Minnesota Deserves Action, Not Political Theater
by Representative Dawn Gillman
I’ve seen the fear in parents’ eyes when they drop their kids off at school. I’ve spoken with families struggling to get mental health help. I’ve listened to neighbors frustrated that violent criminals keep coming back to our streets. Every day, Minnesotans are asking me one thing: Why isn’t the government protecting us?
Governor Walz is playing politics while these problems get worse. The Annunciation tragedy reminded us just how deadly gaps in school security can be. Two years ago, the Minnesota Catholic Conference asked for funding to make schools safer. With an $18 billion surplus and a 40% increase in state spending, Democrats still said no. Every student deserves to feel safe in school. Every parent deserves peace of mind.
Meanwhile, people in mental health crisis are still waiting for help. Families are struggling, and the state’s inaction is heartbreaking. Violent criminals continue to hurt our communities, and yet lawmakers spend more time pointing fingers than solving the problem. House Republicans have a plan: Protect Students, Provide Care, Punish Criminals. That means school security upgrades, mental health resources, and mandatory prison sentences for repeat gun offenders. These are solutions that actually make a difference.
And then there’s the fraud—it seems like every week there’s a new case uncovered under Governor Walz’s DHS. This week: payments to 11 disability programs halted, 17 programs frozen, one charged with autism program fraud, eight people indicted for housing fraud, and $280 million at risk in the “Feeding Our Future” program. This isn’t just numbers—it’s people who trusted the system and were let down. Minnesotans deserve accountability, not excuses.
Governor Walz hasn’t even talked to legislators before leaking plans for a special session. Leadership isn’t headlines and political theater. Leadership is rolling up your sleeves and making sure people are safe, cared for, and protected.
I promise you this: House Republicans are ready to do the work. Protecting students, providing care, and punishing criminals isn’t a slogan—it’s a commitment. And Minnesotans deserve nothing less.
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