The REAL State of the State
This Tuesday, my wife Morgan and I attended Governor Walz’s final State of the State address. It is always an honor to be on the House floor with colleagues from both parties to hear a report on the condition of our state, and I do not take that opportunity lightly.
Unfortunately, the speech did not reflect that same tone of seriousness. Instead of focusing on a clear review of what has been done for Minnesota and what still needs to be addressed, almost all of Walz's talking points leaned into national politics and broader talking points that felt more like a campaign message than a state update.
The governor highlighted things like “record high graduation rates” and “fully funded schools.” At the same time, there are real questions about education funding decisions in recent budgets, including reductions affecting special education funding. To be clear: Walz has advocated hard for $300 million in cuts to special education, with $250 million of that already in effect. Those are important details that matter to families and schools across the state and should be part of an honest discussion about where things actually stand.
Another one of his most outlandish claims was that he was to thank for federal raids on suspected fraudulent social services businesses this week. Given that Walz denied any fraud in Minnesota just 5 months ago, and he is not in charge of federal agents or investigations, I think it is safe to say that these raids were the great work of our federal law enforcement partners. These agents stepped in to do the work on investigating fraud when Walz and Ellison were unwilling to do so.
I want to outline the real state of the state under Governor Walz with the following statistics:
- Reading and math proficiency scores have dropped
- National education ranking went from 6th to 19th
- Unemployment has gone up 50%
- Real median income has decreased by $6,000
- $9 billion+ in fraud
- Minnesota is now below the national average for per capita personal income (first time ever)
- 48,000 people have left the state
- 19% increase in violent crime
I remain committed to fighting fraud and working for affordability for all Minnesotans, and I hope Governor Walz will come to his senses and join us in these last weeks of session.
Who Controls Local Flags?
The debate over Minnesota’s state flag continues to raise important questions about local control and how decisions are made for communities across the state. Cities and counties are not one-size-fits-all, and local leaders are in the best position to reflect the values and preferences of the people who live there.
HF 5077, introduced this week by a group of metro Democrats, would take a different approach by tying state funding to compliance with the newly adopted state flag. Under the proposal, local governments that choose to fly a different flag would face a 10 percent reduction in local government aid. That penalty would directly impact core services like public safety, roads, and other essential local responsibilities.
Using state aid as leverage to enforce a uniform requirement sets a concerning precedent. It moves decision-making away from local communities and places it in St. Paul, backed by financial consequences. Issues tied to community identity and local representation should be decided by the people closest to them, not dictated through statewide mandates.
This is particularly relevant as Janesville recently opted to fly the original state flag rather than the new flag that came out of the DFL trifecta. While the issue may seem to be about the flag, that is not what is at the root of the issue. When a decision that impacts every city and county across the state is made by a select few in St. Paul without input from citizens sends a message that local voices don't matter. Now that citizens are taking advantage of their opportunity to speak up and make their voice heard on the local level, state bureaucrats should not threaten to take away funding just because they disagree with the local decision.
Local governments should have the ability to make these choices without pressure or punishment from the state. Strong communities are built on trust and local decision-making, not top-down requirements tied to funding threats.
I will continue to fight for you and preserve local decision making rather than allowing Democrats at the Capitol to dictate our every move.
 Preventing Fraud and Scams: Upcoming Presentation
Consider attending an upcoming presentation on Preventing Fraud & Scams with the Faribault Police Department and Minnesota Aging Pathways. It is happening on May 5th at 10am at the Buckham West Senior Center.
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