Dear Friends,
This week I was honored to receive the National Federation of Independent Business’s Guardian of Small Business Award. Our businesses have faced immense pressures over the past few years. From government shutdowns forcing them to close their doors, to inflation and a supply chain crisis, Minnesota’s small businesses have been through it all. I am proud to stand with our job providers to make sure our state is a place where they can thrive and support their communities.
Inflation Hits All of Us
Minnesotans are struggling under the Biden/Walz economy. Inflation recently soared to a record 9.1%, driving up the cost of living for Americans. Just this week I paid $4.49/gallon to fill up my car! This is not sustainable for our families.
We need to provide meaningful relief for Minnesotans. The best solution is not telling people to buy an electric car, like Pete Buttigieg suggests. Instead, we need to put more money back in the hands of our families through permanent, meaningful tax relief.
Cracking Down on Crime
It is truly shocking how quickly crime has spread across our state because of calls to defund the police and Democrat inaction. A recent story showed how Kia thefts are up 1300% in St. Paul, and Hyundai thefts are up 584% in 2022. This is exactly what happens when we don’t hold criminals accountable, and we don’t give law enforcement adequate resources to keep our streets safe.
Minnesota needs leadership to restore safety to our state. We need to make sure law enforcement is fully funded so they can attract and retain officers, hold criminals accountable, and ensure prosecutors and judges enforce our laws.
Protecting Life
Earlier this summer the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, standing up for the rights of the unborn and returning abortion-related lawmaking to the states. It was very discouraging when weeks later a district court judge struck down Minnesota’s longstanding and bipartisan pro-life laws. These laws were put in place years ago to protect the health and safety of mothers. Provisions that were ruled unconstitutional include:
- A law requiring abortions to be performed by physicians.
- A law requiring second and third-term abortion to be performed in hospital settings.
- A law imposing felonies for performing abortions outside of rules established by the Department of Health.
- A law requiring parental notification for minors obtaining an abortion
Every life is precious. I will keep working to defend our pro-life laws and I will fight to make sure this decision is overturned.
Supporting Our Nursing Homes
It is concerning that the majority party refused to provide additional funding for our nursing homes. I frequently speak with one of our local nursing home administrators and I hear the concerns loud and clear. Funding long term care has to be a top priority when the legislature returns in January. In May, a survey was conducted by the Long-Term Care Imperative and it found that 11% of the state’s nursing homes are facing closure. This is unacceptable. We need to come together and pass additional funding so our nursing homes can continue providing quality care to our seniors.
Because of a 60-day post-session rule, this will be my last legislative update until November. If you want to stay updated on the latest information, I would encourage you to check out my official Facebook page. You can also reach out to me via email if you have specific questions.