Sen. Lucero and Rep. Novotny meeting and speaking with the Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class during their visit last Friday to the MN Capitol.

 

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

 

I hope you had a great weekend and didn’t forget to set your alarm ahead 1-hour before going to bed Saturday evening! The weather outside the last several days is certainly much more attractive than the atmosphere and activity at the MN Capitol.

Religious Liberty

 

The history of humanity across time and culture demonstrates repeated government oppression and abuse over religion and faith-based institutions. In recognition of this reality, our Founding Fathers established deliberate protections to prevent government from interfering with religion and faiths. The core of our country’s founding is free exercise of faith and values.

 

For decades, religious organizations in Minnesota have had protections granting exemptions from protected classes defined in Minnesota’s human rights statutes permitting faith-based organizations to not hire individuals whose views or identities violate the values or beliefs of the hiring faith organization. However, the Democrat-trifecta added "gender identity" to the list of protected classes last year but deliberately ignored the longstanding protections leaving religious organizations vulnerable to lawsuits from bad-faith actors and abuse/harassment by government.

 

The Democrat-trifecta’s open hostility toward faith of all types is pushing us down the path of repeating the darkest moments of human history. The Democrat-trifecta’s objective is to openly permit government abuse of faith-based institutions.

 

Republican Rep. Harry Niska recently offered an amendment to a bill to add "gender identity" to the list of exclusions for faith-based organizations thus reinstating the longstanding protections. Unfortunately, Democrats rejected the pleas of religious organizations and rejected Rep. Niska’s amendment.

 

If the above were not bad enough, Democrats have opened yet another front in their attack on religious liberty. The Democrat-trifecta is proposing a Constitutional amendment that deliberately deletes religion as a protected class. The Democrat proposed version is as follows:

 

Equality under the law shall not be abridged or denied by this state or any of
its cities, counties, or other political subdivisions on account of race, color, creed, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, ancestry, or national origin. 

 

The foundational right to freely practice religion is caught in the crosshairs of radical Democrats in their ongoing attacks against people of faith.

 

Keep the Met Council Out of Our Community

 

Nowthen & Oak Grove are two fantastic communities in Anoka County I have the privilege of representing in the MN Senate. Both communities are currently exempt from the abusing tentacles of Metropolitan Council control.

 

Democrats in the House are seeking to repeal the exemption but I successfully offered an amendment in the Senate Housing Committee deleting the Democrat repeal attempt from the bill in order to keep Nowthen & Oak Grove outside the reach of the Met Council. Video of my amendment can be viewed at the following link here.

 

Democrat Extremist Legislation

 

As the Democrat trifecta continues advancing their extremist legislation this year, it’s shocking how completely divorced from reality Democrats are of the real struggles facing hardworking families across our state. High school sports is just one area which highlights this reality.

 

One Socialist-endorsed Democrat introduced SF 3792 this year to prohibit lead-based ammunition from being used in recreational hunting and in high school trap shooting events. Contrary to Democrat assertions, the use of lead-based ammunition on a controlled shooting range doesn't impose large environmental risks. Shooting ranges are designed to mitigate this risk and have ammunition focused in a specific area.

Trap shooting is one of Minnesota's fastest growing sports, is a fantastic opportunity for young people to learn gun safety and to develop a hobby they can keep for the rest of their life. A mandate to only use "non-toxic" ammunition, even within controlled ranges isolated from a broader outdoor environment, does nothing except more than double the cost for those participating in the sport due to the massive price increase on non-lead-based ammunition. 

 

The following statement below from John Nelson, president of the USA Clay Target League, accurately describes the true intentions of far-left Democrats:

 

“By specifically targeting youth shooting sports, it becomes clear that this is an attack on a school-approved activity that they don’t like. The idea that there are over 50,000 Minnesota students that have participated in the League since 2001 that have never had an accident, never had an injury, despite shooting a shotgun over 100 million times, goes contrary to their preferred narrative.”

 

The lie promoted by Democrats equals firearms in the hands of private citizens are a threat government must prevent. Students gaining proper training, experience, and a healthy respect for firearms shatters the Democrat's false narrative firearms are inherently dangerous. Firearms in the hands of law-abiding citizens pose absolutely zero danger to anyone. Democrats are purposely targeting high school trap shooting to raise costs and price regular families out of the sport. SF 3792 is an anti-gun bill through-and-through masquerading as an environmental bill.

 

It is sad but ironic, Democrats who express pseudo-concern for the health and safety of the environment are the same who turn a blind eye to the health and safety of young women being forced to compete against men in full contact high schools sports.

Dozens of Democrats have signed onto HF 4394, seeking to require the Minnesota Department of Education to develop a gender inclusion policy requiring schools to:

• Call students by their preferred names and pronouns rather than pronouns that match science
• Allow students to use the preferred restroom/locker room that matches their gender confusion
• Eliminate the separation of men and women's sports based on science-backed biological sex

 

If HF 4394 becomes law, the science-denying social experiment will advance further threatening the safety and security of Minnesota students. Biological males will continue pummeling women and young girls stealing victories and awards that rightfully belong to biological females.

Cost of New State Flag and Seal

 

Tuesday last week, I participated in a rally, and press conference introducing a new bill regarding the state flag. The rally outside on the Capitol steps was in response to the far-left commission that approved of deleting Minnesota history by removing refences to the founding of Minnesota, and concessions to the radicals on the committee that hate the existence of the very state they were designing icons to represent.

 

The press conference got into some of the more practical issues regarding the process and implementation of replacing the flag and seal. The commission had very minimal public input, and will impose some large costs on local governments to replace the old flag and seal on different items such as police badges. You can watch the press conference here.

Recent polling reinforces the overwhelming communications I’ve received from people across our state who are not happy with the process or the final flag and seal selection. Sen. Lucero was among those calling for the people’s voice to be heard at a press conference Tuesday last week.

 

 

Lucero at the Capitol

Sen. Lucero visiting with Elk River and Saint Michael area constituents Tuesday last week to discuss the hard work nurses perform every day and the importance of the propane industry.

“The best part of the role of public servant is meeting the great people of our community! I enjoyed visiting with Saint Michael constituents Nicoleen and Lori and with Otsego constituent Julia Wednesday last week” Sen. Lucero said.

“It is was an honor attending a packed room with friends at the LEA banquet Thursday last week in the ongoing battle for truth, the Constitution, limited government, and individual liberty,” said Sen. Lucero.

Sen. Lucero visiting with Otsego constituents Brian and Theresa and with Saint Michael City Council Member Ryan Thursday last week at the MN Capitol.

 

 

In Other News

“Busses are cheaper, more efficient, and flexible to changing work and lifestyle habits,” Sen. Lucero said. “I’ve been advocating for busses over streetcars, trolleys, and light rail trains for years. Unfortunately, Democrats miss an opportunity to choose the wasteful, more expensive option between two choices however.”

 

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 

Capitol Address

95 University Avenue W.
Minnesota Senate Bldg. 2413
St. Paul, MN 55155

651-296-5655