WHAT’S NEW?
The Easter holiday has ended, and I hope you were able to enjoy some time with family and friends. Over break my whole family got away to Florida. I relished the time with my husband, kids and 2 grandbabies!
Lawmakers returned to the State Capitol on Tuesday. With only 5 weeks left in session, it’s time for the partisanship to end so we can approve legislation that is needed in the State of Minnesota.
Recently, Senator Drazkowski and I were featured in a KTTC news story on the current stalemate. Click here to watch. I was also featured in this MPR story this week.
LEGISLATIVE NEWS
BILL PROHIBITING BOYS FROM PLAYING IN GIRLS SPORTS FAILS DUE TO UNANIMOUS DEMOCRAT OPPOSITION
A plan that would prevent boys in Minnesota from playing in girls’ sports received a full House floor debate this week. The bill, which I’m co-authoring, is necessary as the U.S. Department of Justice recently sued Minnesota for violating the Title IX law, which prevents sex-based discrimination in any education program or activity that receives federal funding.
This state continues to defy common sense by forcing girls to compete in athletic events against boys who want to identify as female. We’re not looking to stop any child from playing a sport, but the Preserving Girls Sports Act does seek to ensure fairness and safety for girls who want to play in girls’ athletic events.
Specifically, the House bill states that only students of the female sex (as assigned at birth) may participate in an elementary or secondary school athletic team or sport that an educational institution has restricted on the basis of sex to women or girls. If there is a dispute, a student must present a signed physician’s statement indicating the student’s sex is based solely on the student’s internal and external anatomy, natural occurring level of testosterone, and an analysis of the student’s chromosomes.
The bill received a full vote of the Minnesota House on April 7. All 67 Republicans voted for the proposal, and all 66 Democrats voted against it. Because 68 votes are needed for legislation to be approved in the Minnesota House, the Preserving Girls Sports Act failed to pass by one vote.
Roughly 80% of Minnesotans believe boys should not take part in girls’ sports, yet not one House Democrat was brave enough to buck their party bosses and end sex-based discrimination in this state.
“WEALTH TAX” WILL DRIVE WEALTHY OUT OF MINNESOTA
Democrats are out to “tax the rich” again. Their latest proposal would implement a “wealth tax” that would include property. In other words, think farmland.
The scheme would raise $288 million, which when compared to our $66 billion state budget is miniscule. But, it would target the wealthy, which is what Democrats do, and give them a new pot of money to spend, which is also what they do.
Problem: all that rich Minnesotans would have to do is buy a house in another state and shift the locations of their assets, and they avoid the tax altogether. Who would then make up the difference for that lost revenue? You and me.
Minnesota already has a high top marginal income tax rate structure, as the top bracket is 9.85%. Layering an annual wealth tax on top of a high-income tax environment invites an “outlier state” narrative and makes it easier for opponents to frame Minnesota as hostile to investors, entrepreneurs, and retained capital.
Minnesota does not have an incoming revenue problem. It has a significant spending problem. A wealth tax does nothing to address it, but it would contribute to driving large employers out of this state.
Rep. Patti Anderson made some good points during the Taxes committee hearing on this bill. Click here to watch.
LOCAL VISITS
As part of “Hospitality Day at the Capitol,” I met with several constituents representing the Saint James Hotel and Welch Village. Thanks for stopping by!
