SENATOR
JimAbeler
2022 Session WRAPUP
SERVING COON RAPIDS ANOKA, ANDOVER, RAMSEY
A Proven Leader who works with people to get things done. “I have a life-long commitment to our community. We have raised our sons here, own a second-generation business here, and have a passion for the quality of life our families and businesses enjoy here. I am a leader who listens to all groups and gets things done. “My values are Minnesota’s values and I make decisions according to the priorities we share.”
POSTAL PATRON
EDDMECRWSS
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Princeton, MN Permit No. 161
Thank You!
It is my honor to serve in St. Paul as State Senator. I hope you realize that ou government belongs to its r people, and that means yo u. Even though the last sessi on didn’t accomplish as m uch as many had hoped, much was accomplished. I worked behind the scene s with many parties, inclu legislative leaders and th ding e Governor. I offered idea s on how to bridge the substantial philosophica l and partisan conflicts th at exist, with notable succ because of my service in bo ess th the House and Senate an d m y pe rsonal connections to so many of the players. My goal is to serve you an d each of the 80,000 resid ents our Senate District 35 to the best of my ability, an d be your interface with sta te government, rescuing yo from its endless bureaucr u acies and sometimes poin tless rules.
S E N AT O R J I M A B E L E R
Working Together. Getting Things Done. “You’re a great friend to us. Without your help, there would be no Anoka Tech.” CK, MN Anoka Technical College
Strong, Safe Schools
Andover Toxic Landfill Cleanup
Working arm in arm with Representative Peggy Scott, Mayor Julie Trude and many others, Senator Abeler helped obtain over $20 million to eliminate the hazardous waste pit at the WDE Landfill in Andover. This was a massive problem. The landfill was the most severe pollution issue in the state. Removing the thousands of barrels of toxic waste resolved this problem once and for all, protecting our residents and restoring confidence that local drinking water will be safe now and in the future.
Coon Rapids Hanson Boulevard Rail Overpass Completed
Jim fights for his Community
r +JN XBT JOTUSVNFOUBM JO TBWJOH UIF Anoka Technical College that was slated for closure by MNSCU in 2000. Thousands have been trained there since. r )F XPSLFE XJUI UIF 4DIPPM %JTUSJDU "OPLB $PVOUZ BOE the State to build adjoining STEP, Secondary Technical Educational Program (named by Jim). r 5IF Anoka Care Center, was about to be shut down and Jim passed legislation to keep it open. Because of that same legislation, in 2013 the beautiful Homestead at Anoka was opened to serve the needs of our growing elderly population.
Senator Abeler has been a real champion for students and teachers. AHD11 graduates more students than any other district. Forging strong partnerships with area legislators like Rep. Melissa Hortman, Senators John Hoffman and Jerry Newton and former Reps. Kathy Tingelstad and Denise Dittrich, AHD11 now has one of the lowest racial achievement gaps in the state. All students deserve the chance to excel without regard to zip code or partisan squabbles. Senator Abeler believes strongly that a strong partnership between teachers, paraprofessionals, parents and students is a key ingredient in assuring a bright future for the district’s 38,000 students.
r +JN BOE #BSC NPSUHBHFE UIFJS IPVTF to found PACT (Parents Allied with Children & Teachers) Charter School, Minnesota’s 9th Charter School. r +JN JT B GSFRVFOU BEWJTPS UP $PVOUZ $JUZ TUBí PO MFHJTlative and policy matters. Many rely on his state government expertise and common-sense advice. r +JN QBSUOFSFE XJUI UIF DPNNVOJUZ UP PQFO Hope4Youth, a drop-in center for homeless youth in the Anoka area; hundreds have been helped with basic needs.
The Hanson Blvd Rail Overpass is actually three bridges and took over fifteen years to complete. It took collaboration with the City of Coon Rapids, Police, Fire, emergency services, planners, elected officials, and many public voices. Senator Abeler authored legislation with Senators John Hoffman and Jerry Newton to obtain state bonding funds to finish the job. This is a very wise investment of taxpayer funds. Emergency vehicles will not be delayed by over 70 trains a day.
