Legislative Update – February 21, 2025
Dear Neighbors,
Now that the House is officially organized, we have been holding committee hearings on bills and budget proposals. Right now, Republicans have a one-seat advantage on the House floor and in committees. If we return to a 67-67 tie following a March 11 special election, the agreed upon co-governing agreement will go into effect.
It's also been a busy time for meetings with constituents, advocates, and community organizations visiting the Capitol to provide expertise and testimony and rally for a better future for ALL Minnesotans! I was so glad to attend the Fund Our Future rally with community members from District 58A and across the state who are worried about the Trump/Vance/Musk administration and know that local politics is where we can come together to protect Minnesotans.
I met with students from the University of Minnesota Duluth (including a constituent from New Prague) and physical therapists from our district. While back in-district, I toured the New Prague power plant and met with NPS Superintendent Dr. Matt Hillman and District Finance Director Val Mertesdorf.
In the News
As always, you can hear my weekly radio legislative update on KYMN Radio recorded early this morning and posted online here and catch up on last week's here.
On February 17, my monthly column for the Northfield News was published, focusing on why winning a co-governing agreement that protected the will of the voters in our district, in Shakopee, and across the state was so important. I also highlight some of my priorities for this legislative session, including places where I think we can come together and pass bipartisan solutions to some of the problems voters elected a tied legislature to solve. You can read the column here.
I loved reading The Carletonian’s article covering my visit with the CarlDems earlier this month. Meeting with college students is a fantastic part of representing our district, and I’m always impressed with their knowledge of politics and their great questions. You can find that article here.
I also briefly made it onto KARE11 this week for an important story about the GOP’s efforts to strip MinnesotaCare coverage from undocumented Minnesotans which was heard in the Health Committee. This bill is cruel to our neighbors and contrary to our values, but it’s also bad policy. By prioritizing preventative care, we take the strain off of emergency services. Workers without status already pay their fair share in local, state, and federal taxes, and deserve the healthcare they need. Access to healthcare is a right, not a privilege.
Fighting for Our District
Republicans are using the limited time they have in power to push controversial, unpopular bills that will move our state backward, create holes and instability in our long-term budget, and harm groups of Minnesotans who are already facing a deluge of attacks from the Trump Administration.
Democrats are fighting back against these bills when they are heard in committee. Republicans need 68 votes to pass any bill, so these extreme proposals will die on the House Floor.
It’s my job as your state legislator to stand up for the voices of Minnesotans in our district and across the state who would be harmed if the Republicans passed their extreme agenda. That’s exactly what I’m doing here in Saint Paul.
The Trump administration continues to overstep its authority in D.C., letting Elon Musk and his billionaire friends make decisions without congressional approval that will harm our country and state. The full impacts of Trump’s actions are too numerous to list here, but the Star Tribune put together a recap here, including this headline from yesterday: Dozens of Minnesota federal workers fired in latest cuts, with no severance.
But I want you to know that Minnesota’s leaders are fighting back wherever we can. I’d encourage you to follow Attorney General Keith Ellison’s social media pages and follow his press communications to learn more about how we are winning lawsuits against Trump and Musk’s unconstitutional actions. As ever, I am grateful we have an AG who stands up to monopoly power and corporations as The People's Lawyer.
Thank you to everyone raising their voice in support and protest in our district, online, and at the Capitol. I’m proud to be your representative in Saint Paul!
Stay Connected!
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