 Neighbors, As a reminder, you’re invited to my town hall tomorrow! I’m really excited to be hosting an issue-focused event on transgender rights this Saturday, April 26th, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. My colleague and friend Rep. Leigh Finke, along with Carin Mrotz and Allan Aguilar from Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office, will be joining me at Westwood Hills Nature Center (830 W Franklin Ave., St. Louis Park, MN 55426). Trans people have been under attack by the Trump administration, as well as in many states around the country, simply for existing. Within Minnesota, we’ve already seen many harmful anti-trans bills introduced this session. We’ll talk about how we’re pushing back in Minnesota and what’s going on around the country. All constituents are invited to attend. I hope you can make it!  Honoring Earth Day with Action and UrgencyApril 22nd marked Earth Day—a time to reflect on the responsibility we share to protect this planet we all call home. This year, I’m reminded more than ever that climate change doesn’t care about politics, partisanship, or polls. The laws of physics aren’t swayed by opinion—they respond only to action or inaction. The truth is clear: we must act boldly, urgently, and with unwavering focus, at all levels of government. Every delay, every denial, only deepens the crisis we are facing now and that our children and grandchildren will inherit. And yet, President Trump continues to disregard, deny, and downplay the climate crisis and focus our energy policy on fossil fuels. This is an absolute betrayal of our kids and grandkids. Not only is this morally indefensible, it is also economically suspect, to say the least. Extreme weather caused by climate change is already costing the U.S. $150B per year. And there are so many other costs. And, one of the most exciting and high growth markets of this century is renewable energy. It is expected to grow from $1.4 Trillion annually today to $2.5 Trillion by 2033. Here in Minnesota, we can—and must—lead the way. From investing in clean energy to protecting our natural resources, we’ve made great progress. I’m committed to doing everything I can to ensure we protect this progress and expand climate protections. Earth Day isn’t just a celebration. It’s a renewed call to action. Minnesota Making Progress on Clean Energy In 2023 and 2024, DFLers made generational investments in a cleaner, cheaper, and more efficient energy system, putting Minnesota on the path to 100% Carbon-Free Energy by 2040. The latest Minnesota Energy Factsheet shows our policies are working and our investments are paying off, creating high-paying clean energy jobs, lowering costs for families, and building a greener future: ? A new record low in carbon emissions, cutting another 4% between 2023 and 2024. ? Residents and businesses have saved more than $307 million in energy costs from the Energy Conservation Optimization (ECO) Act. ? Minnesota is ranked No. 1 in Midwest for overall energy efficiency, and No. 10 nationwide! Here at the Capitol, I’m dedicated to protecting our progress from those who are seeking to repeal the legislation that made this positive change possible. Investing In Our World-Class State Parks In 2023, DFLers passed the largest-ever investment in our environment and natural resources, including improving our world-class state park system. From new and upgraded bridges and trails, redesigned campsites, and improved accessibility at state parks, we’re making sure that current and future generations of Minnesotans can enjoy our great outdoors. Check out this article to learn more about how we’re strengthening the outdoor experience all around our state. Protecting Yourself: Fraud Prevention Resources Text, email, and social media scams are becoming more sophisticated and more prevalent. If you’re like me, you probably have gotten some of these scam texts that say you need to pay a toll or confirm a payment--it's important to be skeptical of such texts. Those E-Z Pass texts are scams, and MnDOT has issued a fraud warning here with resources in case you accidentally click a link. In addition, Attorney General Keith Ellison has some resources on How to Spot a Scam with helpful examples and a list of common scams. If you have concerns about a particular offer or believe you are the victim of a scam, the Attorney General wants to hear from you. You may call at (651) 296-3353 (Twin Cities Calling Area) or (800) 657-3787 (Outside the Twin Cities), or submit a Consumer Assistance Request Form.  Meanwhile, here at the Legislature, we are working on bills to support the Attorney General’s work cracking down on fraud in the public and private sectors. Some proposals include stiffer penalties on Medicaid fraudsters, a fraud investigation unit within the state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, fighting against employer misclassification fraud, and protecting veterans from claim sharks, those who seek to scam Veterans by profiting off the benefits they earned in service to our country. |