Hello from the State Capitol,
On Monday, the Minnesota House unanimously approved legislation that removed the Housing Stabilization Services program from state law.
Fraud was running rampant in this program, which was supposed to help eligible recipients find housing. Launched in 2020, its estimated cost was roughly $2.5 million a year. Four years later, it had skyrocketed to a cost of more than $100 million.
Investigations found plenty of problems, including bribes, phony billing, falsifying records and billing people who were dead. This was the program that two fraudsters from Philadelphia were caught scamming, as they bragged it was a “good opportunity to make money.”
The bill now heads to the Minnesota Senate for further action.
$40 MILLION FOR RENTAL RELIEF?
The House refused to move legislation that would provide $40 million in rental assistance for “people impacted by Operation Metro Surge.” While there might be disagreement on how Operation Metro Surge was handled, this is being sold as an attempt to help those people who were too scared to go to work out of fear they were going to get deported and now do not have money to pay the rent, so state government should help them out.
So many questions with this bill, and none of them good. Would we be giving money to illegal immigrants for not going to work, who shouldn’t be in the country in the first place? Will we be giving money to people who took time off to go and protest, or worse, assault ICE agents and wreck property? What proof would need to be shown that legal Minnesotans were truly impacted and not trying to cash in on a state government giveaway? A program like this seems like a fraudster’s dream.
I think we can find better ways to spend the taxpayers’ money.
WORKING ON AFFORDABILITY
Everyone can feel it; groceries, childcare, housing, insurance, energy bills, and nearly everything else are getting more expensive. Unfortunately, state policies have added to the strain for many Minnesotans. Two years ago, Governor Walz and legislative leadership blew through an $18 billion surplus and raised taxes by $10 billion. Then there were less visible costs like a delivery fee, a new payroll tax, and mandates on local governments that are inevitably passed along to taxpayers.
I’m focused on changing course and lowering costs for families across our state. House Republicans have introduced a range of proposals aimed at making Minnesota a more affordable place to live, work, and raise a family. One proposal would repeal the delivery fee, eliminate taxes on Social Security income, and stop automatic gas tax increases. Others would work to reduce health care-related property tax pressures, remove taxes on tips and overtime pay, and lower registration fees for boats and vehicles.
LOCAL VISITS
I really appreciated having Peter Nelson and Bryanna Grefthen from the Pennington SWCD stop by this week.
It’s always refreshing to sit down with people who are genuinely plugged into what’s happening on the ground in our area. We ended up having a really engaging conversation about everything from soil health practices to how RIM easements are playing out locally and we even dug into the upcoming MPCA feedlot rulemaking and what it could mean for producers.
These kinds of visits are such a good reminder that local conservation work isn’t abstract policy — it’s real people working with real land, trying to make thoughtful decisions that balance productivity, stewardship, and long-term resilience. Hearing their perspectives helps keep the bigger picture grounded in what’s actually happening across our fields and communities.
I’m always grateful when folks from SWCD take the time to share what they’re seeing and hearing around the region. It makes a difference.
I also appreciated the members of the Roseau County Landowners Coalition making the trip to St. Paul to share their perspectives.
The Roseau Lake Rehabilitation Project is a long-running effort aimed at addressing water management challenges in the region, including reducing flood impacts and improving habitat conditions. Like many large watershed projects, it has a lot of moving parts and affects people in different ways, so hearing directly from those who live and work on the land is incredibly valuable.
Thanks again to the coalition members for taking the time to meet and advocate for their community. Their willingness to show up and engage helps ensure that local voices remain part of the conversation as the project continues to be discussed.
It was great to spend time with Bemidji State University President John Hoffman
ADawn Nelson, Northland’s Dean of Academic Affairs, and seeing former Senator Roger Moe at St. Paul College to support our local colleges and universities.
Thanks to everyone who came together to highlight the important role our institutions play in supporting students and building a strong regional workforce. Bemidji State University, Northwest Technical College, and Northland Community and Technical College all make a real difference in communities across Northern Minnesota, and I truly value the work you’re doing to meet both today’s needs and the challenges ahead.