Han Mitákuye Owási? (Hello all my relations), 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. On March 25, GOP Rep. Ron Kresha (R-Little Falls), who is the Education Finance Chair, attempted to end the session by making a motion to adjourn sine die. My DFL colleagues and I defeated the attempt to adjourn on a 72-58 vote. Republicans would rather go home without addressing the many crises our state is facing like housing instability, food insecurity, economic recovery post-Operation Metro Surge, the potential closure of Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC), and the federal government jeopardizing our pristine Boundary Waters for foreign mining. Minnesotans have been through enough, yet we’re facing blow after blow from this federal administration. What Minnesotans need right now are fearless leaders willing to act with courage and bravery—leaders who will set aside party politics to make decisions from the heart. 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. Protect Our Boundary Waters Last week, the US Senate revoked a 20-year mineral withdrawal protecting 225,378 acres of public lands in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA) watershed from toxic mining on 50-49 vote. The move was led by Minnesota Republican Pete Stauber paves the way to permanent pollution from a proposed sulfide-ore copper-nickel mine that Chilean mining giant Antofagasta has long sought to develop directly upstream of the Boundary Waters through its subsidiary, Twin Metals. I was proud to stand with my Senate and House colleagues to speak out against the recent overturning of the Boundary Waters mining ban. If we protect the water, she will protect us. This is not just a fight for legislators; it's a fight for all Minnesotans. We must use our collective power and voices to take care of our natural relatives. Watch our press conference here. I also had a great conversation with Cathy Wurzer on MPR News about the importance of protecting our Boundary Waters and upholding tribal sovereignty, take a listen to the interview here.  Our Native American Caucus also released the following statement:  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. Earlier this month, my SD 47 colleagues and I issued a public statement standing in solidarity with residents against local ICE activity. In response to a community petition, we are calling on the council to adopt a resolution opposing any ICE detention centers and prohibiting the use of Woodbury city property as ICE staging facilities.  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. 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. Watch the committee hearing here. Stay Connected Thank you again for the privilege of serving as your State Representative; I will continue to work hard to ensure your voice and your passions are realized here in the House. 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. You can also "follow" and "like" my new official Facebook page to stay up to date on the daily happenings at the Capitol. To share your input or ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance, please feel free to reach out at rep.shelley.buck@house.mn.gov or 651-296-7807, and I will be happy to help. Pidamayayepi (thank you to all of you), Rep. Shelley Buck (Bdewakantunwan Dakota) Minnesota House of Representatives (47A) |