“What a first session! I came into this job ready to work, and I was incredibly honored to be selected as Co-Vice-Chair of the Higher Education Committee. It’s not every day a freshman gets the opportunity to help lead on something as important as making college more affordable, more accessible, and more effective for Minnesotans.
In addition to my role on Higher Ed, I also served on the Public Safety Finance and Policy and Taxes committees—two areas where I saw firsthand just how important it is to make sure government works for the people, not against them. Whether it was addressing public safety concerns or scrutinizing how your tax dollars are spent, I took every hearing seriously because Minnesotans deserve nothing less.
It’s been fast-paced, eye-opening, and—honestly—really rewarding.
That said, I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’m a little frustrated. For the first 23 days of session, House Democrats chose not to show up. That’s nearly a month lost at the starting gate. And now here we are, out of time and headed into a special session. I can’t help but think how valuable those 23 days would be right now as we try to finalize the budget and finish the people’s work.
But here’s the thing—I didn’t run for office to sit around and complain. I’m still here. My colleagues are still here. And we’re ready to roll up our sleeves and get back to the table. We owe it to students, families, and all Minnesotans to pass a budget that’s smart, fiscally responsible, and focused on results.
I’ll keep fighting for a higher education system that lifts people up without weighing them down in debt—and I’ll be sure to keep you updated as we work through the final stretch.”
Further details on the upcoming special session are expected to be announced soon.
