Hello friends and neighbors, I am honored to be back at the Capitol and working for you. I wanted to share some highlights from my first week back:  - Sworn in on Tuesday, January 14th
- Elected Rep. Lisa Demuth as Speaker of the House
- Began committee meetings on Wednesday
However, the start of session has been anything but normal this year. My Democrat colleagues have decided not to show up for work, while still getting paid, which is unacceptable for many reasons. You may have seen some headlines in the media, but DFL members held their own private swearing in ceremony off-site last Sunday. They decided not to notify the press, the rest of the representatives, or the public. Then, they refused to show up for work on Tuesday, stating that they would be “working in their districts” instead. Therefore, us Republicans went ahead and organized the House on our own and have been conducting official business since Tuesday. Aside from just missing the first day of session, DFL Representatives have not been here for any sessions or committee meetings for the rest of the week. A lot of the drama is based in the argument over whether the GOP has enough members for a majority, which we do. Although the election in November left the House divided 67-67, one DFL member was ruled to have violated the residency requirements and his seat has been declared vacant. So, until a special election is held for the seat in district 40B, the Republicans hold a majority in the House and will function that way. Outside of the House, Governor Walz announced his proposed budget for 2026-2027, which included tax raises and a cut to long term care funding. Especially based on tax hikes in recent years and the impacts they have had on Minnesotans, I can assure you that tax increases are off the table and the Republican party is united around that promise. Although the Democrats have not been here, my willingness and ability to work for you remains strong. This year, I am the Chair of the Capital Investments committee, which had its first meeting on Thursday. A major priority of this committee is to propose bonding for the state so that we can fund improvements to infrastructure such as roads, highways, and other public property. I will be heavily involved in this process as chair of the committee, and I will share the progress we make with you. I am passionate about my responsibility to serve as your state representative, which is why I am here in St. Paul working for you. Thank you for your trust in me with this responsibility. I look forward to sending more updates as the session continues and we make progress for Minnesota. In district 12B this week: Take a Kid Ice Fishing Event happening on Jan 18th, tomorrow. Hosted by the Viking Sportsmen Club on Bemo Pond, this event is for kids 16 and under and no fishing license is required. The Alexandria Farmer’s Market remains open every Saturday from 9-12 at Big Ole Park! Soup Thursday at Carlos Creek Winery every Thursday. Warm up from cold temps with famous, made-from-scratch soup. Smart Alex Trivia at Copper Trail Brewing Company on Thursday nights. Trivia is free to play and there are gift card prizes for the top three scoring teams! Please Contact MeIf you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding any issue related to state government, please feel free to contact me at either 651-296-3201 or rep.mary.franson@house.mn.gov I would love to hear from you. It’s an honor to represent the best!  |