Dear Friends and Neighbors, We got a taste of winter again with the mid-week blizzard, and I hope everyone is staying safe and warm. I want to extend my sincere gratitude to our dedicated snowplow operators across Minnesota. Their tireless work clearing our roads ensures that we can continue moving safely and maintain a sense of normalcy, even in the harshest winter conditions. Thank you for braving the elements to keep our communities safe! It’s been a busy week in St. Paul—from a rally supporting the Preserving Girls Sports Act to the release of the February budget forecast. I’m looking forward to diving into all of it with you. Preserving Girls SportsOn Monday, we hosted a rally at the Capitol in support of the Preserving Girls Sports Act (HF12). It was wonderful to see so many Minnesotans showing their support for this bill and the important issue it addresses. A big thank you to Riley Gaines, Jack Brewer, Ken Utecht, and the other speakers who joined us to support our efforts in Minnesota. HF12 was debated on the House floor Monday afternoon, with discussions and comments from both sides of the aisle. While Republicans fully supported the bill and voted accordingly, House Democrats did not, so the bill did not pass.  Housing Press ConferenceOn Wednesday this week, we held a bipartisan housing press conference at the Capitol, bringing together both Representatives and Senators to address Minnesota’s growing housing crisis. It was encouraging to see leaders from both sides of the aisle unite with a shared commitment to finding real solutions that will make a difference for Minnesotans.  The housing crisis in our state affects individuals and families from all walks of life. Rising costs, limited availability, and a lack of diverse housing options have made it increasingly difficult for many to find and maintain stable homes. Our mission moving forward is centered around three key priorities: - Diversity: The Minnesota Starter Home Act encourages a mix of housing options, from single-family homes to townhomes and smaller, accessible units, ensuring choices for everyone—from first-time buyers to downsizing seniors.
- Affordability: By reducing restrictive regulations, the act aims to lower construction costs, making homeownership more attainable for the 600,000 Minnesotans who spend over 30% of their income on housing.
- Stability: The act promotes lasting housing opportunities, inspired by the starter homes built for WWII veterans, to create strong, stable communities once again.
This bipartisan effort is just the beginning. By working together, we can create meaningful and lasting changes that ensure all Minnesotans have access to safe, affordable, and stable housing. We look forward to continued collaboration and meaningful action in the coming weeks and months. February Budget ForecastWe received the February budget forecast yesterday, which projects a $6 billion deficit for the 2028-2029 biennium. This is a result of reckless and excessive Democrat spending especially last session. They wasted an $18 billion surplus AND raised taxes by $10 billion only to get us into one of the largest budget deficits in state history. The remedy for this situation will not be tax hikes and increasing spending, we need to reduce spending immediately to get back on track towards spending responsibly and not getting ourselves into a larger hole than we are in. Hibbing-Chisholm HockeyGood luck to the Hibbing-Chisholm High School Hockey team as they compete in the state tournament this weekend. Best of luck, boys!  |