Legislative Update
Session May Be Over, But the Work Continues
Dear friends,
As we closed out the legislative session on May 19, there was no clarity on what came next. No return date. No schedule. Just a swirl of rumors and speculation. Even as a member of the Minnesota House, I found myself in the dark, watching committee hearings on YouTube and getting updates from the news, just like many of you.
You elected me to be your voice at the Capitol. But in these final days, most of the decisions have been handed over to a small group of legislative leaders. Important bills are being negotiated behind closed doors, and legislators like myself, who represent real people with real concerns, are left out of the process. That’s not how this is supposed to work. This morning, I found out from the newspaper that there will be no bonding bill. That’s not acceptable. It’s clear this process is broken and needs serious reform. I’ll be working to make sure your voice, and mine, are actually heard.
Even though the session has ended, my work hasn’t. I’ve continued responding to emails and calls every day, and I’ve been meeting with folks in the district to answer questions about what passed, what didn’t, and what’s still up in the air. Cities and counties are concerned about cost shifts and cuts to local government aid, and frankly, so am I.
Let me be clear:
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If there are tax hikes, I will vote no.
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If there are cost shifts to counties, I will vote no.
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If there are cuts to local government aid, I will vote no.
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If there’s another attempt to provide free health care to illegal immigrants, I will vote no.
But here’s the truth. I need to see the bills first. I need time to read them, understand what’s in them, and make sure they are right for our communities. That’s the least you deserve.
In the meantime, I’m gearing up for the interim and looking forward to getting back into our communities. My calendar is filling up with parades, community celebrations, and county tours. If you have an event you think I should attend, please reach out. I want to hear your thoughts, concerns, and ideas for how we can make Minnesota better.
I’m often asked if I’m glad I ran for office, and if I’ll do it again. My answer is simple: As long as I can look in the mirror and say I gave it everything I had, and I’m getting results for the people of 22B, I’ll keep serving.
One big win from this session: our pension bill passed with a vote of 133 to 1. I pushed hard on both sides of the aisle to make that happen. That’s the kind of work I came here to do, and I’m just getting started.
Stay tuned for more as we head toward a special session. I’ll keep you posted.
Have a great weekend,
Terry
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