Dear Neighbor,
Senate Democrats this week made it clear they agree with House Democrats and Gov. Tim Walz in their belief the state’s views trump your religious freedoms.
There are some things you just don’t mess with in America, and religious freedom is at the top of the list. This could very well be the biggest infringement Democrats have committed against Minnesotans in recent memory – and that’s saying a lot considering the radical, activist-driven agenda Democrats have forced on the people of our state the past 14 months.
In late February, House Democrats voted down a measure I authored to restore a religious freedom provision that was deleted from state law last year. The issue resurfaced in the Senate when the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee convened around dinnertime Monday with Minnesota Human Rights Act legislation on the agenda. After first spending several hours on a series of unserious bills, it was not until after 1 a.m. Tuesday when Senate Democrats defeated the companion language to my proposal, this time offered by Sen. Warren Limmer.
The Senate amendment was voted down along party lines, just as when I proposed it in the House.
The Senate Democrats had a chance to restore the law to our long-held consensus that religious communities in Minnesota have the autonomy to decide questions of faith. House Democrats, Senate Democrats and Gov. Walz had more than two weeks to step back off the ledge and do what’s right for Minnesotans. Instead, they only further entrenched themselves in their radical position that your religious freedoms take a back seat to the state’s rule, and the separation of church and state no longer exists in Minnesota.
Before last year, when gender identity was included (or subsumed) within the MHRA definition of sexual orientation, the still-existing religious exemption for sexual orientation covered gender identity claims as well. When a new, separate definition of gender identity was created last year, there was no corresponding religious exemption added. This issue caused alarm among Minnesota’s faith community and I worked with religious leaders to craft an amendment to MHRA legislation S.F. 4292. House Democrats and Senate Democrats then voted to keep that language off the overriding bill.
This likely isn’t the last word on this issue, so please stay tuned.
Full-time Legislature
House Democrats are now pushing legislation that would make Minnesota the 11th state to have a full-time Legislature.
The last thing our state needs is for professional politicians to spend more time in St. Paul writing bills and slipping further out of touch with their constituencies. Maybe the best thing about our current system is legislators leave the Capitol and spend at least half the year back in their home districts, remaining connected with their communities and often working at jobs outside of politics.
Public safety
House Republicans conducted a press conference this week to call for hearings to take place as soon as possible for a series of several bills we have authored to support our law enforcement officers, hold criminals accountable and keep our communities safe. These bills have been specifically requested by our partners in law enforcement.
The brave men and women who wear that uniform every day and put their lives on the line to protect and serve deserve to have the resources they need to do their jobs effectively. But, at the same time, we need to pass laws that enhance public safety by cracking down on crime, catching dangerous offenders and ensuring the criminals are fully held accountable.
We know that public safety should be one of the highest priorities of government. And these hearings that we are requesting would allow a full public discussion of policy proposals that would uphold law and order here in Minnesota.
Meanwhile, the state budget enacted last year did include $300 million in one-time aid for law enforcement agencies. While I am pleased these dollars were provided for local law enforcement, Democrats included fine print which restricts how this money can be used to the following:
- Community violence prevention and? intervention programs
- Community engagement
- Mental health crisis responses
- Victim? services
- Training programs
- First responder wellness
- Equipment related to fire, rescue, and? emergency services
- To pay other personnel or equipment costs
Tactical vehicles, for instance, do not qualify, even though we continue seeing instances where they could save lives. Neither does something as practical as improving lighting to increase safety.
On the other hand, one of the bills House Republicans propose (H.F. 4837) would allow more flexibility in how public safety aid is used by local governments so they can meet their specific needs. Our citizens and law enforcement officers alike deserve no less.
House Republicans also recently moved to declare urgency and act on a bill (H.F. 548) to increase the penalty for transferring a firearm to an ineligible person, aka, “straw man” purchases. Our move coincided with the recent news an indictment has been filed against someone who allegedly acted as a straw purchaser of the weapons used in the shooting of three first responders in Burnsville. Unfortunately, the House majority voted down our effort to take urgent action on this bill.
Watch for more from the Capitol soon, including as the religious freedom issue evolves. Have a good weekend and please stay in touch.
Sincerely,
Harry