Legislative Update – January 28, 2025
Dear Neighbors,
In my last newsletter (which you can read here), I expressed my outrage that on the first day of the legislative session, Minnesota House Republicans attempted an illegitimate power grab, ignoring the law, the constitution, and the will of the voters—all to give themselves full control of the House for the next two years.
Lawsuits were quickly filed by the Minnesota Secretary of State and House DFL Leadership following Republicans’ unconstitutional actions, and since then, my DFL colleagues and I have been forced to stay away from the Capitol in protest while awaiting a court decision. These past weeks, I have been working directly with constituents in our district and am ready to bring that important work back to the Capitol.
Last Friday, we received the decision: The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that Republicans’ attempted power grab in the Minnesota House violated the state Constitution. That means that every GOP action, including the election of a fake Speaker and appointment of fake committees, was unlawful and illegitimate. This is the correct decision, and now Republicans must stop trying to overturn an election they lost, agree to seat Rep. Brad Tabke, and agree to shared power if the House returns to a 67-67 tie.
In November, voters elected an equal number of Democrats and Republicans to represent them in the House. Now, it’s time for the GOP to start working together with Democrats to develop a fair power sharing agreement so we can return to the Capitol to govern as Minnesotans intended.
Republicans want to kick out Representative Tabke so they can advance their extreme MAGA agenda. They want to take away reproductive freedoms, eliminate paid leave for families, and get rid of free school meals for kids. That agenda is not our district’s agenda, and our district deserves to have our voices and values heard in this tied House.
Democrats will fight the extreme Trump-Republican agenda and protect the progress we have made for Minnesotans over the past two years, whether attacks come from the Minnesota GOP, or the incoming administration. I’m looking forward to advocating for the needs of our district in the Minnesota Legislature as soon as Republicans abandon their threats to overturn an election and respect the reality of a tied legislature.
Working for Our District
At this time, I’m doing everything within my power to work on the priorities of our district and ensure that the voices of you, my constituents, are not ignored by the House Republicans. I’ve been meeting with local leaders, community organizations, and folks on the ground who are dedicated to making Minnesota a better place.
Over the last week, I’ve:
- Attended a listening session in Birke Apartments to talk about the impacts of the proposed DHS Waiver Reimagine. This is a special community that provides independence and quality of life to the residents, and we need to work to protect it. I was glad to be joined by the DFL Representatives leading our caucus on the Human Services and State and Local Government committees.
- Met with Blue Horizon Energy and the Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association to discuss important solar energy and storage issues. It was a great opportunity to learn from the wealth of expertise in the room!
- Heard from the Student Board at the Hopkins Public Schools Legislative Action Coalition’s annual breakfast about their experiences within the district and what they hope to do next. As a proud Hopkins alumnus, whose kids also went through the district, I know firsthand the wonderful opportunities the district provides its students. We need to work hard to keep our good quality public schools.
- Met with environmental advocates from our district and across the state about the importance of protecting our air, water, and environment here in Minnesota amidst uncertainty at the federal level.
You can keep up with all that work by checking out my Official State Representative Facebook page, and I’d encourage you to also share my posts with our neighbors to get the word out that House DFLers are working hard for our communities and fighting against Republican’s attempt to overturn election results and push through their unpopular agenda.
Hold the Line – Star Tribune Commentary
I encourage you to read this powerful commentary written by my DFL colleagues about the need to keep Minnesota as a beacon of hope. During the last biennium, my DFL colleagues accomplished a lot of good, bringing our state closer to a place where all people have the freedom to live their best life. We moved to protect the rights of the most vulnerable and improve the economy for working- and middle-class families. We fought hard to get where we are, and we won’t back down now.
Trump’s “divide-and-conquer” politics stand in stark contrast to how DFL majorities have made progress on the things that matter to Minnesotans. We must be prepared to defend the victories that Minnesota workers and families fought for years to deliver: free school meals for every child, access to paid family and medical leave for workers, protecting reproductive freedom and LGBTQ rights, expanding access to health care and making prescription drugs like insulin and asthma inhalers more affordable, bold action on climate change, and creating more opportunities for Minnesotans to buy a home.
The road ahead is uncertain and rocky, and it will have consequences for every town, city, county, and state in this nation. But we are Minnesota, and Minnesota is for everyone. We will do everything in our power to keep it that way.
Please continue to be in touch. It’s an honor to represent you.
Staying in touch
Please reach out if you have any questions or feedback you would like to share. You can contact me by email at rep.patty.acomb@house.mn.gov or call my office during business hours at (651) 296-9934.
Sincerely,
Patty Acomb
State Representative