Sen. Lucero signing individual cards sent to recognize the 92 precious newborns welcomed in April to families across our great community. Celebrating life is always special.

DIGITAL MISREPRESENTATION

Artificial intelligence and machine learning technology continue to advance including the capability to completely manufacture digital video, picture, and/or audio depicting any person performing actions and voicing words that never happened. The capabilities allowing for the creation of such content is commonly referred to as a deepfake.

Deepfakes threaten not just prominent people such as business leaders, Hollywood stars, or elected officials, but threaten every man, woman, and child in our society. Every person may become a victim of a deepfake used against them by having artificial scenarios created involving sex, crime, hate, or other negative scenes. Recognizing the reputational threat to every person, I introduced a bill in 2018 to make digital misrepresentation a crime. Since that time, I’ve been working to raise visibility and awareness to the digital representation threat.

I’m proud to be one of the bi-partisan co-authors of SF 1394 this year that creates both criminal and civil causes of action if a person becomes the victim of a deepfake. The bill passed off the Senate Floor last week with overwhelming support.

Sen. Lucero with colleague Sen. Nelson last week at the MN Capitol.

DEMOCRAT TAX INCREASE

Last week Democrats passed the $1 billion Housing spending bill off the Senate Floor and sent to Gov. Walz to be signed into law. In addition to failing to address the root cause of skyrocketing cost of housing, the Democrat bill raises taxes despite the nearly $20 billion budget surplus. The Democrat Housing bill included a 0.25% sales tax increase for the 7-county metro area to be used for housing construction and ongoing rental assistance. Government regulation and mandates are direct contributors to the housing shortage. The bill accomplishes zero to resolve the root cause bottleneck by increasing housing supply and thus reduce housing costs. Democrats are content leaving housing costs at record high levels and simply create new government programs and tax increases in a time of surplus. Democrats are content to play politics by giving the appearance of reducing the cost of housing. It’s all smoke and mirrors with zero REAL solution to the housing crisis.

PEDOPHILIA AND GUN CONTROL

Democrat single-party control has proven Democrats are not focused on keeping Minnesotans safe. Democrats are advancing legislation to go easy on violent criminals, fails to support law enforcement, and attacks law-abiding citizens' Second Amendment Constitutional rights. The above graphic shows a portion of the Democrat Public Safety and Judiciary Omnibus bill in which the crossed-out words is the verbiage within existing law Democrats are repealing. The underlined words is the new verbiage Democrats are inserting into law.

As can be seen in the orange highlighted words, Democrats are repealing existing law that expressly prohibits pedophilia from being considered a legal sexual orientation and replacing with genderqueer and other new language. Democrats are continuing the advance of sexual perversion via an incrementalism. This is the same incremental approach Democrats utilized to normalize transsexuals, homosexuality, and other sexual behavioral choices that go against nature.

Within the same bill, Democrats also passed new gun control measures which make Democrats feel better but do not make Minnesota safer. The unconstitutional provisions in this bill include laws which allows for the confiscation of firearms without due process based on unverified complaints, and prohibiting the private transfer of firearms between friends and family without government involvement.

Judge gets it correct upholding the 2nd Amendment.

DEMOCRAT FORCED RETIREMENT ACCOUNT

Democrats continue their cradle-to-grave nanny state worldview declaring big government knows better and makes better decisions than individuals. The latest example was SF 413 passed last week which establishes a new public/private retirement account mandated on all eligible private employers as well as their employees, and will directly compete with the private market accounts already offered in the state.

The bill would affect any employer who engages in business, industry, trade, or enterprise in the state who employs 5 or more covered employees and who has not contributed or sponsored a retirement savings plan for their employees. Employers who are state or federal governments or political subdivisions are not considered qualified employers for this program.

Employers would be required to AUTOMATICALLY enroll employees. It will be the employees' responsibility to opt-out if the employee does not want to participate. I spoke strongly in favor of an amendment to change to an opt-in, but Democrats rejected citing their belief it is better to automatically enroll people without their affirmative consent.

STAYING IN TOUCH

Each and every day I’m continuously humbled at the opportunity to represent and fight for the values and priorities of our great community!

Please contact me to share any issues, concerns, or feedback you have to assist me best represent you. The best way to reach me is by email at [email protected] or by phone at 651-296-5655.

Sincerely,

Eric Lucero

State Senator

District 30

Rockford Township, Hanover, Saint Michael, Albertville, Otsego, Elk River, Nowthen, Western Oak Grove