Dear Friends and Neighbors,

We are close to the midpoint of the legislative session and and the Democrat leadership of the House and Senate have moved forward with their priorities with the session. I have heard from many of you that you are concerned about them and I will try to get you up to speed with where we are at. 

The office of Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) released its annual February economic forecast at the beginning of March. The report, which details the state’s budget picture, projects a surplus of $3.7 billion for 2025 after Democrats imposed $10 billion in tax increases during the 2023 session. However, Minnesota also faces a structural budget deficit of $1.5 billion, meaning Minnesota is spending more than it is taking in.  The outline of the fiscal cliff is starting to emerge but Democrats seem to have no desire to slow down or stop before we get there. 

Governor Walz and legislative Democrats squandered a $19 billion surplus. Last session we saw reckless spending, massive tax increases, and crushing mandates, and now we’re seeing the results. The "surplus" was built on massive tax increases on working Minnesotans and unsustainable spending.  One-party control in St. Paul has meant no checks and balances in our government or in our fiscal policy.  

I have been getting a lot of letters and emails from people who are concerned about bills that are being heard in the House and some in the Senate. The DFL continues to jam through its extreme agenda. I know some folks would say that’s a partisan judgment on my part, but most people would agree that requiring a license to paint your own house is extreme. Using taxpayer money to pay people to move to Minnesota because of their gender identity is extreme. I believe it’s extreme to place restrictions on the Second Amendment that render us helpless to defend ourselves and our livestock from predators.  And that's the mildest of the gun bills. Other bills include undoing our right to carry laws by allowing cities and counties to effectively ban guns and restrict certain types of firearms.  

The path to passage in the House for these extreme bills will be easy with a 6-vote DFL majority (after Republicans win the special election next week in 27B). In the Senate, the DFL has a 1-vote majority.  That means their greater Minnesota and suburban members are taking some controversial votes that their constituents probably don’t agree with. The path to some of these extreme bills stops in the Senate.  I plan to vote no on all of them.

When it comes to gun issues, I want to commend the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus for its excellent work tracking bills and keeping the public informed about when they are up in committee. (See their web site for all the gun bills that have been introduced this session). Their efforts are instrumental in our fight to protect our rights. This is not a session to sit on the bench if you are a gun owner.  They have two events coming up in the next couple of months: a lobby day at the capitol on Wednesday, March 27, and their annual Gun Rally in the Capitol Rotunda on Saturday, April 27. I'll see you there!

I was a non voting member of the State Emblems Redesign Commission but I and Rep. Bjorn Olson tried to represent Minnesotans who wanted a flag that would honor our history the way our present flag does.  Instead, we have to accept what 13 people, most of whom were appointed by the Governor or by his appointees want us to have as our new state flag. This was completely by design of the DFL leadership and Governor Walz.  The way the law is constructed, the flag and seal chosen by the commission will go into effect on May 11, 2024. The legislature would have to act to stop that from happening. It’s unlikely that will happen since they set it up to take effect automatically.  

Last week Rep. Olson,  I and other legislators held a press conference highlighting reform bills to try to stop this flag from being forced on the people of Minnesota.  Here is a summary of what they do.

• Bills that would put the acceptance of the state flag and seal on the ballot. We are offering a number of legal options to make this happen. The legislature could put the question on the ballot, similar to how a city or township puts questions on their ballot.  It could also be drafted as a constitutional amendment, this is a bit more cumbersome but has a strong precedent in Minnesota. In addition to putting it on the ballot, we could reboot the whole process with a much more inclusive commission, one based not only on racial identity but on geography, occupation, and other aspects of our people.
• Additional bills include repairing problems with the Minnesota state seal as designed.  For example, the replacement of the state motto, L'etoile du nord" with a Dakota phrase appears to violate the law which says the representation of a single race or ethnic group is not permitted on the new emblems.  The removal of the date of statehood because it was deemed offensive to some created a non standard government seal, which should normally carry a date of founding. 
• Another bill would designate the current flag as "the historic flag" of Minnesota and allow it to be flown at any time and for special occasions. This mirrors legislation in other states that have changed their flag.
• Finally there is a bill that requires the state to pay local governments for the cost of replacing the state flag and seal.  Not because we are happy about spending the money, but because the DFL leadership needs to own up to how much the implementation will actually cost the state and local governments and not hide it.  

22 counties, and 17 other local governments have all passed resolutions disputing why we need this flag and seal.  More local officials have expressed a strong disagreement for implementing this policy in this way at this time.  Unfortunately we do not possess the votes to change the policy before it goes into affect on May 11, but we have offered some options for your leaders to consider before it does. 

In the past few weeks my office has had visits from lots of groups from across the district including local government leaders, school and  community groups. From top to bottom or clockwise on mobile devices: MN Landscape Association (Knechts and Minnesota Sodding,  Associated Builders and Contractors (Knobelsdorf Electric), St. Charles Future Farmers, SAIL High school program from Kellogg.

Please contact me to share any issues, concerns, or feedback you have to assist me in best representing you.  The best way to reach me is by email at [email protected] or by phone at 651-296-5612. My legislative assistant is Margaret Martin, and her number is 651-296-4264.  

Sincerely,

Steve Drazkowski

Minnesota Senate, District 20, Wabasha, Goodhue, Winona, Olmsted, and Dakota Counties.

2411 Minnesota Senate Building

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