Dear Friends and Neighbors, I hope this finds you well. I wanted to share an update about our situation at the Minnesota House. Last week, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that the Republicans’ attempted power grab in the Minnesota House was invalid. Therefore, every action they took since January 14th was unconstitutional. At the heart of our quorum denial is the Republicans’ stated desire to try to overturn the election of Brad Tabke, whom voters in Shakopee elected, and whose election was certified and affirmed by a court. It would be an appalling and unprecedented abuse of power to throw out an election and disenfranchise the 22,000 Minnesotans who voted in Shakopee in November.  Minnesota voters sent an equally divided House to St. Paul at 67-67, showing they want both parties to work together. We've offered a straightforward solution: Republicans can lead while there's a temporary vacancy in district 40B, and we'll share governance if we return to an even split after the special election. We believe this respects both the current situation and the voters' wishes for balanced leadership, but Republicans have yet to so much as return to the table to find a compromise. In the meantime, I've been focusing my energy on serving our district directly. These past weeks have been filled with meaningful community work, and I'm grateful for every opportunity to help our neighbors, even as we await a resolution with our Republican colleagues. Recently, I welcomed some of my Metro area colleagues on the Housing committee to tour affordable housing developments in Rochester, attended the Olmsted County Township Officers meeting, attended a presentation on land use in the county, and joined colleagues and leaders from Clay County for a meeting on Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs), which provide inpatient care for children and adolescents with complex mental health conditions. Through all of this, my commitment to our community hasn't wavered. I'm continuing to work diligently on the issues that matter most to you - ensuring access to affordable housing, reducing costs for working families, protecting our essential freedoms, and building a brighter future for all Minnesotans. Stay Connected with the LegislaturePlease continue to reach out with any input, ideas, or feedback about the issues important to you. I value hearing from you, so call or email any time. You can find my information on my House website. You can also like my Facebook page. It is an honor to represent you at the State Capitol. Sincerely, Kim Hicks State Representative |