 Legislative UpdateDear Friends and Neighbors, After two years of complete Democrat control, many of my Republican colleagues are finally getting their bills heard—and I’m excited to say that I am too. Over the last two years, I wasn’t granted a single hearing on my bills, but this session, I’m making progress on important legislation for our district. I’ve been working on several key bonding bills, including: - House File 673 - this bill will provide $50,000 to help construct, furnish, and equip a veterans memorial in Howard Lake. This memorial will serve as a lasting tribute to the sacrifices made by the brave men and women who have served our country, ensuring their legacy is honored for generations to come.
- House File 674 - this bill will provide $3.5 million to improve water and sewer infrastructure and reconstruct city streets in South Haven. These upgrades are critical to ensuring reliable utilities, safer roads, and a stronger foundation for the community’s future growth.
- House File 148 - thill bill will provide a sales tax exemption on construction materials for the Delano ice rink project. This exemption helps reduce costs for upgrades, renovations, and expansion—ensuring the community has an improved facility while keeping expenses lower for taxpayers.
- House File 1025 - this bill recognizes the historic Minnesota state flag and guarantees that all citizens have the right to display it with pride. While Minnesota’s official flag has changed, many still feel a deep connection to the historic design that has flown for over a century. This bill protects that connection, ensuring that individuals, businesses, and communities can continue displaying the flag that represents our state’s heritage.
While I’m excited about these legislative efforts, I am, of course, disappointed by the outcome of the special election in District 40B this past Tuesday. It’s unfortunate that Republican voters didn’t turn out in greater numbers to support our candidate—had they done so, we could have maintained our House majority and continued advancing our conservative values. That said, we will keep working across the aisle to do what’s best for Minnesota, especially as we face the challenge of balancing the budget by the end of May. With a looming $6 billion deficit, we must approach the budget responsibly. Just two years ago, Minnesota’s budget was $52 billion, which fully funded our state. To put that into perspective, the U.S. Bank Stadium—one of the finest NFL stadiums in America—cost around $1 billion to build. Now, after just two years of Democrat control, our budget has ballooned to $72 billion, largely due to unsustainable federal spending. That’s why we’re now facing this massive shortfall. We will fully fund essential services—including education, transportation, healthcare, veterans’ programs, and agriculture—but we must do so without raising taxes or fees on hardworking Minnesotans. Minnesota families are already feeling the burden of rising costs: inflation, higher car insurance rates, grocery bills, and skyrocketing energy prices. The last thing Minnesotans need is another financial hit. That’s why I’m committed to balancing the budget in a fiscally responsible manner. On a lighter note, I have the privilege of delivering the St. Patrick’s Day prayer on the House floor this coming Monday, March 17th. I’m truly honored to do so, and I want to wish everyone of Irish heritage (and those who wish they were Irish!) a very blessed and joyful St. Patrick’s Day! Coming Together to Fight Hunger in Wright County On March 7, I joined local leaders at Cub Foods in Buffalo for the Wright County Farm Bureau’s annual food awareness event—a fantastic effort to support our local food shelves. Thanks to generous donations and a little competitive spirit, we raised over $11,000 for families in need! The highlight? A 90-second shopping spree challenge where teams raced through the aisles, grabbing as much food as possible. I teamed up with Sen. Bruce Anderson and Commissioner Tina Diedrick, and while we gave it our all, Commissioners Vetsch, Holland, and Schoen took home the win—loading up 1,188 pounds of food and spending $3,694.52. Our haul? 629 pounds and $1,683.83 spent—not too shabby! At the end of the day, the real winners are the families who will benefit from these donations. A huge thanks to the Wright County Farm Bureau and all involved—nothing beats giving back with a little friendly competition! |