December 8, 2002

ST. PAUL — State Representative-elect Karen Klinzing (R-Woodbury) is off to a quick start in the Minnesota Legislature. Last week, Speaker of the House Steve Sviggum (R-Kenyon) announced that Klinzing will be the first freshman legislator to ever serve as an assistant majority leader for the Republican caucus.

Klinzing, who will officially be sworn into office on January 7th, the first day of the 2003 Legislative Session, says that she is looking forward to bringing Woodbury's values and voice to the forefront at the Capitol as a member of House leadership.

"I am thrilled to have this opportunity," Klinzing said. "As an assistant majority leader, I'll be able to push the issues people care about the most in Woodbury to the front of the legislative agenda. I'm excited and looking forward to beginning a challenging session in January."

As an assistant majority leader, Klinzing will be a member of the Republican Executive Board — a 10-member committee that shapes the legislative agenda and political strategy of House Republicans, who significantly increased their majority this fall, winning 82 of 134 seats.

"Balancing the state's projected $4.5 billion budget deficit without raising taxes is at the top of our agenda for this session," Klinzing said. "Voters sent lawmakers a clear message on Election Day. Like their families do in tough times, Minnesotans expect the Legislature to balance the budget by slowing and cutting spending, not by raising taxes. My House Republican colleagues and I are committed to using 'kitchen table economics' to bring the state's budget back into balance."

Klinzing is a teacher in the Bloomington public school district. She lives in Woodbury with her husband, Bill, a 3M engineer, and their two daughters, Kathleen and Emma. Until her Capitol phone number and email are announced in January, Klinzing asks that constituents contact her at home at 651-578-2582 or by email at karen@karenklinzing.com.

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