Legislative update Dear Neighbors, Welcome to day 18 of the House DFL shutdown. That's right, it has been almost three weeks since House Democrats shunned the Constitution and refused to show up to work. On Monday, Sec. of State Steve Simon overstepped his bounds and, from the Executive Branch, interfered with the right of House members to compel absent Democrat members. Although this ruling might seem procedurally significant, it doesn’t change our mandate as elected officials. From day one, we have been here in St. Paul ready to serve you, rolling up our sleeves 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. Despite everything, our priorities remain strong. We are still meeting each day, hearing amazing constituent and agency testimonies that inspire us to advance legislation, and doing the groundwork to prepare for our Democrat colleagues to join us. Our work extends beyond the Capitol — we are actively meeting with community groups to identify areas for legislative improvement and ensure that voices from all walks of life are heard. We will continue working day in and day out to crack down on fraud, improve Minnesota’s public safety, and strengthen our education system. These are essential 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! A Call For House Democrats to Return and Serve MinnesotansThese photos were taken this week from my seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives. To my right are the dedicated folks who showed up to work, and to my left are the empty seats of those who chose not to. Unfortunately, this has been my view every single day since we were sworn in on January 14th. Each day, Secretary Steve Simon gavels us in, the roll is called—and only half of us are present. Without a quorum, as determined by the Minnesota Supreme Court, we can't conduct any official business. This is a real travesty to the people of Minnesota who entrusted us with the responsibility to serve them. They deserve better. I'll continue showing up every day, ready to work, and I remain hopeful that my Democrat colleagues will soon do the same.   University of Minnesota Crookston Visit It was a pleasure to be back in the district this past weekend and tour the University of Minnesota–Crookston. A special thank you to UMC Chancellor Dr. Mary Holz-Clause, for your warm hospitality—and for the delicious homemade chicken noodle soup, which was perfect for a blustery day! I truly appreciated the insightful tour of your impressive campus, including the academic, athletic, agricultural facilities, and campus apartments. It's clear that securing funding to maintain and expand these essential facilities will be crucial for the university's continued success.  |