Dear Neighbors,
First, I want to extend my deepest condolences to the families of the three first responders who were tragically killed last Sunday in Burnsville. The entire state of Minnesota shares in their grief and I encourage all of you to continue to pray for them and the Burnsville community.
This tragic incident was a sad reminder of the dangers that first responders face every day. Let’s continue to build a culture and society that respects them, their families, and the sacrifices they make daily.
Tax Fix Approved by House
On Monday, we began our work of fixing the many errors that House Democrats have made in their rush to pass as many bills as possible.
Last session, the Democrat-led legislature approved comprehensive tax legislation that reduced standard income tax deductions, leading to tax increases for roughly 76 percent of Minnesotans.
Without this correction, the Department of Revenue estimated that taxes would have gone up an additional $352 million starting in tax year 2024.
Thankfully we were able to make this correction during the second week of the session, but it nevertheless serves as a reminder of the sloppy lawmaking by Democrats last year.
Sanctuary State Bill
Many of you have heard about Democrats' new proposal that would turn Minnesota into a “sanctuary state.” This means that law enforcement officers would be barred from enforcing federal immigration law here in Minnesota.
To be crystal clear, this bill, if it were to come before the House for a vote, is probably one of the easiest “NO” votes I’ll ever cast.
Everyone knows that the United States has a significant problem at our southern border. We absolutely should not incentivize undocumented individuals who have broken federal immigration law to come to Minnesota.
2nd Amendment Under Attack
It is disappointing that Democrats have already renewed their calls for gun control in the wake of the Burnsville tragedy before the families have had time to lay their loved ones to rest.
Instead of inventing new ways to limit the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding Minnesotans, Democrats should focus their efforts on holding criminals accountable for their actions and enforcing the dozens of gun laws that we already have on the books. In so many ways, the world has been completely turned upside down with criminals now being touted as the victims and law-abiding citizens being turned into criminals.
You can always count on me to be a strong defender of the 2nd Amendment.
Staying in Touch
A lot of local folks visited my office in St. Paul this week including students from South Central College, a group of local pastors, county commissioners, correctional officers from the Faribault prison, Rice County Sheriff Jesse Thomas, and many more. Thanks for visiting and sharing your thoughts on the issues that matter most to you!
Thank you to these amazing pastors from Northfield and Dundas who visited my office this week.
Keep an eye on your email inbox as I will be sending weekly newsletters discussing what’s happening in St. Paul and how I’m working on behalf of our communities.
In the meantime, please do not hesitate to reach out to me to share any thoughts, questions, or concerns. It would be good to hear from you!
I can be reached by phone at 651-296-8237 or via email at rep.brian.daniels@house.mn.gov.
God Bless,
Brian