Happy Friday everyone, I hope you have enjoyed this fantastic weather, and are taking advantage of our newfound freedoms our gracious Governor has granted us just in time for St Patrick's day. Last year, bars were forced to close at 5 PM and would remain so for the next 3 months. They were “allowed” to open for a brief period in the summer, only before being told once again to shut their doors because, you know, science. This week the DFL has further aligned themselves with the Governor. One state Rep from the Range even doubled down her support for his executive orders saying the Governor needed to act quickly. She then proceeded to vote against 2 bills to provide immediate support to business owners and our schools. It's a strange world at the capitol.

You can watch my video update below.

Never Again

Don't be fooled by the imitation "fix the emergency powers'' bills you have seen or heard about from other legislators. Their fake bills are simply theatrics and do not actually fix the root of the problem. My bill, HF2204, is the ONLY bill that contains the provisions necessary to make sure we NEVER AGAIN are forced to live under dictatorial powers ever again.  These four provisions are in the infographic below.

I want to thank Representative John Poston, Representative Jeremy Munson, Representative Steve Drazkowski and Representative Tim Miller for co-signing this critical legislation.  If I’m not your representative please urge your legislator to co-sign as well.

Where is Everybody?

Last Friday I toured the capitol grounds trying to spot my colleagues hard at work drafting legislation as the first deadline of session to effect at the close of business. Who do you think I saw? Speaker Hortman? Governor Walz? Maybe even some of my DFL colleagues who keep saying they are hard at work? No one, not a single one answered their door, they had no staff answering calls. Not a single member was there. So while Walz builds his fence around the capitol to keep you out of the legislative process I want you to know behind those walls are empty offices.

This is the people’s capitol.  Governor Walz’ executive orders permit you to shop in a Menard’s with 7,000 of your closest friends but for some reason he won’t allow you to knock on his door and present your grievances to him or the legislature.

Walz Adjust the Dials

Governor Walz California Car Initiative

While the open comment period has closed, you can submit your rebuttal comments up until March 22nd, next Monday.

In order to submit a comment you must write your question or comment down and submit through the Office of Administrative Hearings e-comments website, or by fax or mail according to the instructions in the public notice.

Step-by-step instructions for how to submit a comment and attach documents is available on the Office of Administrative hearings website: Directions for using the rulemaking e-comments website

All comments regarding the proposed rule must be sent to Administrative Law Judge Palmer-Denig to be included in the official rulemaking record.

You can submit rebuttal comments from March 16 through Monday, March 22, 2021 at 4:30 p.m.

Heating assistance

There is still assistance available to income-eligible households (both owners and renters) for home heating bills and furnace repairs. The State's Energy Assistance Program can help by providing financial assistance, such as:

•       Pay past due energy bills to avoid disconnection
•       Purchase fuel for delivery in emergencies
•       Repair or replace homeowners' malfunctioning furnaces.

The application period is open until May 31 this year, and you can find more information and links to apply at the Minnesota Department of Commerce website. 

Contact

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me or my office. We are still attempting to provide regular contact remotely so if you have other needs, please email my Legislative Assistant, Grayson, at Grayson.mcnew@house.mn.

Watch the Minnesota House on Public TV

Video: Streaming Website. Also you can watch committees and Floor Sessions on YouTube.