Jim Understands Small Business Because He’s Lived Small Business
Jim Advocates For Seniors
“How we treat our seniors should reflect the best of our society and culture.” JIM ABELER Jim has a long history of working for seniors. Keeping healthy and independent is key. There are many available county, state, and private services to match our seniors’ needs. As a Chairman, Jim was actively involved in critical legislation to protect seniors in assisted living centers and allowing cameras to be used to keep seniors safe. Hundreds of seniors and service providers made Jim’s annual Senior Fairs (22 and counting) in Anoka and Coon Rapids a big success.
Every candidate will say that they’ll work hard to promote small business growth…because the majority of job growth comes from small business. In these times of Covid-19, this is even more challenging. Jim actually owns two small businesses himself. As a property owner and hands-on manager, Jim has helped many of them start out and be part of the historic Main Street community.
“If it were not for Jim’s graciousness, I could not have stayed in business—especially when the economy declined. Jim extended many considerations to me and other tenants that most landlords would not.” CT, store owner
Jim also owns a modest Anoka chiropractic clinic, employing 12 people. He knows what it is to meet payroll. And he does a lot of his own repairs.
Jim supports veterans
“The brave men and women who come back changed and broken from protecting our country deserve the best care we can provide.” JIM ABELER HAVEN 4 HEROES Jim is a champion for veterans. He led a community effort to remodel 3 crumbling cottages at the Anoka State Hospital into housing for veterans needing housing and supports, now known as Haven for Heroes. Using generously donated private funds, he coordinated the efforts of over 400 volunteers, a dozen veterans’ groups, and 75 union tradesmen and women to create a safe home for 30 veterans in a miraculous 57 days. The second cottage, for female veterans, was done in a similar manner, funded 100% by private donations large and small. The third cottage is currently being redone to create 28 beds for male veterans leaving CD treatment. These cottages are a tribute to the dedication of our brave veterans and the commitment of our citizens to stand behind them.
Speaking to veterans at the mobile Vietnam Memorial Wall. A very moving event. (R) Lt. James Abeler, Sr. flew a Hellcat fighter plane off the carrier Randolph in WWII. Kudos to our greatest generation.
MORE ABOUT JIM Personal r Lifelong resident Anoka, Ramsey, Coon Rapids r Married to Barb for 41 years / Six sons r 43 year small business owner and employer r Graduated Anoka High School 1972, Valedictorian r Hamline & U of M: biology/chemistry r Family chiropractic practice in Anoka since 1979 r Active in Christian service State and Local Leadership r 16 year State Representative, 1999–2015 r Seven-year MN Senate 2016–present r Founder, PACT Charter School 1994 r Prevented Anoka Technical College closure r Obtained 3rd lane on Hwy 10 in Coon Rapids r Strong committment to District 11 students, schools, teachers, and staff r Leader in MN health care: quality, cost, reform r Strong voice for veterans, police, firefighters
Jim, Barb, and family
Jim Sr Nov 11, 2021
Josiah | Sept 14, 2011
PROVEN LEADERSHIP
Legislative Honors & Awards Over his two decades of leadership as a State Representative and State Senator, Jim received nearly 100 awards recognizing his service to community groups and citizens. Partial list: t Outstanding Legislator Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities t Legislator of the Year Minnesota Chapter of the National MS Society t Champion for Babies March Of Dimes t Lifetime Champion Award Comm of Deaf, Blind, and Hard of Hearing MN’s t Legislator of the Year Minnesota School of Social Workers Association t Representative of the Year Minnesota State College Students’ Association t Legislator of the Year Minnesota Psychological Association t Champion for Racial Justice Apprenticeship Project t Honorary Biodiesel Buddy Minnesota Biodiesel Council t Friend of Agriculture Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation t Legislator of Distinction League of Minnesota Cities t Cancer Fighter Award American Cancer Society t Outstanding Community Services Award Hemophilia Foundation of Minnesota/Dakotas t MN Legislative Session All Star Advocate Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities t Community Partner of the Year RISE t ACCAP Governing Board of Directors Award ACCAP t Legislator of the Year ARC Minnesota t Friend of Professional School Counseling MN School Counselors Association t Hero of Hope Award Anoka Community Mission t Paul Wellstone Advocacy Award The Minnesota Psychiatric Society t Special Transportation Accessible Ridership Award Minnesota Paratransit Providers Association Minnesota Ambulance Association Special Transportation Services Association t Guardian of Minnesota Public Schools Minnesota School Boards Association
