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Dear Neighbor,

I continue working with Sen. Andrew Mathews to advance legislation which supports Liberty Diversified International in Becker as the Sherco coal plant phases out by 2030. This is a big issue locally, with action needed to preserve this 108-year-old family business that employs 700 well-paid workers, including 150 in Becker.

The bill would fund a study, using the Renewable Development Account, to explore building a new facility that converts organic waste into renewable energy to replace the Sherco-generated steam Liberty currently relies on.

Once Sherco is fully closed, it will no longer produce steam that is critical to Liberty Paper’s production, dealing a major blow to the company and our local economy. Sherco is set to close in less than four years and I am told it will take four years for Liberty to get set up with biomass. That means we need this to get moving asap.

In other news:

*Walz can’t be serious*

What an insult to us for Gov. Tim Walz to decide that now – on his way out of office – is a good time to connect with people in Greater Minnesota. Eight years in office and NOW he acts like we mean more than rocks and cows to him? This guy has spent eight years ramming unilateral mandates and the radical left’s agenda down our throats and now he wants to pal around?

Seriously, what does Walz want from us? The self-described knucklehead [ [link removed] ] is beyond out of touch, but does he really think common-sense people around here don’t see through his charade? We can only wonder what aw-shucks costume he’ll be wearing to try and fit right in with the locals. Do we think he’ll go buffalo plaid north of I-94 and Carhartts to the south? It’s a good bet he leaves his jazz-hands act at home.

We only have 23 days left in the 2026 session. Instead of focusing on his job and meeting with legislative leaders to work on the state’s most important issues, the governor dipped out. He was in Los Angeles suckling Jimmy Kimmel’s limelight this week and, before that, he was tromping around Barcelona. Maybe he was just trying to find Tiananmen Square. On the other hand, I guess the argument could be made that we’re better off with him away from the Capitol.

*Anti-fraud bills*

The House this week approved two anti-fraud proposals, including one bill (H.F. 4425 [ [link removed] ]) extends the statute of limitations for crimes involving theft of public funds from six years to 10 years. The second bill (H.F. 3496 [ [link removed] ]) ensures individuals on supervised release make good-faith effort to pay restitution before qualifying for early active release from supervision.

While it’s good bipartisan support in the tied House allowed those two bills to pass, it is very unfortunate House Democrats actively blocked two other much-needed bills from passing.

The Fraud Isn't Free Act which would bring new accountability to our state with consequences for state officials failing to do their job, either willfully or by negligence. This is important because accountability has been virtually absent in the Walz administration as $9 billion or more has been stolen from taxpayers through fraud. But House Democrats stopped House Republican efforts to advance that bill on the floor.

In addition, House Democrats blocked an amendment that would require annual program site visits to make sure people who receive state grants are using the money the way they say they are. This is as basic as it gets with oversight to make sure no more “Quality Learing Center” happen again, where people claim to be providing taxpayer-funded services out of vacant buildings.

*Tax relief*

Tax relief remains a top priority among House Republicans this session because our taxpayers are overcharged and things only got worse with the $10 billion in tax increases the former trifecta enacted. Take property taxes, for example. They are skyrocketing across Minnesota after Democrats forced costly, unfunded mandates onto local governments, driving increases of as much as $1 billion statewide. It’s even forcing some people out of their homes. Republicans are focused on real relief, including a one-time property tax rebate to help put money back into family budgets.

*School safety*

House Republicans have built a plan to deliver immediate, meaningful improvements to school safety. This includes significantly increased funding for school safety across public, nonpublic, and tribal schools to ensure every student is protected, no matter where they learn. It also expands support for student mental health, recognizing that early intervention can help prevent crises before they occur.

In addition, the plan provides flexible, locally driven options for anonymous threat reporting systems and stronger school safety plans, giving schools the tools they need to respond quickly and effectively based on their unique circumstances. It also includes discipline reforms aimed at restoring order in the classroom and protecting teachers, staff, and students.

Instead of moving forward where we have clear agreement, House Democrats prevented the bill from advancing through the committee process and then voted unanimously against the same package on the floor.

Sincerely,

Shane






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/RepShaneMekeland [ [link removed] ]





State Rep. Shane Mekeland
2nd Floor, Centennial Office Building
658 Cedar St., St. Paul, MN 55155
[email protected] <[email protected]>
(651) 296-2451







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