Friends,
I want to extend a huge congratulations to Valeria Gonzalez and Eber Albino and their three children. This Long Prairie family recently became U.S. Citizens. Congratulations! I know that is not an easy process, but we are proud of you and appreciate your commitment to America.
In legislative news, my legislation to move the Minnesota Military Museum project forward was heard in the Capital Investment Committee. There is tremendous support for this project, and I am pushing it forward.
I filed a bill this week that will save us all money when it comes to our vehicles. Did you know that the vehicle registration tax is 6.5% in Minnesota? The bill I introduced waives this fee for 24 months. We all need a little help regaining our financial footing after the pandemic. I hope this will be one step in that direction.
This last week the Minneapolis Teachers went on strike. While students are still recovering from a loss of classroom time, now is not the time to close the school system. The students should not suffer from adult conflict. In response, I filed legislation allowing students to transfer schools and take their funding with them when schools are shut down by a strike. A student’s education should not be interrupted.
This week when I was at the capitol in St. Paul for the session, Minneapolis teachers were walking around the Capitol with their signs reading ‘tax the rich.’ Their leader, Greta Callahan, said that their “Fight is against patriarchy, our fight is against capitalism…” She never mentioned better schools or resources for children. This is not how we provide an excellent education…instead, the strike brings division and more anger.
Finally, I want to ask you in joining me in prayer for the people of Ukraine and the crisis we are seeing unfold. It is my prayer that the world’s leaders can find some solution and that the innocent people of Ukraine will be spared.