Legislative Update Dear Friends and Neighbors, Welcome to day 18 of the House DFL shutdown. That's right— it has been two weeks since House Democrats abandoned their responsibilities, turning their backs on the Constitution and refusing to show up to work. This legislative shutdown is not only disrespectful to their constituents, but the entire state of Minnesota. On Monday, Secretary of State Steve Simon overstepped his bounds, by interfering from the Executive Branch, undermining the House's ability to compel absent Democrat members to return to work. Although this ruling might seem procedurally significant, it doesn’t change our commitment as House Republicans. Since day one, we have been here in St. Paul, sleeves rolled up and doing the groundwork, ready to tackle the issues that matter most to Minnesotans. We’ve been waiting patiently for our Democratic colleagues to join us, but we cannot afford to waste any more time—especially as we face the critical task of passing the state’s essential budget. The responsibility now lies solely with House Democrats to determine whether we can meet this important deadline. All it would take is just one Democrat member to join us and provide a quorum, allowing us to resume the essential business Minnesotans sent us here to do. Despite this delay, our priorities remain strong. We are still meeting each day and doing the groundwork to prepare for our Democrat colleagues to join us. We will continue working day in and day out to crack down on fraud, improve Minnesota’s public safety, and strengthening our education system. These are vital efforts we’ve been advancing all along—efforts that were unfortunately delayed due to this lawsuit. It’s deeply disappointing that things were allowed to reach this point, but rest assured House Republicans remain committed in our mission to serve you and deliver results. Introducing the "Make Minnesota Safe" Plan As your representative, I am excited to share our latest legislative initiative—the "Make Minnesota Safe" plan. This proposal is part of my Public Safety Committee and I am proud to co-author these bills. This comprehensive proposal is designed to: - Strengthen law enforcement.
- Hold violent offenders accountable.
- Increase transparency within the criminal justice system.
Our plan includes 13 key provisions, such as: - Mandatory minimum sentences for first-degree sex trafficking.
- Harsher penalties for assaulting peace officers.
- Stricter consequences for trespassing on or damaging critical infrastructure.
We are also working to improve public access to prosecutors’ charging decisions and court sentencing departures. By implementing these reforms, we aim to empower law enforcement, prioritize victims’ rights, and restore trust in the justice system. Transparency in how the justice system operates is crucial for building trust, and this proposal will help ensure that Minnesotans know how their system is working and where improvements are needed. Together, we can make Minnesota a safer place for all! You can watch the full press conference here. Good Neighbors in St. Paul On Monday, January 27th, we held "Township Day" at the Capitol. I was so grateful to see my friends from Clay County township pay me a visit.  I was also paid a visit by my friends on the State Guardian Ad Litem Board, it was so wonderful to show them around the Capital. |