As we start to thaw out from the cold, democrats in the house continue to freeze our agenda, while forcing their flawed S.A.F.E act through the house. However, despite the gridlock I had my first bill hearing on HF675. This bill works to improve our State’s medical cannabis program, which over 22,000 Minnesotans have used. It also requires the Commissioner of Health to request an exemption from the DEA to allow medical cannabis to be considered to have medical value at the federal level, so the medical manufacturers can be treated fairly on their federal income tax. Minnesota’s medical cannabis program is not functioning well, and many patients, including thousands of veterans, do not have access. 

Governor Walz, and the Democrats continue to push his California style car mandates through the house. These mandates would require Minnesota to invest more heavily in the Electric (EV) market. They would start with requiring state vehicles to make the switch first. This would include school buses, dump trucks, and other heavy duty vehicles. While electric versions of these vehicles exist the process of manufacturing them is costly in more ways than one.

Walz Gives our kids the “Gift” of Education

This Past Wednesday Walz announced that he is allowing middle and high school students the opportunity to attend in person classes starting February 22nd. Walz expects all schools to offer their students some form of in-person learning by March 8. Minnesota has made progress getting vaccines into Minnesotans’ arms, surpassing 940,000 doses administered to over 695,000 people. Nearly 25 percent of teachers and 40 percent of seniors have been vaccinated. Which is an improvement over the Governors botched vaccine rollout, but that is only 79% of the over 1.2 million vaccines the state has already received.

The State of Minnesota has prioritized vaccines and COVID-19 testing for school staff. Next week, educators will have access to more than 18,000 vaccine doses at state vaccine sites and more through other providers. In the Governor's press conference he expressed how this is like a “gift” to our children for having thanksgiving and Christmas canceled on top of losing out on sports, school events, and socialization. This isn’t a gift, it's a right granted to our kids under the constitution. Walz continues to ignore what's best for Minnesota.

DFL Forces S.A.F.E Act to a Vote

A few weeks ago Governor Walz held a press conference to discuss creating a SAFE Account which would provide $35 million of taxpayer dollars for security to keep protests and riots under control after the jury releases its verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial in Minneapolis. Yesterday Democrats forced the bill to the floor for its second reading. 

You may remember last week the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, Minnesota Sheriffs Association, and the Minnesota Police Chiefs Association said they were concerned over the bill regardless of what form it leaves the house. Just before the bill was heard they released another statement saying they still had concerns but thanks to some amendments they were neutral on its current form. This is a bill designed to help law enforcement and the best the legislature can produce is a bill they have no opinion on.  

The actions of Minneapolis' City Council to reduce the size and defund their police department have consequences and this past week the mayor said Minneapolis is down 200 police officers compared with 2019. We cannot place Minnesota taxpayers on the hook for millions of dollars thanks to the poor judgment of the Governor and the Mayor of Minneapolis. 

There are several other reasons I cannot support this House DFL proposal, including the unilateral authority it gives the DPS Commissioner to decide how reimbursements are determined, the expanded scope of costs eligible for reimbursement (including planning and after-action reporting), and the proposed creation by the POST Board of model policies that create new guidelines and consequences for responding law enforcement.

“California” Green Energy First Bill

On Thursday the Climate and Energy Committee heard “idea” bills on how we can move Minnesota inline with the Governor's proposal to be carbon neutral by 2040. These bills all aimed at making Electric Vehicles (EV’s) more accessible in the state. As a first step they are seeking to require Minnesota’s state fleet to purchase more EV’s, eventually moving the entire fleet to Ev’s. These would include school buses, snow plows and even dump trucks. These vehicles are costly to build, and purchase in and of themselves using the traditional “going out of style” combustion engine; according to the bill's supporters. Requiring them to use these massive batteries would cost the taxpayer hundreds of thousands each purchase. Not to mention when one breaks the repair costs, and expertise required to maintain them would be immense. 

The most concerning part is the blatant ignorance of those supporting the bill to the actual cost of building and maintaining these EV trucks. I am not just talking about the raw materials but the process by which they are mined and shipped to the US as well. In fact, over 80% of electric cars sold globally utilized permanent magnet-based motors in 2019. These magnets are typically made with rare-earth materials such as neodymium and dysprosium, which have a very geographically constrained supply chain. China accounts for the vast majority of rare-earth production worldwide and this has, in the past, led to huge price volatility. In 2011, after China restricted its exports of rare-earths, the price of neodymium and dysprosium rose by approximately 750% and 2000% respectively.

