their Telecommuter First designation at the Blandin Foundation.
Following passage of the bill, chief author Julie Sandstede, DFL-Hibbing, said in Minn. House approves Rep. Sandstede bill allowing cities to earn “Telecommuter Forward!” designation:
The Minnesota House today passed HF 2181, a bill authored by Rep. Julie Sandstede (DFL – Hibbing) to create a pathway for communities to secure “Telecommuter Forward!” status from the Department of Employment and Economic Development. “Telecommuter Forward!” is a strategy for communities to promote telecommuting as part of their economic development strategy and strengthen broadband connectivity.
“In Greater Minnesota we have a fantastic quality of life, with rural character and terrific natural resources. We also know that for our communities to thrive, we need new strategies to diversify our economies to keep them strong,” Rep. Sandstede said. “The ability for employers to offer telecommuting as an option can carry tremendous impact toward this goal. Instead of forcing Minnesotans to ‘move to where the jobs are,’ telecommuting allows us to bring jobs right to them. This program will serve as a catalyst for helping communities to grow, enhance their economies, and deal with future challenges.”
To earn “Telecommuter Forward!” certification, a community must promote telecommuting and designate a single point of contact to coordinate opportunities. Responsibilities of the point of contact include:
- coordinating with broadband providers, employers, realtors, and other telecommuting stakeholders;
- working with other stakeholders to identify and develop telecommuter-capable broadband access;
- promoting telecommuter-friendly workspaces; and
- being knowledgeable about broadband mapping.
In 2017, the concept was created in the state of Wisconsin, which was trying to find a way to promote local rural broadband with the idea that for rural communities, broadband and job growth can lead to a great quality of life. Wisconsin currently has 13 communities certified in the program and more in the pipeline.
“With initiatives like this that are new to Minnesota, coupled with robust investments in high-speed broadband, I’m extremely confident we can become leaders in this area,” Rep. Sandstede said. “As we work to deliver fast, reliable broadband to all Minnesotans, ‘Telecommuter Forward!’ status can help communities which have good broadband access already market themselves to potential employers.”
The Senate version of the bill, SF 2094, awaits action on the Senate floor.
But Munson was having none of it. Here's the video of Munson's floor speech:
That bit prompted Christensen's letter:
Anti Munson Letter in Madelia Messenger posted by Sally Jo Sorensen by on Scribd
The full video of the debate on the bill (starting at the 1:51:11 mark here) does feature Lakeville Republican Jon Koznick questioning the committee in which the bill was heard, though he doesn't challenge the substance of the bill, which he voted against. The rest of the discussion of the bill was positive, as Christensen notes in his letter-to-the-editor.
According to Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board records, Christensen has contributed $9830 between 2009 and 2017 to both the DFL House Caucus and the Minnesota HRCC, the DFL House Caucus and the Minnesota GOP Senate Victory Fund (SVF), the MTA PAC (fka SITCO PAC) and to three candidate committees including Willmar's Baker, David (Dave) House Committee, Morrison County's Kresha, Ronald House Committee, and Minneapolis Senate Dibble, D Scott Senate Committee. The House members are Republicans; Dibble is a DFLer.
Earlier this month, we noted Munson's absence in an issue in his district in Julie Rosen and Bob Gunther go to bat for Rapidan Township--where's Jeremy Munson?.
Will voter discontent--and Munson's membership in a splinter Republican caucus--prompt a primary challenge in 2020?
Christensen is a Madelia school board member and past mayor of Madelia, according to his Linkedin profile.
Screengrab: Munson arguing against a bill intended to encourage Minnesota cities to brand themselves as telecommuter friendly.
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