LEGISLATION HIGHLIGHTSATTACKING RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS Last year, Democrats passed a bill giving gender identity its own category under the Minnesota Human Rights Act, instead of including it within the definition of sexual orientation. When that happened, there was no corresponding religious exemption added, which leaves faith-based schools and religious organizations open to claims of gender identity discrimination. Such an exemption would ensure that religious organizations and faith-based schools can hire teachers and ministers consistent with their mission and values. One faith-based school is already facing a complaint at the Department of Human Rights because of this lack of an exemption. There is a diverse coalition of religious groups that have come forward with serious concerns, including several Christian schools, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, and the Islamic Center of Minnesota. Unfortunately, Democrats on the committee voted the amendment down. Please click on the picture below to watch a video made by my colleague, Walter Hudson. Your religious constitutional rights are now under attack, and the actions by House Democrats prove this was intentional.  INCOMPLETE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE INFO LEADS TO A DEMOCRAT VICTORY LAP In our House Education Finance Committee recently, Democrats patted themselves on the back for their recent unemployment insurance (UI) legislation that, inevitably, is going to cause significant financial harm to our schools. They pointed to data showing that schools have only spent 1/3 of the of the expected amount of UI cost estimates. Problem: they didn’t bother to mention that, for one reason or another, many of the schools have not reported their UI expense, leaving a “0” in their column which obviously drives down the totals. I spoke to a local school district recently and was told that next year it will spend at least three times as much as the state estimate. Hardly the wild success Democrats are claiming. Click on the picture below to hear my committee comments on the unemployment insurance fiasco.  LATEST DEMOCRAT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT BILL WOULD MAKE MINNESOTA A SANCTUARY STATE On the heels of Minnesota Democrats giving illegal immigrants free drivers’ licenses, free college, and free health care, comes news that they’re not finished catering to those who are not in this state legally. The latest Democrat brainchild would make Minnesota a sanctuary state, prohibiting local or state law enforcement from assisting federal agencies in immigration cases. Let’s review why this radical idea is giving many lawmakers heartburn. According to the Washington Post, when President Biden rolled back many President Trump-era restrictions at the border, crossings by illegal immigrants skyrocketed. Since then, the number of people taken into custody by the U.S. Border Patrol has reached the highest levels in the agency’s 100-year history, averaging 2 million per year. And that only includes the number of illegals the agency was able to count! Heaven only knows how many thousands or millions have entered during President Biden’s tenure without a second glance. And it’s not just poor families from Mexico looking for better lives. The overwhelming majority are men who are crossing without family members. And they are not just from Latin America, as Chinese and Russian aliens have also been spotted at the southern border. Instead of sending these people home, many of them are being shipped to sanctuary cities and states in other parts of the country, and they have struggled with the surge in illegal immigration. It has caused tremendous strain on their housing, education, food shelves, health care, public safety, and other resources. And now, Democrats want to make Minnesota a haven for illegal immigrants at a time of crisis with our southern border hemorrhaging. Furthermore, according to the Minnesota Department of Health, fentanyl is now involved in 92 percent of all opioid-involved deaths and 62 percent of overdose deaths in Minnesota. We need to work with federal authorities to stop the flow of drugs like fentanyl across our borders and making Minnesota a sanctuary state would undermine those efforts. Minnesotans do not support this extreme policy. A recent KSTP/Survey USA poll found making Minnesota a sanctuary state was opposed by 54% of respondents, while only 28% agree with the idea. With – at least – 8 million new illegal immigrants taking advantage of President Biden’s chaotic border policies, it’s time for Minnesota Democrat lawmakers to recognize enough is enough when it comes to their prioritization of residents who shouldn’t be here in the first place. Minnesotans want a secure border. Minnesotans want immigrants vetted so we know who is moving into our neighborhoods. Minnesotans are already strained as one of the highest taxed states and cannot afford this expansion of government. Minnesotans overwhelmingly do not want their state turned into a magnet for illegal immigration that failed elsewhere. Please let your voice be heard on these important issues. LOCAL VISITORS It was great to see many locals in St. Paul! Dave Lewey of Lake City was here as a representative of the Minnesota Educational Facilities Management Professionals Association.  Members of the Wabasha & Goodhue County Soil & Water District also visited.  A.B.A.T.E. Day at the Capitol brought motorcyclists from the Lake City chapter.  Zoe Jesh of Cannon Falls also stopped by. She’s a senior at Gustavus Adolphus.  Joe Garten of Cannon Falls was here to discuss trapping issues.  I also visited with local MnDOT officials.  As well as representatives of the Red Wing School District.  Thanks to everyone who stopped by! |