Thank you to the group from the White Earth Area Boys and Girls Club who recently met with me in St. Paul to discuss issues. Your input is much appreciated. Dear Neighbor, Greetings from the House, where our week started with a Sovereignty Day event at the Capitol. Thank you to tribal leaders for participating and sharing your message. In other news: Safe & Sound Minnesota plan In last week’s newsletter, I mentioned how bipartisan support has been expressed for improving public safety to get a grip on the abnormally high rate of violent crime in our state. I also mentioned how little progress has taken place in the House this session and that legislative Republicans took the lead by unveiling a Safe & Sound Minnesota public safety plan to take the lead on the subject. Here is more: The Safe & Sound Minnesota plan is designed to confront the threat of violent and repeat criminals, strengthen police, and improve training for law enforcement, and hold judges and prosecutors accountable with public data and information. The package includes 17 different bills from 15 different Republican authors across the state. Confronting the criminal threat would include new laws to add a new crime of carjacking to state statute, increase penalties for fleeing police in a motor vehicle, align fentanyl to the same weight thresholds and penalties as heroin, and increase sentences for those convicted with at least two prior crimes of violence. To address crimes of gun violence, the package specifically increases the penalty for transferring a firearm to an ineligible person and requires a court to ensure someone who has been ordered to give up their firearms has indeed done so. So, if it needs to be said out loud, we are NOT looking to take away Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens and instead focus on strengthening existing laws. Tough laws and great cops can only do so much, however. The Safe & Sound Minnesota plan also puts in place transparency and accountability measures for the state’s courts. New data reporting would help legislators and the public understand how many felony-level offenses go uncharged, as well as a database by the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission for the public to conduct research about judges and their decisions to follow criminal sentences created by the legislature. To address concerns that violent, repeat offenders are too often released, there is a new mandatory minimum sentence for dangerous criminals who commit crimes with a firearm. Finally, the plan would also make who posts bail payments public data. Recent scrutiny on non-profits bailing out violent criminals shows Minnesotans are at risk when these non-profits aren’t held accountable for their decisions. Bottom line: Public safety is government’s most important responsibility and Minnesotans are concerned about the increase in violent crime in our state. Legislative Republicans are serious about providing common-sense solutions to help officers do their jobs, ensure our laws are enforced, and hold criminals accountable. DL town hall Saturday Quick reminder a legislative town hall meeting will take place 2 p.m. this Saturday at Christian Fellowship Church in Detroit Lakes (28048 Meadow Drive). Hope you can attend in what I anticipate will be another highly productive discussion over a number of subjects, particularly the Second Amendment. Call to Action House Democrats have introduced a bill (H.F. 2860) making Minnesota “a sanctuary state for immigration enforcement purposes, and state and local officials restricted from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement efforts.” This bill should be highly concerning to Minnesotans on a number of fronts, not the least of which is public safety. Click here for a link to the bill description and list of authors in case you want to provide input. Have a good weekend and, as always, please stay in touch. Sincerely, Matt |