Sen. Lucero with Brooks in the MN Senate Chamber on the last day of session. “Thank you to Brooks for all the assistance he provided during the 2023 legislative session working as an intern with me in the Senate,” Lucero said. “Brooks is sharp, passionate, and I'm very excited about his future!”

HISTORY SHOULD BE A LESSON

Most of human history is filled with those in power abusing the Natural Rights bestowed to each individual from our Creator. Those througout history who abuse others come in many forms: Dictator, Despot, Oppresser, Emperor, Tyrant, Warlord, Tsar, King, Monarch, Communist, Marxist, Leninist, Collectivist, Socialist, and more. But, they all have one thing in common: Each authoritian believed they knew better than everybody else and used military/police/government force to abuse the civil liberties and freedoms of the people.

Being well learned as students of history, our Founding Fathers were committed to devise a government that protects natural rights, individual liberty, and the freedom of each person to self-determine and pursue one’s own happiness. The Great American Experiment, our Republic, was formed as a result. Our Founding Fathers understood their limits and recognized they could not create perfection but could at least move us in the direction of a “more perfect union.” While our Republic is not perfect, there is no other system in human history that’s resulted in greater expansion of liberty and higher standards of living.

America flourished as a result of blessings from our Creator and limiting the size, scope, and power of government. Unfortunately, Democrats are gleefully ignoring the lessons of history. Democrats are weaponizing government, politicizing the private sector, controlling nearly every lever of cultural influence, all for the purpose of erasing individualism in their twisted belief they know better than the rest of us. Democrats are repeating history in their quest to abuse government power to instill fear into those among us who don’t conform to the Democrat worldview. Democrats are using their slim 1-seat majority to implement tyranny over the rest of us 49% minority.

Democrats celebrate with glee while taxpayers get crushed with greater hardship as Democrats make MN an even more expensive and depressing place to live, work, or visit.

FUNDAMENTAL TRANSFORMATION OF MN

Democrats campaigned on bipartisanship and One-Minnesota. It’s now clear this was a lie. Democrats abused their 1-seat majority to push through the most divisive, extreme agenda in state history. In doing so, Democrats completely ignored the 49% of Minnesota who voted against Democrats. Nearly EVERY SINGLE bill this session passed by a 34-33 vote in the MN Senate. Power hungry Democrats ignored all decency to advance their radical Democrat agenda.

Following is a partial list of the radical progressive new laws passed by the Democrats in the last five months with their 1-seat majority:

· Spent nearly the entire ~$19 billion surplus growing government by 40-percent

· $260 rebate checks per filer vs. $1,000 checks Gov. Tim Walz campaigned on

· Allocated $194 million to build a train from Coon Rapids to Duluth

· 50-cent delivery fee on all retail orders over $100, such as orders from Amazon

· Raised fees for fishing, boating, and visiting state parks

· Raised the gas tax and indexed to inflation for future automatic increases

· Raised taxes on employers and employees to establish government-run time-off program

· Increased sales taxes and fees for vehicle purchases and registration

· Two new sales taxes for the 7-County metro area totaling a 1% increase

· Blackout bill requiring Minnesota’s electricity grid to be 100% carbon-free by 2040

· New database to issue climate scores to businesses, a back door to ESG

· Commission to replace the state flag

· Deleted Columbus Day and replaced with Indigenous People’s Day

· Granted right to vote to violent felons who've not yet completed their sentence

· Created an anti free speech government database to catalog "offensive" language

· Driver’s licenses for illegal foreign nationals

· Automatic voter registration for everyone with a driver's license, including illegal aliens

· MN taxpayer-funded health care for illegal foreign nationals

· MN taxpayer-funded meals to all Minnesota students regardless of family income

· MN taxpayer-funded free college for students in families with income under $80,000

· National Popular Vote (NPV) Interstate Compact sidestepping the Electoral College

· Legalized recreational marijuana

· Two gun control bills, including red-flag gun confiscation universal background checks

· Retirement account for all employees with a mandatory automatic opt-in

· Outlawed e-pull tabs crushing local charities and their bar/restaurant partners

· Prohibited PSEO college funding to faith-based schools with faith statements

· Repealed the 'Born Alive Infant Protection Act'

· Deleted long-standing reporting requirements for abortion facilities

· Established a “fundamental right” to abortion to the millisecond of birth, including minors

· Established MN as a “refuge” for children seeking sex mutilation chemicals or surgery

· Expanded medical assistance to include taxpayer-funded abortion to the millisecond of birth

· Stripped abortion-alternative pregnancy resource centers of state funding

· Require menstrual pad/tampon dispensers be installed in boys bathrooms in k-12 schools

· Repealed a law that prohibited pedophiles from being considered a protected class

· Added "gender expression" as a protected class

· Outlawed licensed mental health professionals from including religious faith principles during when counseling on sexual behavior related issues

Democrat priorities in the 2023 session include advancing abortion, pedophilia and other sexual perversion, lawlessness, division, and confusion while eroding religious liberty and Constitutional protections. Despite the evil agenda advanced in the last several months, we must remind ourselves we are in the midst of a much larger spiritual battle against very powerful forces but the REAL victory has already been won!