t Guardian of Small Business NFIB /MN (2002/2012) t Certificate of Appreciation MN Displaced Homemaker Program Consortium t Certificate of Appreciation Minnesota Counseling Association t Certificate of Appreciation People Incorporated t 5% Campaign Award 5% Campaign t Lifetime Achievement Award Opportunity Partners / MOHR / ARRM t Friend of Retail Minnesota Retailers Association t Legislator of the Year Minnesota Homecare Association t Legislative Dean’s List MN State University Student Association t Outstanding Legislator Legislative Evaluation Assembly t Certificate of Appreciation Anaphelaxis and Food Allergy Association of MN t Nonprofit Ally Award Minnesota Council of Nonprofits t Public Policy Champion Lutheran Social Services of MN t Certificate of Appreciation Center for Victims of Torture t Commendation The Sustainable Energy for Economic Dev Coalition t Leadership Award Minnesota Habilitation Coalition t Friend of EMS Regions Hospital t Lifetime Achievement Award MNDACA–MOHR t Healthy Body Healthy Mind Award Mental Wellness Campaign for Anoka County t Legislator of the Year National Alliance for the Mentally Ill t Leadership and Service Award Gillette Children’s
“Unlike many of your colleagues, you gave the impression that you really cared about the people you work for and their problems. I especially appreciated how truly bipartisan and even non-partison topics were...” Session-only Page
t Certificate of Appreciation MN Coalition for the Homeless t Certificate of Appreciation Metropolitan Center For Independent Living t Guardian of Small Business NFIB / Minnesota t Champion For Racial Equity Voices For Racial Justice t Northstar Chapter Leadership Award Sierra Club t Friend of Agriculture Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation t Certificate of Commendation State of Minnesota–Jesse Ventura t Headstart Support Award Headstart Program t Certificate of Appreciation Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Assoc of MN t Certificate of Commendation World Autism Awareness Day t Elinor D. Hands Award Brain Injury Association of Minnesota t Public Official Award Minnesota Nurses Association t Legislator of the Year MARRCH t ARRM Cares Leadership Award ARRM t Legislator Appreciation Day Minnesota Department of Corrections t Letter of Appreciation Opportunity Partners t Legislator of Distinction League Of Mn Cities t Counselor Advocate MACD t Friend of EMS Minnesota Ambulance Association t Community Champion Award ISUROON t Wellness In the Woods Honors Wellness In the Woods t Outstanding Legislator Minnesota Consortium For Citizens with Disabilities t Legislator of the Year Minnesota Psychological Association t Proc for Disability Employment Awareness Month State of Minnesota t Conservative Achievement The American Conservative Union Foundation
Senator Jim Abeler: Working Together
WHAT GOT DONE IN 2022
Agriculture, Broadband, & Drought Relief Expands broadband funding, provide relief to farmers still struggling from the effects of last year’s historic drought, and addresses urgent concerns in our agriculture sector, including the ongoing Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) crisis. Unemployment Insurance & Frontline Worker Pay Helps Minnesotans who were most impacted by COVID and COVID shutdowns. It shores up the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund while also delivering checks to those who took personal risks to keep Minnesota moving during COVID. It’s a strong bipartisan compromise that delivers for Minnesota. Mental Health Closes the mental health gaps in our criminal justice system, provides resources for mental health services in schools, removes the moratorium on mental health beds in hospitals for five years, and includes incentives to encourage and ease barriers to entering the mental health profession. Makes strategic investments in expanding mental health care access for Minnesotans of all ages. Includes school-linked mental health grants to support intervention for children facing mental health challenges, shelter-linked mental health grants to provided increased support for homeless youth with mental health needs, a mobile crisis service team, and a pilot project to create “mental health urgency rooms”.
