Dear Neighbor,
Public safety is government’s top responsibility, yet failed leadership and a criminal justice system that too often goes soft on violent criminals have only undermined our state’s ability to live up to that responsibility.
Before we get to more on that, I want to this Tuesday is the deadline for enacting legislation to spare employers in Minnesota from an unjust tax increase.
You may recall the Senate already addressed this issue by overwhelmingly passing a clean unemployment insurance bill on a bipartisan vote. Gov. Walz, House Republicans, Senate Republicans, and Senate Democrats all support full UI relief. But House Democrats continue to hold back the bill. House Republicans moved to declare urgency on this bill and pass it through the House yesterday, but the majority blocked that effort.
Unfortunately, it's looking more and more like inaction by the House majority is going to result in a significant tax increase that we all would feel one way or another at a time the state has a $9.3 billion surplus and daily costs already are soaring.
As for public safety:
Minnesotans are increasingly concerned about rising rates of violent crime in our state. The House DFL majority’s response has been to push for policies that protect criminals, release violent offenders early, villainize peace officers, and oppose efforts to keep our communities safe.
Criminals are emboldened to commit more brazen crimes.
Meanwhile, House Republicans have outlined a package of bills to improve public safety for citizens in our state. Collectively, the bills focus on three key areas: crime prevention and accountability for criminals; police recruitment and retention; and holding the criminal justice system accountable.
The number of carjackings in the Twin Cities has increased exponentially the past two years, maybe be the most glaring example of why the Legislature must act to make our state safer. Minneapolis Police reported 655 carjackings last year alone – with only 91 related arrests.
A measure in the House Republican public safety plan makes carjacking a new criminal offense with increasing penalties for the level of violence. Language prohibits offenders from purchasing or possessing a firearm, enhances penalties for subsequent offenses, and disqualifies offenders from licenses to work in health and human services occupations, such as nursing homes and childcare facilities.
Minnesota also must ensure local law enforcement agencies have enough officers on patrol, and that they have the resources they need to keep citizens safe. I support our law enforcement officers to the Nth degree and can’t even begin to comprehend the challenges they face day in and day out.
The demonization of police in our state – primarily in the Twin Cities – has resulted in a record number of peace officers applying for disability, peace officers leaving the profession in mass, and fewer new recruits joining the force. The effects of the anti-police rhetoric are rippling throughout the law enforcement profession in the suburbs and across Greater Minnesota.
We need to change this narrative to one of support for our officers. House Republicans are offering legislation to assist law enforcement recruitment numerous ways, including providing education reimbursements and Pathways to Policing program funding.
We also must make sure that when law enforcement detains a violent criminal our system is backing them up with appropriate charges and sentencing. Instead, judges across Minnesota are departing from the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines and issuing lighter sentences at a troubling rate. It is unclear why this is happening, but House Republicans have authored several bills on this subject to increase transparency and gain a better understanding of why our criminal justice system continues to go light with violent criminals.
This lack of accountability in our state even has decreased public safety in other realms. Take, for example, the situation where the Hennepin Technical College's president resigned following multiple accusations of harassment and horrible treatment by his employees. The problem is, even after he resigned, reporters learned that he had been given a different job within Hennepin Tech – still collecting four months of his $232,000 annual salary. The accusations of misconduct levied against him were substantiated after an investigation but, instead of acting to fully protect faculty, staff and students from any further danger, he was shuffled to a different position.
Watch for more as things develop on this issue throughout the session. I will continue working to stem the rise in violent crime, keep dangerous offenders off our streets, and hold the criminal justice system accountable. If our state does nothing else, Minnesotans and people who visit deserve to be safe.
As always, your feedback is welcome and please let me know how I may help.
Sincerely,
Shane