Dear Neighbor, Another busy week is wrapping up in St. Paul and now we’re heading into the home stretch before our May 17 adjournment. Here’s the latest from the House: Flag bill I strongly oppose a new House Democrat bill (H.F. 5077) that reduces state funding to cities and counties that choose to fly the old state flag instead of the new version. This is ultimately a tax increase for not obeying government’s orders because local taxpayers would have to make up for the lost state aid. This issue has surfaced because a number of local governments have chosen to fly the historical 1983 version instead of the one developed by a commission Democrats in full control of the Capitol selected in 2023. Specifically, the bill would reduce local government aid by 10 percent for entities choosing to display any other flag than the one that became official in 2024. This is a problem because LGA is a key source of state funding for local governments to help pay for essential services such as police and fire departments. It’s really mind-boggling that we’ve gotten to this point and it’s an indictment of how Twin Cities liberals don’t care about what people in Greater Minnesota want. That’s been proven time and again, making this particular issue about a whole lot more than just a flag. This is about people taking a stand against government and overreach that is looking to punish people financially for not following state. Just think about it this way: the same people who wave “No Kings” signs turned around and are saying Minnesotans must fly their chosen, government-approved flag – or pay The Man. I’m a strong “no” vote on this bill all the way and House Republicans are united in opposition so we’re safe for now. That said, it is scary to think about what would happen to Minnesota under another Democrat trifecta. 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. Fraud warrants served  This week’s coordinated law enforcement action across Minnesota sends a clear message: accountability matters. With over 20 search warrants executed as part of an ongoing fraud investigation, it’s clear that protecting taxpayer dollars and ensuring public programs serve their intended purpose must remain a priority. This is not about politics – it’s about trust. Minnesotans deserve a government that is transparent, effective, and accountable. I will continue working with partners at every level to support oversight, strengthen safeguards, and ensure these programs work for the people they are meant to serve. Capitol visitors  Thank you to everyone who came out for Disability Advocacy Day on the Hill. Your voices matter, and your willingness to show up, share your stories, and advocate for meaningful change makes a real difference.  It was great spending time with Cloquet Area Fire District Chief Jesse Buhs and Sen. Jason Rarick at Fire Service Day at the Capitol! I appreciate the opportunity to stand alongside firefighters and first responders who are so dedicated in serving our communities every day. Thank you to everyone who made the trip to the Capitol and for your continued commitment to keeping Minnesotans safe. Fraud whistleblower Minnesota taxpayers deserve accountability, and we are finally beginning to see it. But accountability shouldn’t stop there. It must also extend to the leaders who allowed this widespread fraud to occur. That point cannot be emphasized enough. To that point, this week a former state fraud investigator testified during a House committee that a state child care fraud unit was weakened before being shut down. He added he has “no doubt” stronger oversight could have prevented some of the fraud issues now tied to Minnesota’s Child Care Assistance Program. The testifier was Jay Swanson, a former criminal investigator with CCAP under the Department of Human Services, testified Tuesday that the unit launched with strong support in 2014, began losing that support in 2017, and was ultimately disbanded in 2019. Interestingly, the non-partisan state auditor came out with a report in 2019 revealing significant fraud in Minnesota childcare. Instead of taking this problem seriously, the Walz administration shut down the Criminal Investigation Unit in DHS and let Minnesota’s fraud problem get even more out of hand. Stay tuned for more as we make our way into the final two weeks of the 2026 session with important issues still hanging in the balance, especially tax relief and legislation to clamp down on fraud. |