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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Pam Altendorf (R)

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Rep. Altendorf Legislative Update

Friday, May 3, 2024

WHAT'S NEW?

 

FUTURE FORECAST: 20 YEARS?

 

The three-legged stool that is the Democrat trifecta in Minnesota’s government is a bit wobbly thanks to alleged criminal activity from a state senator.

Senator Nicole Mitchell was arrested and charged with first-degree burglary charges in Detroit Lakes on April 22nd. Mitchell is a former meteorologist and a Democrat, and the Democrats hold a one seat majority in the Minnesota Senate.

 

Information found in the police report and the 9-1-1 call regarding this incident are of the ‘you cannot make this stuff up’ variety.

 

Law enforcement received a call around 4:45 a.m. from the homeowner stating someone had broken into her house. The victim, who is Sen. Mitchell’s stepmother, told the officer that she found the suspect NEXT TO HER BED, and that the suspect had run into the basement.

 

In a story that aired last night, Mitchell’s mother-in-law spoke with KSTP-TV about the incident. To hear more of what she had to say about the break-in, and what she actually thinks of Sen. Mitchell (“I think she meant me physical harm. There’s no other reason to be on the floor of my room.”) click here. It is well worth your time.

 

As the story noted, in the basement, the officer found a suspect dressed entirely in black clothing, with a black hat, and a flashlight that was covered by a black sock. They also found a backpack stuck in a basement window. In it, law enforcement found Mitchell’s Senate identification, driver's license, Tupperware, and two laptops, one belonging to her stepmom. 

 

When later questioned about the laptop, she claimed that her stepmother had lent it to her. She also said, “Clearly, I’m not very good at this.” When officers asked the victim, she stated that she had not given the laptop to Mitchell.

 

She later admitted to driving her vehicle from Woodbury, leaving at 1:00 a.m., to Detroit Lakes, and entering through her stepmother’s window.

 

Other comments Sen. Mitchell made at the scene according to police documents include: “I know I did something bad,” and “I was just trying to get a couple of my dad’s things because you wouldn’t talk to me anymore."

 

Mitchell is charged with a felony - first-degree burglary – and could receive a sentence between six months and 20 years if convicted.

 

After getting out of jail, Mitchell’s story COMPLETELY changed, claiming her stepmother suffers from Alzheimer’s and associated paranoia. She said that she received medical information that caused her “grave concern” and prompted her to check on a relative, entering the home the same way she had for the past 20 years and unfortunately startled her stepmother.

 

Right.

 

All reasonable minds would agree that this is not a good look for anyone, much less someone elected to represent the voices of 85,000 people at the State Capitol. Most reasonable minds would agree that this is an individual that is no longer fit to serve in the Minnesota Senate. But politics are at play here, and if the 3rd leg of the Democrat trifecta falls, the Democrat agenda cannot stand.

 

Sen. Mitchell came back to work this week and has said nothing beyond her social media statements. Two motions that would have prohibited Mitchell from voting while a first-degree felony burglary charge has been filed against her failed. She was the deciding vote on both of them! She really looked like she was having a fine time.

It is clear that marching orders have been given, and that the Democrats are simply going to move full speed ahead with their agenda – and allow Sen. Mitchell to serve as the tiebreaking vote on every bill from here on out - as if there’s no reason for concern. 

 

It’s disgusting. It’s embarrassing. But unfortunately, it’s not surprising.

 

LEGISLATION HIGHLIGHTS

 

We are in the final stretch. This means long days. Following are the times I got to bed approximately this week: Monday 1:00 a.m., Tuesday 1:30 a.m., Wednesday 1:45 a.m. and Thursday 2:20 a.m.

 

My husband, Kevin, forever the optimist, reminded me one morning, “Think about last year. They were doing these late nights to you starting in January.  This year it is just a few weeks.”


And, he is correct. Last year, with the giant agenda they had, they had us going 117 miles-per-hour starting the day after we were sworn in all the way through May. I also must say a great big thank you to Kevin. Every night when I come home and I open the fridge door (no matter how late it is) there is a plate sitting there for me of a very good homecooked meal that I can then heat up and eat before I try to fall asleep.

 

This week, Democrats have been slowly moving their omnibus spending bills to the House floor. The problem with omnibus bills is that they each contain several if not dozens of separate proposals. Some, on their own, would be worth supporting. Unfortunately, the lousy provisions typically outweigh the good, which is why I have been voting against them.

 

In addition, the Democrat assault on your 2nd Amendment rights continued this week. 

 

ASSAULT ON YOUR 2ND AMENDMENT RIGHTS

Last year, Democrats – who control both bodies of the legislature and the governor’s office - enacted “universal” background checks and red flag confiscation orders. Now, they have approved legislation that establishes an arbitrary deadline for reporting lost and stolen firearms, meaning a person could be charged – even though they are a crime victim – if they fail to report a stolen gun within 48 hours.

 

There’s also a bill that creates an expanded definition of trigger activators, which could make some firearms, including Glocks, illegal.

 

Finally, there is the proposal that would place additional burdens on law-abiding firearm owners, forcing them to store a gun unloaded and equipped with a locking device or loaded in a locked firearm store unit.

 

These bills now head to the Senate, where an alleged burglar – Sen. Mitchell – will cast the deciding vote as to whether they head to Governor Walz’s desk and become law.

 

UNFORTUNATELY, PALACE FOR POLITICIANS MOVING FORWARD

Democrats single-handedly approved legislation that spends $730 million on a new office building for House lawmakers and their staff – a palace for politicians. The first payment - $11 million - on this extravagant and unnecessary plan was due May 1, and House Republicans attempted to pause that project this week on the House floor. 

 

I was part of a press conference to announce the pause and to share my amendment that would redirect funding from the palace to the schools to help them with projects like roof repair. You can view the press conference here. My comments begin at roughly the 3-minute mark. KARE 11 also included the amendment I was offering in its story, which you can watch by clicking here.

 

STATE CAPITOL GUN RALLY

On Saturday I rode the bus with a group from Rochester to the gun rally at the State Capitol.

 

 

It was important for me to let people know that as long as Democrats are in charge of our state government, they will continue to chip away at your 2nd Amendment freedoms. As stated earlier, it happened last year, it happened this week, and it will continue to happen as long as they hold power.

 

 

My thanks to all who took time out of their busy schedules to travel to St. Paul and show their support for our right to bear arms.