These elements are limited and primarily run by chinese companies operating in third world countries that still use slave labor, and child laborers to work in the dangerous mines. Not only are the materials used in the production of these vehicles unethical but we would be dangerously reliant on volatile Chinese corporations and markets. I brought forward an amendment to an energy bill in committee which simply banned taxpayer money from being used to subsidize products mined using child slavery and all Republicans voted Yes and every Democrat voted No.

Vaccination Update

If you’ve been wondering when you can receive your COVID-19 vaccination, a new statewide tool is available to help.

The Minnesota Department of Health has created an online ‘Vaccine Connector’ that can provide information about when, where, and how you can get the vaccine – and will also tell you when it’s your turn to receive your shot.

The “Vaccine Connector” is designed for those who are currently ineligible to receive their vaccinations.

Those eligible to get vaccinated right now – people over the age of 65, health care workers, and teachers - do not have to wait for information from the Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Connector before you get your shot. They should contact their health care provider, county health department, or employer for further information.

In addition, residents should not sign up for the “Vaccine Connector” if they have already received the vaccine, previously registered for the COVID-19 Vaccine Pilot Program or the COVID-19 Community Vaccination Program, or completed the Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Child Care survey.

For more information visit: https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/connector/index.jsp

Update on the Lawsuit against Walz

We are disappointed by many of the statements made in this week’s case. Judge Larkin proposed that Governor Walz should be given the authority to veto the legislature’s decision to terminate his peacetime emergency powers. This would make it impossible to ever end a Governor’s peacetime emergency in the future. The judges also raised questions about whether the plaintiffs had standing as individual legislators rather than the body as a whole, and whether the claim had to wait until after both bodies of the legislature had agreed to end the peacetime emergency.

We have endured one-man rule for too long, which has resulted in innumerable hardships and losses for Minnesotans; however, we remain hopeful that we will see a restoration of freedom for the people of Minnesota. No governor should be able to unilaterally write law for an indefinite period of time. This is a gross abuse of power, and it needs to be corrected by the courts.

You can listen the proceedings in their entirety HERE

Hearing My First Bill

This week my first bill was heard in committee, HF675, which would move Majiuana from a Schedule 1 drug to a schedule 2. This bill is long overdue. When Minnesota first started its Medical Majiuana program we only legalized the oil products to be used. These oils are much more expensive to produce and have resulted in many patients making the tough decision of whether to ration their doses and live with the pain or front more money out of pocket. 

Not only has the price been a major issue, but because it is classified as a schedule 1 with “no medical value” patients who use medical majiuana have been forced to give-up their 2nd amendment rights. So long as the drug remains a schedule 1 narcotic it remains highly illegal in the eyes of the federal Government. As such firearm owners have had to make the touch choice between less pain or their constitutional rights. 

You may remember last week I conducted an online, ten-question survey. I received responses from over 1,400 individuals.  Participants in the survey were 59% female / 41% male, 58% Republican / 42% other party affiliation and spread evenly across all age groups. 97% of respondents support the medical cannabis program and 72% support expanding it to include the plant material to lower costs. 

Minnesota is one of 35 States which allow medical cannabis but the only State which does not allow plant material. 15 States, including South Dakota have legalized the personal use of cannabis. Given the change of power in DC, we are likely to see changes to the federal prohibition of cannabis. Whether or not you support expanding cannabis use in Minnesota, I believe it is important to study the impacts and address legislation around future changes. Given the overwhelming support for medical cannabis, I do believe it is important to address these concerns which will allow our veterans easier access to cannabis as an alternative to opiates or other prescription drugs.

Voting is Now Open in our Name a Snowplow Contest

I voted for:

• Darth Blader
• Plowin' in the Wind
• Snobi Wan Kenobi
• The Truck Formerly Known as Plow
• Plowy mcPlowFace
• For Your Ice Only
• F. Salt Fitzgerald
• L'Plow du Nord

Unfortunately,  "Rocks and Plows" didn’t make the final list

What are your favorites? 

Thank you for being engaged in Government,

Jeremy Munson

State Representative, 23B

Contact

If you have any questions regarding COVID-19, please don’t hesitate to contact me or my office. We are still attempting to provide regular contact remotely so if you have other needs, please email my Legislative Assistant, Grayson, at Grayson.mcnew@house.mn

Watch the Minnesota House on Public TV

House Streaming Website

Also you can watch committees and Floor Sessions on YouTube.