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This week we celebrated National Ag Day at the Capitol. Minnesota is a powerhouse in agriculture. Everyone who works in agriculture is important to our district and the State of MN. Representatives from Sibley County Farm Bureau, Carver County Farm Bureau, McLeod County Farm Bureau, and MN Association of Wheat Growers stopped by to discuss potential legislation that may affect our way of life.
Other visitors included representatives from the City of Watertown, Carver Ridge Senior Living, MN School Board Association, MN Private Colleges, and MN Rural Electric Association.
Committee schedules have been packed with both 1st and 2nd deadlines happening this week! The 1st deadline means a policy bill that would be considered for passage into law must have been heard in at least one committee in one branch of the legislature (Senate or House). The 2nd deadline means a policy bill that is to be considered for passage into law must be heard in at least one committee in both branches of the legislature (Senate & House). Due to these deadlines occurring simultaneously, we have been extra busy in committee this week hearing legislation the majority party will consider for inclusion in omnibus bills or single bill passage on the House floor.
Our 1st Amendment rights took another hit this week. In late February the House majority voted down a measure that would restore a religious freedom provision that was deleted from state law last year. The proposal ensures religious organizations and faith-based schools can, among other things, hire ministers and teachers consistent with their mission and values.
The Senate had a chance to restore state law to our long-held consensus that religious communities in Minnesota have the autonomy to decide questions of faith. Instead, the Senate majority this week followed suit on a House majority vote which undermines religious freedom in Minnesota and compromises the separation of church and state.
As Americans, we have the right to speak freely, the right to keep and bear arms, and the right to worship as we wish. Over the past year, the majority party has come out against all three of these constitutional rights in some fashion. It is truly alarming, and hopefully, everyone is beginning to take notice of what is happening under one-party rule in Minnesota. As your representative, I will continue advocating for the religious freedom component to be restored.
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