Dear Neighbor,
Minnesota’s 2024 legislative session began Monday and here’s my advice: Hang onto your hat because Democrats will use their total control of the Capitol any way they can to advance their extreme wish list.
Just look at last year, when they spent the $17.5 billion surplus and still raised taxes by $10 billion to increase state spending by 40 percent. They also gave our state some of the world’s most radical abortion policies last year and now are back with an assisted suicide bill to continue their preoccupation with ending life early.
On top of that, Democrats have a bill to establish Minnesota as a sanctuary state, effectively making us a haven for illegal aliens at a time of crisis at our nation’s southern border.
The school resource officer issue already has bubbled up on the House floor. (You may recall changes made to state law last year limit what SROs are allowed to do to de-escalate aggressive or violent situations, taking away tools they can use to keep students and teachers safe. In response, law enforcement agencies pulled SROs from numerous schools across Minnesota.)
House Republicans made a motion on Monday to suspend the rules to bring forward a bill (HF3489) to promptly resolve the matter. Unfortunately, the majority blocked this motion to take prompt action and is delaying legislation that is needed to fix this serious public safety issue. This is not the “fast-track” that was promised, but Republicans will continue working until a real fix is passed and 100% of SROs are back in schools.
And, in their never-ending quest to squash our Second Amendment rights, House Democrats already are pushing concerning bills. One of their bills (HF3570) prohibits the sale or transfer of almost all semiautomatic weapons. This may be pitched to the public as an attempt to ban “AR-style rifles” but, in reality, it impacts many more firearms. Another bill (HF3628) is even more restrictive, banning the possession – not just the transfer – of certain rifles, and even lists them by name. Also, magazines of more than 10 rounds would be outlawed.
On a separate Second Amendment note, I hope you are following the Matthew “Walker” Anderson story as it plays out in the courts. Click here for the latest coverage in the Patriot News.
The plain truth is we need more balance at the Capitol. In the meantime, I will continue fighting for common sense and making sure the residents of District 27A are heard loud and clear in St. Paul.
Until next time, here are some links to help you follow developments in St. Paul this session:
Sincerely,
Shane