 Dear Neighbors, It’s hard to believe we are less than a month away from the end of the legislative session. It has been a privilege to serve our community at the Capitol. Honesty and transparency are important to me. As your state representative, I want to inform you about what is happening at the legislature and how it could impact communities across our state. Early this session, families and survivors of the Annunciation School Shooting came to the Capitol to share testimony on their heartbreaking tragedy, recounting one of the worst days of their lives. These parents and survivors are demanding change and urging lawmakers to pass gun violence prevention measures to prevent future tragedies, save the lives of innocent children, and increase public safety. In the end, every Republican voted against banning high-capacity magazines and assault weapons. It is important for me to note, what was beyond concerning was when GOP Rep. Ron Kresha (R-Little Falls), who is the Education Finance Chair, attempted to end the session on March 25 by making a motion to adjourn sine die. My DFL colleagues and I defeated the attempt to adjourn on a 72-58 vote. We have a moral obligation to do our jobs and represent our constituents at the Capitol to ensure we are passing laws that will make their lives better and protect their children from gun violence. With just weeks left before the session ends, Republicans are trying to save face by introducing a ‘Safe Schools’ proposal that does nothing to address the real root cause and leading cause of death for young people: guns. Another critical proposal that Republicans voted against funding is the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System for schools statewide. The reporting system is a free, 24/7, national school safety program that enables students and adults to anonymously report, via app, website, or hotline, potential threats of violence, self-harm, or bullying which notifies school officials and law enforcement to intervene. It is disturbing that Republicans would rather harden schools and expect teachers to put their lives on the line to protect our students— then defaulting to criminalizing five-year-olds—rather than addressing the gun violence epidemic. We must act now to pass commonsense firearm safety measures. This isn't just a political debate—it’s what the Minnesotans want. A recent poll shows 69 percent of Minnesotans support a ban on assault-style weapons, including 79 percent of suburban residents and 62 percent of those in Greater Minnesota. Even among Republicans, support for a ban stands at 46 percent.  Fraud Prevention Addressing fraud and holding bad actors accountable has been a top priority for my DFL colleagues and me throughout the session. We have introduced good-faith policies that tackle these issues and hold fraudsters accountable while strengthening program integrity. In shaping our Human Services Finance bill package, I was disappointed that the GOP voted down an amendment to invest in our Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU). Compared to other states, Minnesota's MFCU has an impeccable track record of prosecuting fraudsters. This should have been an easy vote to ensure funding for a credible program dedicated to fighting for Minnesotans. Instead, the GOP voted against this proposal without offering any ideas of their own; they instead spent the session using press conferences and social media clickbait to appeal to an echo chamber. The GOP-led Fraud Prevention Committee is focused more on using fraud as a political talking point rather than doing anything meaningful to address fraud in our state. They are willing to let our elders and vulnerable community members lose services and life-saving treatment as a means to an end. This is not leadership; it’s a sham, and Minnesotans deserve better than this political theatre. Impact of Operation Metro Surge While the headlines have moved on, Minnesotans and communities are still reeling from the trauma and financial impact of Operation Metro Surge. No matter where you stand on the political spectrum you cannot deny the federal overreach and unconstitutional actions of ICE and federal agents. These cases are now being adjudicated in the courts—and even the judges are confirming what we saw with our own eyes. It is important to recognize the number of immigrants who have died while in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody has reached an all-time high this fiscal year under the Trump administration, making it one of the deadliest on record from any president. These deaths are a heartbreaking loss of life. These individuals had families and dreams of freedom; to treat their lives so disposably is dehumanizing and a stain on our shared humanity. Throughout session, my colleagues and I introduced several proposals to safeguard Minnesotans’ civil and human rights against ICE and federal immigration agents to ensure something of this scale does not ever happen again. We all deserve to live peacefully, and our communities deserve to thrive and be celebrated for the diversity and cultural vibrancy that makes us the North Star—a beacon of hope for the rest of the nation. This fight is far from over. I will continue working with my colleagues and community leaders to ensure we provide relief and support to all our neighbors recovering from this militarized operation that attempted to dismantle our state.  Saving HCMC I cannot emphasize enough how detrimental it would be to our state and the Upper Midwest region if HCMC closes its doors. It would completely destabilize our entire healthcare system, forcing families to make impossible decisions regarding their loved ones and their livelihoods. To say it would be catastrophic is not hyperbole. Currently, Democrats have proposed reallocating a "Ballpark Tax" to raise revenue in Hennepin County, providing immediate relief to the hospital so it can stabilize. This is just one option on the table as conversations continue. My focus is not just on what we can do, but what we must do in a bipartisan manner to save HCMC. Lives are on the line, and we have to get serious about solutions to address a crisis of this magnitude. Keep in Touch Please continue to reach out to my office if you have any questions or want to discuss the issues that matter to you. As I reflect on this legislative session, I am not discouraged by the GOP resistance; it clearly showed where they stand and which side of history they want to leave as their legacy. I remain committed to fighting for every one of you and ensuring you have the tools and resources to not only survive, but to thrive. Our children deserve nothing less. I look forward to our continued partnership and collaboration to make our district and state better for generations to come. I value hearing from you, so call or email any time at rep.athena.hollins@house.mn.gov or call my office at 651-296-4224. You can also follow my official Facebook page. In community, Rep. Athena Hollins Minnesota House of Representatives Legislative Assistant: Emma Erdahl emma.erdahl@house.mn.gov |