Veterans Provides post-service resources, expand housing options, and fund enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses. Includes funding for upgrades and completion of the three new veterans’ homes across the state, provides bonuses to service members that served during global conflicts after September 11, 2001. Reinsurance A successful program that lowers the cost of health insurance for Minnesotans. Helps pay for expensive medical care so more Minnesotans can afford coverage and maintain access to care. After passage of reinsurance, Minnesotan’s benchmark premiums decreased 25.5 percent and program usage stabilized. SW Light Rail Project Audit The project is now over budget and far behind schedule. This project was originally authorized at $2.2 billion and expected to be completed in 2023. Now, this project is not anticipated to open until 2027 and with a final cost of approximately $2.75 billion ALS Research Funding & Caregiver Support Gives $20 million to the Office of Higher Education to award competitive grants to conduct research into the prevention, treatment, causes, and cures of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Also includes $5 million for ALS caregivers Russia Divestment Divests Minnesota’s state pension fund from Russia and Belarus, and bars Minnesota from contracting with companies headquartered in Russia. Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the estimated worth of Minnesota’s state pension fund investments in Russia was approximately $53 million Opioid Settlement Terms In 2021, Minnesota joined nationwide settlements with opioid distributors McKesson, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen, and manufacturer Johnson & Johnson. This led to more than 3,000 lawsuits against these companies for their role in the opioid crisis that has devastated families. Ratifies the terms of the opioid settlement agreements with every county and more than 140 cities have signed onto the settlement Under the terms of the settlements, the state of Minnesota, cities, and counties are set to receive more than $300 million over the next 18 years. This funding will be used for opioid supports like treatment and recovery programs. Human Services Policy Bill Provides support to Minnesota’s most vulnerable people and is related to accessing effective treatment and support for vulnerable seniors, persons with disabilities and illness. Updates the Homeless Youth Act to allow funds to be used for upgrades and repairs to programs that help homeless youth. Reduces child protection case paperwork, and allow workers to spend more time with children and addressing their needs. Many other provisions in the 492 page bill. Also establishes the Opioids, Substance Use, and Addiction Subcabinet develop strategies to reduce the barriers and expand the recovery infrastructure in the state. Prepared and Paid for by Abeler Volunteer Committee 600 E Main St, Anoka 55303
ABELER’S TOP 5 SPECIAL SESSION GOALS Fund Nursing & Group homes Eliminate Tax on Social Security Pass a Solid Bonding Bill Enable Police Recruitment Reduce Special Ed Cross Subsidy Ser ving the community of Anoka County
Local senators honored for bipartisan achievements
Senators Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, and John Hoffman, DFLChamplin, received the Outstanding Community Partners Award from the Spring Lake Park-based nonprofit Rise, the Legislator of the Year Award from the MN Association of Resources for Recovery and Chemical Health, and the Legislative Champion Award from Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge. Abeler serves as the chair of the Senate Human Services Reform Finance and Policy Committee, where Hoffman is the ranking Democrat, and the awards stemmed from their work on bills related to human services. “We have a history of working together on these human services matters, because we just think that these should not be political, and so we’ve engaged heavily, and we’re trying to work on the work,” Abeler said. “Because Abeler and Hoffman had made such a significant difference to not only our organization but all organizations that support people with disabilities in the community, we wanted to recognize their leadership.” Lynn Noren, President of Rise added, “They work so fabulously together.” The MN Association of Resources for Recovery and Chemical Health (MARRCH) and MN Adult and Teen Challenge both recognized Abeler and Hoffman for supporting addiction treatment and recovery programs in the state. Amy Dellwo, MARRCH Board