Legislative Update – January 21, 2025Dear Neighbors, If you’re tuned into the news coming out of St. Paul, I’m sure you’ve heard a lot about parliamentary procedure, quorum, and constitutional law. While those can be complicated issues, what's not complicated is doing the right thing. My DFL colleagues and I are taking action to protect you, our district, and all Minnesotans from the Republicans’ reckless power grab. In my last email, I alerted our community about a breakdown in the Minnesota House of Representatives' power-sharing negotiations. Republicans had walked away from the negotiating table and appeared poised to kick out a duly elected DFL state representative regardless of the outcome of their lawsuit challenging the election result. On the morning of January 14, a district court judge ruled that my colleague Rep. Brad Tabke of Shakopee won by a slim margin, but Republicans have still not committed to seating him. When an election result is upheld on election night, in a public recount, and in a court ruling, it’s time for the losing side to concede and move on. That is how democracy works. I will not legitimize this unprecedented power grab. That’s why I’m standing with my colleagues and Minnesotans around the state to protect the will of the voters, deny the Republicans’ illegitimate power grab, and get back to building a future in Minnesota that works better for everyone. Minnesota voters sent a tied number of representatives from each party to work together in St Paul. Unfortunately, the Republicans have decided that only the half of voters who voted for them deserve a voice in the House. Our voices matter, and I will continue to stand up for our district to be heard. Working for our DistrictUntil the state Supreme Court rules on the Republicans’ illegitimate actions, or they come back to the negotiating table, I will continue working for our district outside Capitol grounds, meeting with community and local leaders to ensure our district receives continued and fair representation. Here’s a sample of some of the work I’ve been doing this past week: - Preparing bills on a range of topics, including efforts to repair our water treatment facility, fixing the Quentin Avenue bridge, ensuring people get the medication and help they need when they are in crisis, better protecting children ages 16 and 17 from sexual exploitation, creating more pathways out of poverty, expanding the social work workforce so we have enough people to help us when we need it most, protecting our clean water, and much more.
- Joining the Burnsville City Council alongside colleagues from the House and Senate, to discuss how we can best partner with our leaders in local government to deliver results locally.
- Meeting with Red Lake Nation Tribal Secretary Sam Strong. We toured the Red Lake Nation Tribal College campus and had a great conversation about higher ed and tribal issues.
- Visiting Planned Parenthood Eden Prairie and talking about the importance of protecting reproductive health care two years after we passed the Protecting Reproductive Options Act, and under an incoming Trump administration.
 I hope the Republicans abandon their illegitimate power grab, come back to the negotiating table, and respect the reality of a tied House, but until they do, I will be focused on the work ahead for our district. If you don’t already, I’d encourage you to follow my official Facebook page where I will be posting more frequently during these unprecedented times.  |