Hello from the State Capitol,
I’m proud to co-author HF 3757 and want to recognize the strong work Rep. Steve Gander is doing to move an important project – the Level IV Regional Education Center - forward. He understands what many of us in northwest Minnesota have been saying for years: families in our region deserve access to high-quality specialized educational services close to home. This bill is about making sure students with significant educational and behavioral support needs have a modern, well-equipped facility right here in our corner of the state, rather than forcing families and school districts to look far outside the region for services.
The need for this facility in northwest Minnesota is real and growing. Our school districts work hard to meet the needs of every student, but providing Level IV special education services requires space, resources, and specialized staff that are difficult for rural districts to sustain on their own. This regional learning center in East Grand Forks would strengthen support for students and families, help districts share resources more effectively, and ensure kids receive the care and education they need in a setting designed specifically for their success. This is a smart investment in our students, our schools, and the future of northwest Minnesota.
PAY THE PENALTY FOR FLYING THE WRONG STATE FLAG?
In my travels around the district, it appears most of our towns are still flying the 1983 version of the Minnesota state flag. A new bill offered by House Democrats would financially punish them for refusing to fly the new flag.
Even though current law does not require local governments to fly the official state flag, a bill House Democrats are sponsoring would mandate a 10% reduction in a city’s or county’s government aid if that jurisdiction displays any flag other than the newly adopted one. In other words, they want to hurt those communities who refuse to fall in line.
In 2023, Democrats created a 13-member commission to redesign Minnesota’s state flag and seal, neither of which were formally approved by voters or the state legislature. Instead, the law that created the commission specified that its final flag selection would automatically take effect as the official state flag.
It is yet another example of how inner-city liberals do not understand how rural Minnesota operates. It is also another example of what Democrats will do if they control the legislature and governor’s office again after the November election.
Minnesotans deserve the freedom to honor our state’s history without government punishment, but the other side of the aisle believes otherwise. Two years ago, they handpicked 13 people to design a flag with absolutely no oversight, and now they want to financially punish towns and counties who refuse to fly it.
MORE FRAUD: FBI EXECUTES COURT-ORDERED SEARCH WARRANTS
On Tuesday, the FBI, along with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies executed 22 court-approved federal search warrants. All of them were connected to the investigation into Medicaid fraud in Minnesota, and primarily targeted Twin Cities child and daycare providers. Included is the infamous Quality Learning Center which came under heavy scrutiny several months ago.
The Department of Homeland Security said the agency "executed criminal search warrants in Minneapolis relating to the rampant fraud of American taxpayers dollars," adding that DHS "will continue working to deliver answers to the American people on how their taxpayer dollars were abused."
An estimated $9 billion has already been swindled from Minnesota’s taxpayers due to fraud. A recent KARE 11 report found Minnesota paid $4.32 billion last year in Medicaid reimbursements to the 14 programs now identified as being a high risk for fraud — more than double what it paid in 2021. Since 2018, $20 billion has been spent on the same high risk programs.
Meanwhile, the Walz administration continues to downplay the state’s fraud epidemic, believing that there's currently no evidence that fraud against the state's Medicaid program is that rampant.
GOODRIDGE SCHOOL - SALES TAX EXEMPTION
I was glad to have the opportunity to present HF2823 with Superintendent Tomas Loberg from Goodridge Public School in the Tax Committee on Tuesday.
It was important for legislators to hear directly from local school leadership about how this bill would provide real property tax relief for area residents while helping support long-term investment in Goodridge’s school facilities. Superintendent Loberg did a great job explaining the challenges rural districts face when trying to make improvements and upgrades with a limited tax base, and how this refundable sales tax exemption would help stretch local dollars further for the benefit of students, families, and the entire community.