Letter to the Editor

Universal Pre-K bill introduced

By Sen. David O'Connell

02/10/2015

Things are cooking at full boil here. This week SB 2254 the Universal Pre-K bill that would fund any school or person who felt they were ready to roll. 

They would have to be approved by the Department of Public Instruction, of course, which entails meeting certain criteria which ensures a level of safety and competence for our children much the same as Kindergarten. 

Seventy-two facilities already offer approved Pre-K, and this bill would fund them next year. Because 88 percent of our states already publicly fund Pre-K at one level or another, we know that this is the direction our country and state is heading. Our Governor is publicly on board with this eventual goal in mind.   
 Some are trying to get infrastructure in place for natural gas. The Economic Development Association, the Chamber of Commerce and the Commerce Department, along with many legislators from both parties are pursuing this opportunity to allow rural areas to have a chance at growth. 

Today the Industry, Business and Labor committee with an economic development bill that passed out of committee with a 7-0 do pass. 

It is a bill that allows micro-brewers to open more than one taproom as long as they brew their beer at that same location. 
It keeps the limitation on, which is not to exceed 25,000 barrels per year. 

A barrel of beer is not as large as a barrel of oil - 32 gallons versus 42. 

I am not a beer consumer, but check them out in Fargo, Bismarck, Mandan, Minot and soon in Grand Forks. They produce some imaginative beverages with passion for their craft. 

Senator Murphy’s bill is helping them because those brewers are helping the renaissance/rebirth of downtown areas.