|
Dear Friends,
Yesterday, Minnesota Management and Budget released the February Budget and Economic Forecast which showed a $3.7 billion surplus in 2025, but a $1.5 billion deficit beginning in 2026. The deficit is forecasted as if the surplus will not be spent, meaning any new spending bills passed in 2024 will further increase the deficit.
This looming deficit is a direct result of Democrats’ one-party control of our state which has made government irresponsible and unaffordable. Last session, they spent a historic $17.5 billion surplus while raising taxes by $10 billion. They handed state government a 40% budget increase. Has your family budget increased by 40% over the last year? We need balance in our state government so we can stop the reckless spending and make sure we do not face a future budget deficit. I will continue fighting to defend your tax dollars from wasteful government spending and support your family’s budget.
The Judiciary Committee met yesterday for a hearing on a bill to change provisions in the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA). Before last year, gender identity was included in the MHRA definition of sexual orientation and the religious exemption for sexual orientation covered gender identity claims as well. When a new, separate definition of gender identity was created last year, there was no corresponding religious exemption added. The removal of this protection from the Human Rights Act breaks decades of precedent in an attack on Minnesota's religious communities. A broad coalition testified during the hearing to share their serious concerns, including representatives of Catholic, Protestant, and Muslim organizations.
My colleague, Rep. Harry Niska, offered an amendment that would have restored the religious exemption in the MHRA and protect religious organizations and faith-based schools against claims of gender identity discrimination. Already, at least one faith-based school is facing an employment complaint at the Department of Human Rights because of the removal of the exemption. The exemption ensures that religious organizations and faith-based schools can, among other things, hire teachers and ministers consistent with their mission and values. Unfortunately, Democrats refused to fix the problem and voted the amendment down.
Democrats are obliterating religious protections that have been in our national and state constitutions for hundreds of years. America was founded on the principle of separation of church and state. I will continue leading the House Republican Judiciary team through these important conversations so that we can ensure the constitutional rights of all Minnesotans are protected.
Finally, I was honored to attend the memorial service on Wednesday for Burnsville police officers Matthew Ruge and Paul Elmstrand and firefighter Adam Finseth. Witnessing the outpouring of support was truly moving. I hope the Ruge, Elmstrand, and Finseth families, as well as the entire Burnsville and first responder communities, were uplifted by the moving displays of solidarity.
As more information is released regarding the events that resulted in the tragic deaths of these three brave men, it is becoming evident that this tragedy could have been prevented. Although the gunman was a convicted felon and was therefore unable to possess guns, Fox 9 reports that one of the recovered firearms could have been obtained through an illegal straw purchase. In other words, someone purchased the gun for the gunman.
Last year, I introduced a bill, HF 548, to make straw purchases a felony. If my bill was in place, the person who purchased the gun for the gunman would be charged with a felony and could face imprisonment for up to five years and a fine of up to $20,000. In light of this horrific event, I hope this bill will receive a hearing so we can ensure justice is served.
|
