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March 19, 2024

Legislative Update

Update on the “Palace for Politicians”

Construction is well underway for the new $730 million State Office Building, dubbed the Palace for Politicians. To put this into perspective, the new Senate office building total cost was $92 million. The complete renovation and restoration of the Capitol was $300 million. Last year, the DFL majority approved this project with zero Republican support. In fact, Republican voices have been completely cut from the conversation.  

We Republicans on the Rules Committee on which I serve have been trying to bring a motion to stop the construction. My colleague, Representative Kirstin Robbins, R-Maple Grove, has submitted this motion to be added to the agenda nearly every Rules Committee meeting since last November so that we as a committee could discuss the motion and take a public vote on the historic $730 million dollar spending.

The motion if passed, would stop construction and allow us to discuss whether this is this project should move forward. The Chair has repeatedly refused to allow it to be added to the agenda. He refused to even have the conversation. The last meeting, he simply called the attempt to bring the motion out of order and gaveled the end of the meeting. I think that a palace for politicians costing $730 million merits a discussion, public testimony, and a public vote.

Antisemitism on the Rise at the University of Minnesota

We continue to see a rise in antisemitism on our college campuses around the nation, including here in our backyard at the U of M. On Monday, a University 2024 All Campus Elections Polls (pictured below) asked students they believe the University should cut ties with “companies complicit in war crimes,” referring to Israel. This is just another way to push the BDS agenda to hurt Israel as much as possible. The ballot also asks students if the Israel study abroad program should be cut.

These blatant attacks against Israel’s very sovereignty do not belong on college campuses that receive taxpayer dollars. Our very own state statutes prohibit contracts with vendors who discriminate against Israel, both with the Legislature and the Executive Branch. MN Statutes section 3.225 and MN Statutes section 16C.053.

Of course, this is part of a much larger trend at campuses across our country since the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7^th of last year. Nearly 73% of Jewish students across the country have been victim to, or witnessed, antisemitism on campus since the October 7^th attacks. While universities claim to be listening to their concerns, little to no action has taken place. Here, the U of M still allows letters like the one posted by the university’s Department of American Indian Studies, to remain online, leaving Jewish students to feel unsafe while they work toward a quality education.

This Week

Friday marks the first and second legislative deadlines. This means that by Friday, bills must have received a favorable committee hearing in both the House and Senate. If it has not, it is affectively dead unless added to a larger bill later. Hopefully, this deadline will put an end to many of the extreme bills the majority is pushing for.

Unfortunately, even with the fast-approaching deadlines, we have not seen a stop to many horrible bills. The majority’s assisted suicide bill is just one example. On Monday, the House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee heard HF1930 which would legalize physician assisted suicide for those with a six-month prognosis to live. The bill was moved forward by the DFL without a single Republican vote. Now, the bill has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee where it awaits a hearing.

On a happier note, on March 19^th we celebrate National Ag Day! This is a great time to show some appreciation to our wonderful farmers. Their hard work and dedication are one of the many aspects that make Minnesota great. Thank you, farmers!

Please Contact Me

As always, if you need assistance on an issue pertaining to state government or have concerns or ideas about legislation, my office is available to you. You can e-mail at rep.marion.rarick@house.mn.gov or call my office at 651-296-5063. You can also write a letter to me. My office address at the Capitol is 357 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55155.

357 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55155
651.296.5063