Hello from the State Capitol,
On Monday, a State Capitol rally was held for my Preserving Girls Sports bill. Hundreds turned out on a chilly day to support in order to support safety and fairness in girls’ sports.
Headliners at the rally included Riley Gaines, a 12-time NCAA All-American swimmer and maybe the nation’s leading girls' sports advocate.
The bill was debated on the floor of the Minnesota House later that afternoon and evening. Very simply, the plan would preserve females sports for only females. This is common sense!
Despite the fact that most people believe boys should not be taking part in girls’ athletics, not one House Democrat voted for the bill. All 67 Republicans voted for the proposal, and all 66 Democrats voted against it. 68 votes are needed in order for legislation to be approved in the Minnesota House. Following some procedural motions after the vote, the bill could be revisited by the House in the weeks ahead.
It is beyond disappointing that not one rational House Democrat had either the courage or the good sense to stand up for girls’ sports.
Providing fairness and safety for our daughters and granddaughters in girls’ sports should not be a controversial topic. Not one girl in our state should have their medal or place on an athletic team taken by a biological male who is stronger, faster and has more lung capacity. Not one girl in Minnesota should fear serious injury from competing with a biological male.
Title IX became law over 50 years ago to provide equal opportunity for girls and women in athletics. Separate sports teams for men and women was the outcome of this Title IX victory. They did not just tell the women that their equal opportunity was to try out for the men’s team.
STATE BUDGET FORECAST SHOWS SIGNIFICANT “DEMOCRAT DEFICIT”
To the surprise of no one that’s been paying attention, Minnesota’s budget outlook is deteriorating fast.
On Thursday, Minnesota’s economic experts found Minnesota’s slim budget surplus continues to decline, as we will now see a $456 million budget surplus for the upcoming budget cycle. In December, they thought we’d see a $616 million surplus. A year ago, they thought we’d have a $1.7 billion surplus.
But the real bad news is the projection for the next budget cycle, which has grown from a $5.1 billion deficit to $6 billion – which approaches the largest deficit total in the state’s history.
So what’s changed? What we are seeing are the results of a Democrat-led legislature and Governor Walz decision to blow through an $18 billion budget surplus, raise taxes by another $10 billion, and grow government by nearly 40% last session. Thanks to their irresponsible choices and out-of-control spending, we now have a significant Democrat deficit.