2024 Legislative Session Kicks Off

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February 12, 2024

Executive Summary

• Minnesotans Disapprove of Last Session's Tax and Spending Spree

• Democrats Release Public Safety Priorities

• Will Minnesota Become a Sanctuary State?

Minnesotans Disapprove of Last Session's Tax and Spending Spree

KSTP released a new poll recently that looked at Minnesotans' opinions of last session. As you recall, we started the 2023 session with an historic $17.5 billion surplus and Minnesotans deserved to have that money returned to their family budgets through permanent tax cuts.

Unfortunately, Democrats went on a spending spree.  Not only did they spend the entire surplus - increasing the state budget nearly 40% over two years - they also raised taxes on hard-working Minnesotans another $10 billion.

It's clear that Minnesotans do not approve:

• On increasing the state budget by 40%, 40% of respondents said it was too much, 26% said it was just right. 11% said it wasn’t enough.
• On the gas tax hike and metro sales tax increases, 55% said it was too much, 27% said it was just right. 6% said it wasn’t enough.
• On the paltry $260 rebates, 58% said they were not enough, 22% said they were the right amount, and 7% said they were too much.

Minnesotans don’t mind paying taxes, but they also expect fiscal responsibility and they don’t want their hard-earned money wasted. One-party control of state government has not served Minnesotans well.

Democrats Release Public Safety Priorities

Democrats recently released their public safety priorities. These policies are a continuation of their criminals-over-victims approach to public safety in Minnesota. Most notable is their plan to eliminate mandatory minimums for felony gun possession. 

Last session the Democrats passed new laws to allow convicted criminals to reduce their sentences and allow felons to vote before their full sentence has been served. They also passed a law that put School Resource Officers (SROs) under two different use of force standards and resulted in many schools across the state losing these officers, who are valued by students, teachers, staff and parents.

They rejected amendments we offered to make straw purchases of guns a felony – something the ATF has said would help crack down on gun violence.

House Republicans started session today by trying to declare an “Urgency” on the House Floor to take up a bill to get the SROs back in schools. We have broad bipartisan agreement that we should go back to the current “use of force” language for all officers, including SROs, already in statute, so there is no reason we shouldn’t do it right away so SROs can go back to providing security, stability and building positive relationships in our schools. Unfortunately, this effort to declare an urgency was defeated, largely along party-lines, with 62 (all Republicans and one Democrat) voting in favor and 69 (all Democrats) voting against.

This session I will continue to advocate to make straw purchases a felony and bring transparency to prosecutors and judges so the public knows who is making “catch-and-release” deals that make our communities less safe.

Will Minnesota Become a Sanctuary State? 

Last week, Democrats held a press conference to unveil their North Star Act, a bill to make Minnesota a sanctuary state. Minnesotans want a secure border. They do not want to turn our state into a magnet for illegal immigration.

Sanctuary cities and states in other parts of the country have struggled with the surge in illegal immigration. It has caused tremendous strain on housing, education, food shelves, health care, public safety, and other resources.  Minnesota is already feeling a strain in many of these areas, and we can’t continue to further over-burden the system.

Last week, I was at a food shelf in Hennepin County and they have seen a huge increase in demand in the last 6 months, going from serving about 100 households per day to over 300 per day. They do not have the staff or resources to keep up.

In addition to these issues, I also have serious concerns about language of the bill. HF 2860 creates a whole new group of “government agents” in statute and restricts how these new “government agents” do their jobs. This language is incredibly broad.  Minnesotans do not want their teachers, professors, bus drivers, healthcare providers, and all state and local employees to now be deputized as “government agents.”

I will continue to fight against Minnesota becoming a Sanctuary State. Minneapolis and St. Paul City are already sanctuary cities. There is no reason for the Legislature to require this statewide.

Photos

Enjoyed talking to Veterans from the American Legion about their Legislative priorities, including fixing e-pull tabs. These men and women fought for our freedom and now they are fighting to continue their charitable work in our communities!

It was so inspiring to attend Maple Grove’s Public Safety Awards ceremony. There were incredible stories of heroism & professionalism as they honored members of Maple Grove Fire-Rescue & Maple Grove Police Department, as well as one private citizen. I wish everyone could hear the stories of the lives they saved and the incredible difference these heroes make in our communities every day!

Please Contact Me

Many of you have already been in touch to discuss your thoughts on the issues that matter most to you. Thank you for sharing your ideas! Please continue to contact me to discuss any matters to which I can be of assistance.

The best way to reach me is by email: rep.kristin.robbins@house.mn.gov. For occasional updates, you can follow my Facebook Page at @RepKristinRobbins. You can also leave a voicemail on my office number, 651-296-7806, which is checked every weekday while we are in session.

Of course, if you are coming to the Capitol, I’d love to meet you!  Please reach out if you would like to set-up an in-person meeting. 

Have a great week!

Kristin

239 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55155
ph: 651.296.7806