Sen. Higgins plans to complete her current term, which expires in January of 2013, and is looking forward to representing her constituents during the 2012 Legislative Session.
“I’ve been honored to serve the residents of North and Downtown Minneapolis for 15 years. I’m proud of what we have accomplished, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to serve our community.” Sen. Higgins was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1996 and represents the residents of North Minneapolis, North Loop, and Downtown in Senate District 58.
During her 15 years of service in the Senate, Sen. Higgins has held many leadership roles. She chaired the Senate’s Public Safety Budget Division from 2006 to 2010 and the State and Local Government Operations Committee from 2003 to 2006. She served as Majority Whip from 2001 to 2006. She currently is the DFL lead on the Senate’s Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
Sen. Higgins is widely regarded as one of the Legislature’s most effective and outspoken advocates on environmental and consumer protection issues.
During her 15 years at the Senate, Sen. Higgins:
· Wrote and passed toughest-in-the-nation predatory lending and foreclosure prevention laws with strong bipartisan support.
· Passed legislation to make it easier for Minnesotans to recycle old televisions, computers or other “e-waste,” the largest source of lead found in Minnesota’s municipal waste.
· Made Minnesota the first state in the nation to ban toxic metals like lead and cadmium from children’s toys and jewelry, and banned environmentally hazardous phosphorus from lawn fertilizers.
· Passed bipartisan, groundbreaking legislation to establish a special sentencing program for veterans facing criminal prosecution who suffer from combat-related mental health disorders.
· Was named to Senate negotiations team for bills on issues as diverse as eminent domain, Minnesota Twins ballpark, public safety and judiciary policy and funding, environmental policy and funding, healthcare policy and funding, and early childhood education policy and funding.
Senate DFL Caucus Leader Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, said Sen. Higgins’s leadership and experience would be sorely missed at the State Capitol. “Linda has been one of the strongest and most effective legislators in recent memory,” said Sen. Bakk. “When the foreclosure crisis struck North Minneapolis, Linda rolled up her sleeves and passed the toughest anti-predatory lending laws in the nation. She tackles difficult issues, but works across party lines to build consensus, remove barriers and deliver results for her constituents and our state.”
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