Dear Neighbors, To say the first weeks of session were not quite what I had expected is an understatement. I know there is frustration about what is transpiring in St. Paul - I’m frustrated, too. The simplest way that I can put it is like this: House Republicans have a temporary one-seat advantage—like a power play in hockey. But they want to keep control permanently, even though voters elected a tied House. That’s like changing the rules in the middle of the game. Democrats worked late into the night and early this morning to negotiate a reasonable power-sharing agreement, to no avail. Yet, we remain ready to govern together in a way that honors the will of the voters and honors the results of a recount, and multiple court decisions continues. On Friday, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that the House Republican attempted power grab of the last two weeks violated our state constitution. Every GOP action, including the election of a fake Speaker and appointment of fake committees, was unlawful and illegitimate. 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. In addition to honoring the will of the voters across the state, Republicans also must respect the results of the election in Shakopee where voters elected DFLer Brad Tabke to represent them. Instead, Republicans are refusing to seat him, which would disenfranchise 22,000 voters. The reason they want to do this is simple: to empower them to advance their extreme agenda, including taking away reproductive freedoms, eliminating paid family leave, rolling back progress to address climate change, and ending free school meals for kids. House DFLers will not allow Republicans to overturn an election simply because they can. Never before has a legislator been kicked out when they have done nothing wrong, and to do so would gravely subvert the free and fair elections Minnesotans expect. Rep. Tabke won on election night, won in a recount, and won in court. DFLers look forward to returning to the Capitol once we have an agreement with Republicans that respects the will of the voters. Minnesota voters sent a clear message on Election Night – they expect us to govern together. It’s time for Republicans to return to the negotiating table so we can move forward. In this tumultuous time, I will continue the work in whatever way I need to protect representative democracy and ensure that everyone has access to protecting bodily autonomy and reproductive rights, dignified social services, a welcoming state for all, and the ability to build wealth for their families. I will continue to join my DFL colleagues in a pledge to deny quorum by not attending floor sessions to prevent them from throwing out an election and moving forward with a MAGA agenda that will harm our community. Until House Republicans return to the negotiating table to commit to a power-sharing agreement and honor the will of the Shakopee voters, I will be continuing the same work that I do in our community -- meeting with constituents, community leaders, and people from around the state in the work of moving forward my legislative agenda that shifts power, agency and economic opportunity to Minnesota families. To state the obvious, this is a unique and unprecedented situation. Please reach out to me with any questions you have – I am happy to connect about this or anything else that is important to you. Working for Our District Regardless of everything else going on in St. Paul, our focus is — and always will be — serving our Duluth community. Here are just a few highlights from my work here in Duluth and across the state. Labor, Workforce & Economic Development The entire Duluth delegation, Rep. Pete Johnson, Sen. Jen McEwen, and I have been meeting with our legislative partners, local leaders, and of course, constituents to deliver for our community. We met to advance a new bipartisan piece of legislation called the “Our Promise to the Duluth Area Workforce” with the Duluth Public Schools, the University of Minnesota Duluth, The College of St. Scholastica, and Lake Superior College, along with the support of the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce, APEX, the City of Duluth and the Workforce Board to collaboratively meet today’s and tomorrow’s growing workforce needs in the Duluth area and region. As a member of the Labor, Workforce and Economic Development Committee and Vice Chair of Housing, I'm actively working on preparing legislation and supporting policies that uplift Minnesota workers in the Minnesota House of Representatives and creating an economy that works for all, investing in infrastructure and creating good paying union jobs, and ensuring a future where everyone has an affordable, dignified, and stable place to call home.  Additionally, I’ve had great conversations with labor leaders such as Bernie Burnham, Minnesota AFL-CIO President, about the start of the 2025 legislative session and its potential impact on hardworking Minnesotans. State Representative Pete Johnson and I also had an excellent tour and visit to Cirrus Aircraft. We discussed the bustling aviation industry here in Duluth and how the state can be a strong partner this biennium in passing legislation to support the 148th Fighter Wing, Duluth International Airport, Cirrus Aircraft, and more. We’re excited to make more bipartisan investments in our region to grow good-paying jobs, lead on innovation, make big economic impact, and help our region and state reach new heights. Union Gospel Mission tour: It was an honor to tour the Union Gospel Mission with my colleague State Rep. Pete Johnson! We’re grateful to join Katie Haggland, Executive Director, and team for an up-close look at this local Bonding project that our community is rallying behind! In our engaging conversation and site tour, the entire team and all guests shared how vital this space is for food access, peer support and connection, bridging supportive services, and more. They also expressed excitement about envisioning a modern, bigger, and more inclusive space that better fits everyone's needs. We appreciated the discussion and look forward to championing more legislation to support our region's housing and infrastructure needs during this legislative session.  People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus: The House POCI Caucus, formed in 2017, plays an integral role in strengthening equity and inclusion in Minnesota by making equity a cornerstone of policymaking, prioritizing inclusion, and dismantling racism. I am humbled to serve as Co-Chair of the House POCI Caucus, alongside Co-Chair Rep. Cedrick Frazier (DFL – New Hope) and Vice Chair Rep. María Isa Pérez-Vega (DFL -- Saint Paul) for 2025-2026. We are eager to build off our successes and accelerate our legislative work this session and are committed to addressing critical priorities, including housing affordability, strategic investments in local businesses and BIPOC entrepreneurs, expanded access to quality childcare, equitable healthcare and other vital issues to uplift our communities. You can read more on the accomplishments of the POCI Caucus last biennium here. Next week, the POCI Caucus will be holding listening sessions across the state as we advance our collective agenda to advance policies that uplift people of color and Indigenous peoples, grow the middle class, and continuing the long work advancing freedom and justice for all.  We’re stronger when we work together. That’s why my colleagues and I announced a sound policy agenda to keep Minnesotans moving forward by lowering costs in areas like childcare, health care, economic justice, housing, and more. You can find more details of the legislative proposals here. I'll continue sharing daily updates on my work for our district and the state on my official Facebook page. From the big wins to the daily challenges, I'm excited to keep you in the loop and work alongside you. Like and follow along for the journey! It is an honor to represent our community in the Minnesota House and I am deeply grateful and committed to be doing this work with you to build a future together where all Minnesotans can thrive. |