ST. PAUL, MN—Rep. Brian Johnson, R-Cambridge, Republican Lead on the House Public Safety Division, issued the following statement regarding Democrats' move today to amend in two gun control bills into the Public Safety Omnibus.
"Democrats have told us for months their gun-control bills are common-sense and supported by huge majorities of the public, but now they're choosing to hide these proposals in huge omnibus bills rather than showing Minnesotans where they stand with a clean up-or-down vote," Johnson said. "The Senate has been crystal clear that these bills must pass standalone in order to be part of the conversation. These bills are non-starters as part of the budget discussion and should be totally ignored as budget negotiations begin."
Last session, Democrats endlessly criticized the inclusion of controversial policy language in budget bills, a practice they have quickly come to embrace this session.
"Democrats know these bills have bipartisan opposition, and should have the courage to put them on the floor as standalone bills, rather than hiding them in bills that fund our law enforcement, courts, and other critical public safety programs."
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