Democrats are very clearly driven by political calculation, power consolidation, and advancement of their radical agenda rather than servant-leadership of doing what’s right for the best interests of ALL Minnesotans.

MAYO, UBER & LYFT

All session long, Democrats advanced legislation increasing crushing taxes, fees, mandates, and more across the state. Nearly every aspect of Minnesota is going to become more expensive to live, work, or visit. Republicans worked hard highlighting this reality of the consequences of radical Democrat policies. Nevertheless, Democrats completely ignored truth with two exceptions. Mayo in Rochester threatened to redirect billions in new investment to outside MN unless Democrats killed the nursing-related regulations that were being advanced by the Democrat majority. Uber/Lyft threatened to severely limit service in MN unless Democrats stopped the ridesharing regulations that were being advanced by the Democrat majority.

Democrats threw in the white towel to both the Mayo and the Uber/Lyft threats. Why? Because Democrats knew the influence of Mayo, Uber, and Lyft is too great even for Democrats to ignore.

Unfortunately, Democrats rammed through dozens-upon-dozens of equal or worse job-killing mandates on other non-Mayo/Uber/Lyft businesses. The other terrible legislation was rammed through because the voices of those the mandates will negatively impact are not as loud as Mayo/Uber/Lyft. This is a terrible way to govern…to only listen to the concerns of those with the loudest voices or those with the deepest pockets. Democrats made calculated moves to pass extreme legislation that will kill jobs, raise costs, and drive people out of Minnesota because the media failed to report the true outcomes of the Democrat agenda. Mayo/Uber/Lyft are the notable exceptions. The rest of us average folk will be left to endure the full consequences of high tax and regulations from Democrats.

Minnesota is listed in the top ten states losing wealth/income based on population fleeing our once great state.

High tax and regulation Democrats continue ignoring truth. A new report confirms billions are being lost in business investment and expansion to other states. Businesses are beginning to avoid investment in MN due to extreme Democrat mandates. Reduced investment by businesses in MN = lost jobs and reduced MN economy.

WEALTH MIGRATION EXITING MN

Each year the IRS tracks and releases migration data of the states people are moving away from and the states people are moving to. When people move, they take their income, wealth, taxes paid, and other resources with them. According to recent data released from IRS, Minnesota is listed among the top ten states losing the most Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). Minnesota lost $1.6 billion in 2020. Among the top reasons people move is to escape high taxes and high cost of living. One cannot help but observe most of the states in the top 10 are Democrat-run with rising crime and many other negatives people are fed up with. People with means are voting with their feet fleeing Democrat disaster states.

Minnesota was already the land of 10,000 taxes prior to the 2023 legislative session. As Democrat extremism continues to flourish in Minnesota, the rate of income/wealth loss is expected to accelerate. At the same time, the recently passed Democrat laws handing out driver’s licenses to illegals, taxpayer funded medical care to illegals, taxpayer funded abortions with zero restrictions, and a plethora of more handouts and freebies, Minnesota will be a magnet for those who want to live off the system.

Democrats are dramatically increasing taxes, regulations, and other costs on MN businesses. Increased mandates on employers by Democrats is resulting in businesses more rapidly adopting AI and other technology to replace human employees. Democrat high tax and regulation = lost jobs and a shrinking MN economy.

Democrat Control = Rising Crime + Rising Taxes + Rising Pain.

Feminists remain silent as boys and men snatch victories away from girls and women. Real girls and real women are being robbed of opportunities that rightfully belong to them.

Sen. Lucero and Rep. Hudson meeting and speaking with a church group visiting the MN Capitol.

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!

Due to the conclusion of the regular session, I will be scaling back my weekly email updates from the Capitol. I will be out and about all summer participating in festivals, parades, pancake breakfasts, porkchop dinners, and other event across our community. I always try to make myself as accessible as possible because the best part of this role as public servant is interacting with the great people in our area. If you see me please stop and say hi. Have a great summer!

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