Legislative UpdateGreetings from the Capitol, I hope this message finds you well. As we continue to work through another busy legislative session, I wanted to take a moment to update you on the latest efforts my colleagues and I are making here in St. Paul. In this update, I’ll be sharing some of the big events from this week, from protecting the rights of our young female athletes to meeting with my constituents, as well as our ongoing efforts to keep Minnesota’s government accountable and fiscally responsible. HF 12 and a Rally for Girls' SportsOn Monday this week, hundreds of people gathered on the front steps of the Capitol in a demonstration of support for our young female athletes. Guest speakers, Riley Gaines and Jack Brewer, two incredible athletes, braved the windy weather to give powerful speeches which received raucous applause. Following the demonstration, legislators headed back inside the Capitol to vote on HF 12, the Preserving Girls’ Sports Act. Unfortunately, all 66 House Democrats voted unanimously to allow biological males to compete against girls in the state of Minnesota. Their beliefs are out of line with the feelings of their constituents and families across Minnesota. A recent poll from January found that 79% of Americans, and 67% of Democrats specifically, support limiting girls sports to biological females. As your representative, I will continue to fight for reasonable legislation that reflects the interests of my constituents. I will be sure to keep you up to date as more develops on this topic.  Riley Gaines, Keynote Speaker and 12-time NCAA All-American Swimmer February Budget ForecastOn Thursday this week, the Department of Management and Budget released its highly anticipated (or dreaded?) budget forecast. For House Republicans, this forecast confirmed what we have been warning about for years: the Democrats' runaway spending has come home to roost. This report surpassed the grim outlook of the last forecast in November. The projected general fund shortfall for the FY 2028-29 biennium has worsened to $5.995 billion, $852 million more than earlier forecasts. The situation feels even worse when we consider that just a few years ago, we had a historic $18 billion surplus, which was spent frivolously by Democrat legislators and Governor Walz. To make up for this, they increased our taxes by $10 billion. This tax increase may have helped the situation if they hadn’t simultaneously increased their spending. Thursday’s budget forecast should serve as a wake-up call for Minnesotans. We cannot continue this cycle of overspending, raising taxes, and overspending again. You and I have learned how to balance a checkbook; it’s time for the State of Minnesota to do the same. This Week’s Meeting RoundupI want to thank everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to visit me at the Capitol this past week. We had a lot of productive conversations about the issues you’re passionate about and what I can do to represent you better in our State Legislature. We had a lot of meetings, here are some of the highlights below! League of Minnesota CitiesCity of Carver Mayor Courtney Johnson and Council Member Eric Perschman  This week, I had the opportunity to meet with administrators, mayors, and council members from across Minnesota as part of the League of Minnesota Cities’ visit to the Capitol. It was a valuable chance to discuss the problems impacting our cities and communities. We focused on ways to support local governments in their efforts to provide essential services, maintain infrastructure, and ensure the continued well-being of residents. I look forward to working together to address these issues in the months ahead. City of New Germany Administrator Twyla Menth with Jim Menth and Eric Miller from Short Elliot Hendrickson Inc.  City of Henderson City Administrator Tim Pautsch, Mayor Keith Swenson, and Council Member Amy Hardel  City of Gaylord Council Member Tony Padilla   Minnesota Trappers Association I recently had the pleasure of meeting with members of the Minnesota Trappers Association, including Tim Jahr from Arlington. We discussed the potential effects of current and upcoming legislation on trapping in Minnesota. It was a productive conversation about ensuring that policies take into account both wildlife management and the traditions of our state's trapping community. I appreciate their insights and will continue to advocate for solutions that balance these important concerns.  Meeting with the President of Minnesota State University, Mankato I met with Dr. Edward Inch - the President of Minnesota State University, Mankato, to discuss their bonding request for replacing Armstrong Hall. With 267 students from my district attending Mankato State, we also talked about ways to better support these students and ensure they have the resources they need to succeed. I’m committed to advocating for the continued growth and success of our local education institutions and the students who benefit from them. Go Mavericks! Minnesota Citizens for the Arts I held a meeting with representatives from Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA), a statewide organization dedicated to advocating for the arts and ensuring all Minnesotans have access to and involvement in the arts. They thanked me for my continued support of legacy funds that benefit land, water, parks, trails, and the arts. We also discussed efforts to support youth scholarships, helping to provide young people with opportunities in arts education. I remain committed to supporting initiatives that enrich our communities and give future generations the chance to thrive creatively. Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts I had the privilege of meeting with representatives from the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (MASWCD) during their "Day on the Hill." MASWCD represents the soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs) across Minnesota and advocates for programs that enhance conservation efforts to protect our natural resources. We discussed the vital work these districts are doing to manage soil and water resources, improve water quality, and promote sustainable land management practices. I’m proud to support policies that strengthen conservation programs and ensure Minnesota’s environment remains healthy for future generations. |