Dear Neighbor,
Greetings from the Capitol, where public safety and religious freedom remain big topics of discussion. Here’s the latest on those subjects and more:
Local visitors
I thoroughly enjoyed people from WACOSA taking time to visit me in St. Paul this week for Disabilities Awareness Day. This Waite Park nonprofit does a great job of developing skills and preparing clients for employment while nurturing connections in the community. The group that visited me featured an interviewer, a videographer and a still photographer. They were quite impressive and did such a nice job in their roles.
Thank you to local electrical co-ops from Stearns and Meeker counties for coming to the Capitol to discuss energy-related issues. Your input is greatly appreciated.
Public safety
I participated in a press conference House Republicans hosted this week to call for hearings on a series of several bills we have authored to support our law enforcement officers, hold criminals accountable and keep our communities safe. These bills have been specifically requested by our partners in law enforcement.
The brave men and women who wear that uniform every day and put their lives on the line to protect and serve deserve to have the resources they need to do their jobs effectively. But, at the same time, we need to pass laws that enhance public safety by cracking down on crime, catching dangerous offenders and ensuring the criminals are fully held accountable.
We know that public safety should be one of the highest priorities of government. These hearings that we are requesting would allow a full public discussion of policy proposals that would uphold law and order here in Minnesota.
Meanwhile, the state budget enacted last year did include $300 million in one-time aid for law enforcement agencies. This funding was appropriated based on population and resulted in, for example, Cold Spring receiving around $185,000 and Paynesville gaining $107,000.
While I am pleased these dollars were provided for local law enforcement, Democrats included fine print which restricts how this money can be used, limiting it to the following categories:
- Community violence prevention and? intervention programs
- Community engagement
- Mental health crisis responses
- Victim? services
- Training programs
- First responder wellness
- Equipment related to fire, rescue, and? emergency services
- To pay other personnel or equipment costs
Based on the majority’s strict parameters, tactical vehicles, for instance, do not qualify, even though we continue seeing instances where they could save lives. Neither does something as practical as improving lighting to increase safety.
By contrast, one of the bills House Republicans propose (H.F. 4837) would allow more flexibility in how public safety aid is used by local governments so they can meet their specific needs. Our citizens and law enforcement officers alike deserve no less.
In related news, House Republicans also recently moved to declare urgency and act on a bill (H.F. 548) to increase the penalty for transferring a firearm to an ineligible person, aka, “straw man” purchases. Our move coincided with the recent news an indictment has been filed against someone who allegedly acted as a straw purchaser of the weapons used in the shooting of three first responders in Burnsville. Unfortunately, the House majority voted down our effort to take urgent action on this bill.
National Ag Day
National Ag Day was this week and I want to say a huge word of thanks to our local farmers and other area ag workers as we recognize them. Thanks for all you do to keep our state and nation fed – and for the major role you play in our state’s economy.
Religious freedom
The Senate had a chance to restore state law to our long-held consensus that religious communities in Minnesota have the autonomy to decide questions of faith. Instead, the Senate majority this week followed suit on a House Democrat vote which undermines religious freedom in Minnesota and compromises the separation of church and state in Minnesota.
In each case, a committee amendment was presented to restore a religious freedom provision that was deleted from Minnesota Human Rights Act law last year. The proposed measure ensures religious organizations and faith-based schools can, among other things, hire teachers and ministers consistent with their mission and values. Already, at least one faith-based school is facing an employment complaint at the department of human rights because of the removal of the provision.
It is unfortunate committees voted down this proposal along party lines in each body. I will continue advocating for the religious freedom component to be restored.
As I have previously noted, before last year, when gender identity was included (or subsumed) within the MHRA definition of sexual orientation, the still-existing religious exemption for sexual orientation covered gender identity claims as well. When a new, separate definition of gender identity was created last year, there was no corresponding religious exemption added. This issue caused alarm among Minnesota’s faith community and House Republicans worked with religious leaders to craft an amendment to MHRA legislation S.F. 4292. The House and Senate majorities then voted against that language.
Have a good weekend and, as always, your input is welcome.
Sincerely,
Lisa