Rep. Pursell and Rep. Stier Joint Commentary
Minnesota is still recovering from the heartbreaking events of June 14. That day, Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, were killed in their home, along with their golden retriever, Gilbert. At the same time, Sen. John Hoffman, his wife Yvette, and their daughter Hope were also attacked in their home by the same person. This political violence has shaken our state to its core and changed us forever. It has also strengthened our resolve to honor Melissa's legacy of kindness, care, and love for Minnesota.
Political violence has no place in our society. As elected officials, we must be clear that we will not tolerate threats of violence or the targeting of people for their political beliefs. In the aftermath of this tragedy, we saw an alarming amount of misinformation spread online, with some people making light of the situation or even using violent language to justify these horrific acts.
It doesn't have to be this way. Regardless of our party affiliation, we can all make a greater effort to lower the political temperature and condemn harmful behavior when we see it. Treating others with dignity and respect, including political opponents, should be viewed not as a weakness but as a strength and a fundamental necessity. The two of us are dedicated to advancing this mission in Minnesota and encourage our neighbors and communities to do the same.
As state legislators, we disagree on a lot when it comes to the solutions to the issues facing our state, but we recognize that both of us share a common goal: improving the lives of our constituents. Because the big political fights and hot-button issues often dominate headlines, it often surprises folks to hear that there is a lot we agree on.
We come from different political parties, but we share a district border, and both have the honor of serving parts of the city of New Prague. We have worked together on bills to support our shared constituencies, and that partnership has been instrumental in getting those bills passed into law.
Just this past legislative session, we had a historic tied House and came together to pass a state budget. This year, every single law passed with bipartisan support under the leadership of Melissa Hortman and Speaker Lisa Demuth. While we know that will not always happen, it does provide us with a model on how we can work together in the future.
One phrase that Speaker Emerita Hortman would use frequently was “We can disagree without being disagreeable”. That was a motto she lived by every day, both as a human being and as a political leader. We hope that by bringing together folks of different backgrounds and political beliefs, we can carry on that legacy at the Minnesota House and in our communities.