Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This is the point in the session where we generally buckle down and get to the people's business. Unfortunately we have had to deal with a major ethics violation and the pace of work has slowed considerably. 

This is the winning art submission by a Minnesota K-12 student to represent Senate District 20 at the State Capitol. It hangs in the hallway of the Senate Building on the 3rd floor. My District, My Minnesota is an annual art program offered to K-12 students across Minnesota. It invites them to submit a photo or drawing of what life in their district means to them. Senators are then able to choose one they believe best represents their district and the artwork is hung in the Minnesota Senate Building for the following calendar year.

You may have heard that one of the Democrat members of the Senate, Senator Nicole Mitchell of Woodbury was arrested and charged with felony burglary charge last week.  When the Senate Democrat leadership was prepared to carry on as if nothing had happened, Republicans filed an ethics complaint and asked for it to be expedited.  You can read the complaint here.  I was one of the signatories to the complaint. This situation is unprecedented in the history of the Minnesota Senate. We have also asked that she abstain from voting until the matter is resolved, which would require them to pass bills with at least ONE Republican's support. So far, they have refused to do this. Instead, they prefer to protect a member accused of a violent felony (occupied burglary). She should do the honorable thing and resign, not make her caucus defend the indefensible. But since she won't, Republicans will continue to ask her to step aside. Expulsion requires a 2/3 vote in the Senate.  For more on this read here. 

Democrats are trying to turn the Department of Revenue into a social service agency that pays out welfare entitlements to Minnesotans.  The Senate Tax committee heard a bill SF 5234, another idea straight from the Governor's office that will pay refundable tax credits (meaning, you get them regardless of whether you owe tax or not) FORWARD.  A lot of us pay estimated tax. If you own a small business, you probably have had to pay your sales tax forward.  Now the Department of Revenue will be sending out checks to people who don't pay taxes not just at tax time but all year long based on their previous income.  This is no different than the Socialist idea of a Basic Guaranteed Income or Universal Basic Income as it is sometimes called.  Like UBI this payment is a disincentive to work, because if you earn too much money, your tax "credit" payment will go down!  The Walz administration can't seem to give your tax money away fast enough, and now they will be using the Department of Revenue to do it.  

The Minnesota Farm Bureau recently released their list of 97 century Farms in Minnesota. Farms which are recognized have been in continuous family ownership for at least one hundred years and are a minimum of fifty acres. Families of century farms will receive a commemorative sign, a certificate signed by the presidents of the Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Farm Bureau as well as Governor Walz. Over 11,000 farms in Minnesota have been recognized as century farms since the program begam in 1976. I would like to congratulate the farms from district cities and townships recognized in this year’s century farm list – Edgewood Farm (Zumbrota), Speltz Farms (Altura) and Biers Farm (St. Charles). Congratulations, and thank you for all you do to keep America and the world fed!

This time of year we have a lot of school field trips at the Capitol. Recently I had a school visit from a large group Plainview-Elgin-Millville schools. It's always great to see the next generation learning about government and history in the beautiful Minnesota Capitol!

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