president-elect, said in a statement. “One of the hallmarks of these two Senators is their willingness to take the input from stakeholders. They have assembled numerous listening sessions and workgroups outside of the hearing room to give the public a chance to have their voice heard.” Gina Evans, advocacy director for MN Adult and Teen Challenge related, “Having the two of them reach across the aisle on such an important issue just really speaks to a spririt of unity that we would really love to see more of in our Legislature this year.” Hoffman said he’s been friends with Abeler for more than 20 years and they don’t personalize policy. “I think there’s a mutual respect, a mutual trust there that you don’t see in politics anymore. It’s amazing what can happen when you set your egos outside in that hallway and really focus on what’s important.” Abeler said it means a lot to him that three organizations recognized their joint efforts, “if only to show by example that the parties can actually work together and help real people with real problems in a time when it seems that the parties are incapable of working together at all.” (See full article: hometownsource.com)
CONTACT JIM Sen.Jim.Abeler@Senate.MN 651. 296.3733 capitol 612.245.3764 cell 3215 MN Senate Bldg. 95 University Ave. St. Paul, MN 55155 FOLLOW JIM FB Senator Jim Abeler SD35 Twitter @jimabeler
Safe Neighborhoods
People need to feel safe in their neighborhoods. With the recent rise in carjackings and other violent crime, many no longer feel safe in their neighborhood. Citizens of all races need to feel free to call on their local police when those needs arise. Foresightful departments like the Anoka County Sheriff and Anoka and Coon Rapids police departments have been leaders in responsive, inclusive community service policing and can serve as a model for the rest of the state. We must respect the need to have enough police to protect us and give them the ability to do their jobs. Situations like George Floyd’s should never happen, and rebuilding trust in the police who are to protect us is critical. That trust must be earned. To be safe, we need to attract more quality police. We need to stay tough on criminals, especially those who are violent, use a firearm or highjack a car. Those criminals should expect to go to jail, and not be turned loose to offend again without paying the penalty for their crime. In addition, we need to reach into the communities to those youth and others who are at risk to build positive opportunities to divert them from being drawn into criminal activities. Senator Abeler has built a strong reputation for working across the aisle. Seen here with Senators Bobby Jo Champion and Jim Carlson.
Rescuing Disability Services
“I can clearly see that (Jim is) a man of great concern and passion for those who face the greatest need in society.” RP, Salvation Army
With Senator Jim Abeler’s leadership and the partnership of Senator John Hoffman, the MN Senate passed $1 billion in funding to rescue services at hundreds of disability service providers caring for 40,000 persons with disabilities. Nursing homes and group homes are in dire financial straits as they are unable to attract sufficient staff to serve their needy and fragile clients. The two Senators have led the bipartisan charge to get this funding to providers despite endless roadblocks. These sites deliver excellent quality of life and care that everyone deserves. This funding would help continue serving their clients into the post-Covid world. This builds on the efforts led by Senators Abeler and Hoffman to enable people with disabilities to have much more opportunity to live independently. This is a shining example of how working together gets things done. It also reflects the Senators’ strong devotion to the value of life.
Senators Abeler and John Hoffman have teamed up to help people with disabilities have the best opportunities possible.
2022 TOP 10 ISSUES t Inflation: Protect the family budget t Crime: Everyone should feel safe in their neighborhood, car, and school t K-12 Education: Assure that all kids can read, do math, and be successful t Higher Education: College/trade school opportunities for all t Health Care: Frail, elderly, and persons with disabilities need to be cared for t Health Care costs: It shouldn’t take all your money to see your doctors t Mental Health: Care available for all in need t Taxes: The State shouldn’t be keeping more money than families t The Earth: Clean air and water t Support: Veterans, police, firefighters 0722