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Dear Neighbors,
With just two days – including today – left of session, things have begun to heat up in St. Paul and tensions are rising. It’s hard to say what bills will be coming forward in the final days as everything is tentative. However, there are still a handful of Democrat priorities that are left to be heard in the House. Of course, should they pass here, it’s unknown what the Senate will do given they are way behind due to the arrest of Senator Mitchell. Remaining are the Worker Misclassification Bill, Equal Rights Amendment, Ranked Choice Voting, Sports Betting, and Uber/Lyft regulations.
The final days of the session will be today and Sunday. Monday we will adjourn for the biennium, and no bills may be heard on the day of adjournment. We will, however, hear retirement speeches from myself and other members who are finishing their careers. While it’s bittersweet, I’m looking forward to one last chance to speak on the House floor as your representative.
Paid Family Leave
On Wednesday we heard HF 5363, which makes technical corrections to the mandated Paid Family Leave bill passed last year. Don’t let the word “technical” confuse you. While there were some ticky-tacky fixes to errors from last year, there was also a provision that increased spending on the bill by $735 million. My colleagues and I are opposed to this bill for many reasons, but primarily because it’s expensive and will hurt small businesses and employees across the state. While 50% of the cost is left to the business to pay, the other 50% is another new mandatory tax for the employees. So, while you will get paid family leave, the cost is coming out of your paycheck. Last year, we had a $18 billion surplus, and this could have been addressed. Instead, they spent all that money on left-leaning priorities, plus an additional $10 billion in new taxes. Coincidentally, the $735 million price tag to paid family leave also happens to be nearly the same amount as the cost of the State Office Building expansion or Palace for Politicians. Instead of using this funding to finance their new program, Democrats decided to spend it on new cushy offices for themselves.
Majority Abuse of Power
With these many concerns, we needed ample time on the floor to debate this bill and make the voices of our constituents heard. In an unprecedented move, Speaker Hortman cut off debate, leaving many of our members standing to be recognized. With a full two years to address their priorities, Democrats have no excuse for shutting down debate. It’s an abuse of power. In doing so, they shut down the voice of 2.7 million Minnesotans who elected Republicans to make sure their priorities and their voices are heard here in St. Paul. It’s not the responsibility of the minority to pass the majority party’s bills. It’s our responsibility to represent you. You can watch the chaos by clicking the picture.
Religious Exemption Restored
Last year, Democrats in Minnesota made changes to the Minnesota Human Rights Act, removing religious protections that had been in place since 1993. Previously, the Act's definition of sexual orientation, which included gender identity, was covered by a religious exemption. However, when a separate definition for gender identity was introduced last year, no corresponding religious exemption was included.
After more than a year of debates in both the House and Senate, a bill was finally passed to include the religious exemption in the Human Rights Act. However, as of Monday, the bill had not been signed by the House and Senate Majority Leadership and sent to the governor. The majority had kept us out of the conversation, and we had no idea whether or not they would send it, potentially amounting to all that work of passing it being for nothing. We debated late into the evening on the floor about whatever bill came our way to ensure the Democrats would hold up their end of the deal and have the governor sign the bill. After hours of debate at around 8:15 in the evening, they finally sent it for signing. The governor signed the bill on Wednesday marking a significant victory for our religious communities.
School Visit
This week, Senator Johnson and I welcomed a 6th grade class from Red Lake County Central to the capitol. Visiting the Capitol and witnessing government processes firsthand is an invaluable experience for school children. It fosters a deeper understanding of the democratic system, illustrating the practical workings of legislative procedures and the significance of civic engagement. These visits can inspire a sense of responsibility and patriotism, highlighting the impact of active citizenship in shaping policy and governance. Additionally, seeing lawmakers in action demystifies the legislative process, encouraging students to participate in their communities and understand the importance of informed voting and public service.
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 Have a wonderful weekend!
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