Dear Friends,
This week, the Minnesota House continued to approve House budget bills. Transportation, higher education, housing, commerce, veterans, and state government were all on the docket this week. With the current tie situation in the House, all of these bills were developed in a bipartisan manner with equal input from both sides. Obviously, if either Republicans or Democrats were in full control of the House, these plans would look significantly different.
Passing these proposals is the first step in the budget setting process, and House and Senate negotiations on these bills will soon begin. Many changes will take place in all of these bills between now and the end of session.
ATTORNEY GENERAL ELLISON UNDER FIRE OVER INVOLVEMENT IN FEEDING OUR FUTURE SCANDAL
Attorney General Keith Ellison faced the Minnesota House Fraud Committee this week to discuss his seeming connections to individuals later charged in the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud case — the largest in state history.
Not long ago, leaked audio surfaced of Ellison meeting with members of Minnesota’s East African business community, some of whom were later indicted or convicted for their roles in the Feeding Our Future scam. In the recording, Ellison is heard expressing concern for those under investigation and even offering to pressure state agencies on their behalf.
This raises serious ethical concerns, particularly as Ellison, in his role as Attorney General, is expected to uphold the law and protect the integrity of state investigations — not interfere with them.
During his testimony, Ellison contradicted his earlier public statements made by his office in 2022 where he claimed he “jumpstarted” the Feeding Our Future investigation and had been “deeply involved for two years.” Yet Ellison recently testified he had no knowledge of the fraud during a December 2021 meeting with individuals later implicated in the scheme.
Even more troubling, separate audio from June 2021 suggests Ellison was aware of issues surrounding Feeding Our Future well before that meeting, casting further doubt on his claims.
This is very troubling. Minnesotans deserve to feel confident that our government is here for them and fighting FOR them – not against them.
Fraud is a serious concern. Our state agencies need to be on top of things. At best, the Attorney General’s questionable meeting with the Feeding Our Future folks puts him, and his office, in a negative light when it comes to their ability to recognize and put a stop to the incessant fraud that is occurring in this state.
HOUSE BILL REQUIRING VIOLENT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO BE REPORTED TO ICE FAILS ON TIE VOTE
A bill designed to build cooperation between federal immigration authorities and local law enforcement who deal with violent criminals who are in this country illegally was voted down in the Minnesota House. Unfortunately, it received no support from my colleagues across the aisle.
This commonsense public safety measure would require local law enforcement to notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when an illegal immigrant is arrested for or convicted of a violent crime. This proposal was inspired by the federal Laken Riley Act, which mandates similar actions for illegal immigrants who admit to, are charged with, or convicted of certain violent crimes. Riley was a student who was violently murdered by an individual who was in this county illegally and had a history of previous criminal charges in other states.
The House bill specifically called for ICE notification (while due process for the individual remains) in cases involving serious offenses such as murder, assault, carjacking, and kidnapping. It also seeks to prevent local jurisdictions from enacting sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
The House bill failed on a tie vote, with all Republicans voting in favor and all Democrats opposed.
This vote is very concerning. Why should Individuals who are in this country illegally and have committed violent crimes, rapes, murders, etc. be allowed to stay here to commit more violent crimes and continue to harm people? They should not be allowed to remain here. We have enough crime in our state without importing it. This bill should have passed unanimously. I’m sorry that it did not.
Have a good weekend,
Peggy