ST. PAUL – State Rep. Jeff Dotseth, R-Silver Township, said he opposes a House Democrat bill that reduces state funding to cities and counties that choose to fly the old state flag instead of the new version.
The bill (H.F. 5077) comes at a time when numerous local governments have chosen to fly the customary 1983 version instead of the one developed by a commission Democrats in full control of the Capitol selected in 2023 to redesign Minnesota’s flag and seal. The proposed measure would reduce local government aid by 10 percent for entities choosing to display any other flag than the one that became official in 2024.
Dotseth said LGA is a key source of state funding for local governments – helping communities pay for essential services such as police and fire departments – making this a significant financial penalty for noncompliance.
“It’s ultimately a tax increase for not obeying government’s orders because local taxpayers would have to make up for the lost state aid,” Dotseth said. “It’s pretty rich for the same people who wave ‘No Kings’ signs to turn around and demand Minnesotans fly their chosen flag or pay the price.”
While the commission ultimately selected the new design, Dotseth said it was not directly approved by voters or the legislature. Instead, the enabling law specified that the commission’s final choice would automatically become the official state flag on May 11, 2024.
Since then, the design has faced resistance from many residents and local governments, with several cities – including Champlin, Zumbrota, Elk River and Inver Grove Heights – opting to continue flying the former flag on public property. Current state law does not require local governments to display the official flag.
“It’s really mind-boggling that we’ve gotten to this point and it’s an indictment of how Democrats operated with full control of the Capitol and continue operating,” Dotseth said. “Instead of uniting the people of our state by working to make life more affordable and cracking down on fraud, they have driven us to the point of two state flags. It is scary to think about what would happen to Minnesota under another Democrat trifecta.”
Apart from House Republicans opposing the bill in a tied House, Dotseth said it also faces procedural hurdles because it was introduced after this year’s legislative deadlines had passed. It also does not yet have a companion measure in the Senate.
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