John Poston's been learning how to help govern the state.
The Republican from Lake Shore, elected last November, has been a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives for slightly more than a week.
"It's a steep learning curve when you come in here, and you've never done this before," he said. "I'm learning a lot every day, and that's fine."
The incoming freshman members receive "floor training" during orientation that familiarizes them with how procedures on the House floor work-how legislators submit bills, and how they take turns speaking. Poston said he hadn't submitted a bill or been called on to speak yet, but that would be coming in next week or two.
Poston was comforted by the supportive, bipartisan environment at the House. He added he likes to spend time with other legislators from the north-central region of the state, including Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, Rep. Josh Heintzeman, R-Nisswa, as well as fellow freshmen Rep. Sandy Layman, R-Cohassett, and Rep. Matt Bliss, R-Pennington.
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He was also proud of the committees he is assigned to, including both agriculture finance and agriculture policy as well as education finance. He also got on veterans affairs, which surprised him because, although veterans issues are important to him, he isn't a veteran himself. He was gradually becoming more comfortable with committee work as more committees have first meetings, he said.
The House leadership asked the incoming legislators to list five committees they wanted-but Poston was so excited, he wrote down eight.
As of Thursday, Poston hadn't authored any bills of his own yet but he said some are on the way, including some potential agriculture bills related to tax relief for farmers and water buffer zones.
"The buffer zone bill that passed, the (Gov. Mark Dayton) put into place, has got to have some changes," he said. "It's hurting our farmers."
As the session lasts for five months, Poston rented a studio apartment in St. Paul where his significant other can visit him together with his dog, a cocker spaniel named Molly.
