Legislative Update We have less than a month left in the legislative session, and time is running short. We were sent here to deliver real affordability for the people of Minnesota, and that work needs to get done before we adjourn. At this stage in session, our focus has shifted to single-issue bills. There’s a reason for that. We want to avoid the kind of massive, last-minute omnibus bills we saw in 2024, where over 1,400 pages of legislation were brought to the floor with little time for review. That kind of process shuts out the public, limits debate, and raises serious constitutional concerns. Focusing on individual bills keeps things transparent and makes it clear what we’re voting on. Helping Victims with Restitution. On Monday, the House took up 18 bills, all of which passed and have now moved to the Senate. Included in that group was my bill, HF 3496, which I was proud to carry on the House floor.  This bill addresses issues created by legislation passed during the 2023 Democrat trifecta that was simply too soft on crime. Minnesotans have been paying the price ever since. It’s time to restore some balance and make sure accountability is part of the system. Criminals should be the ones paying the price, not law-abiding citizens. Reformer Article Illustrates What We've Said for Years: It's much worse than people think We continue to see troubling report about how taxpayer dollars are being spent. A recent report highlighted that spending across 14 Medicaid programs flagged as high-risk for fraud more than doubled in just a few years, growing from about $2 billion to over $4 billion annually. Some individual programs saw even more dramatic increases, with certain services growing many times over in a very short period of time. While there are multiple factors behind spending increases, this kind of rapid growth should have raised red flags with people outside the Republican Caucus. Instead, we’re now seeing the consequences play out after the fact. This is exactly why oversight, transparency, and accountability matter. Minnesotans deserve to know their tax dollars are being used as intended, not lost to waste, abuse, or fraud.  Meeting with McLeod County Outside of the Capitol, I’ve been spending time connecting with people in the district. I attended a legislative workshop in McLeod County, where we had a productive conversation about the priorities that matter most to local residents and how I can better represent them at the Capitol.  Veteran's Day on the Hill On Thursday, I attended Veterans Day on the Hill at the Capitol and met with Tom Phillips, a veteran from Henderson. We talked through the issues he’s been dealing with and what he’d like to see change moving forward. It was a good chance to hear directly from him and bring that perspective back into my work at the Legislature.  MPCA at the Capitol I had the opportunity to meet with Henderson Police Chief Koski as part of Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association Day on the Hill. We had a great conversation about the challenges facing public safety professionals today. Hearing directly from those on the front lines is critical as we work to craft better public safety policy.  Thank You for Staying Engaged As always, I appreciate hearing from you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out as we head into the final stretch of session. Have a great weekend!  |