Legislative Update
(Regular) Session Wrap-Up: Fighting for Accountability, Pensions, and Public Safety
Friends,
When the final gavel fell, marking the end of the 2025 legislative session, I was left disappointed - but not because I didn’t give it my all. I fought tooth and nail to protect your hard-earned money and bring real accountability to St. Paul. Unfortunately, I couldn’t convince enough Democrats to support the creation of an Office of Inspector General (OIG), a watchdog agency that would operate independently of all branches of government and answer directly to you, the taxpayer.
The OIG would have investigated past fraud and provided oversight over new government spending. I spent the session making the case for this commonsense reform, but House Democrats blocked it. They didn’t want an independent office shining a light on where the money goes, and that should tell you something. After decades in law enforcement, we’d call that a clue. If someone doesn’t want to be watched, it usually means they have something to hide.
And now we are headed to a special session. Why? Because House Democrats stalled and dragged their feet. For the first 23 days of session, many stayed home while collecting a paycheck. When crunch time came, they walked away from the table, slowing government down when it needed to act.
I came to the Capitol facing a historic 6-billion-dollar deficit with a House locked in a 67 - 67 tie. The money wasn’t there to fund every priority. We made 4 billion dollars in necessary cuts, blocked some of the most radical proposals, and played strong defense. I didn’t get to lower taxes or secure funding for our district this time, but I gave everything I had.
Fighting for Meaningful Pension Reform
One area where I did make progress was on the Pension Commission, especially for our public safety heroes. I helped pass legislation to stop abuse in the police and fire pension system. Loopholes were being exploited by attorneys at the expense of disabled officers. My bill shuts that down, putting more money in the pockets of the men and women who actually served and were injured in the line of duty.
Here’s what we accomplished for disabled officers and firefighters:
Eliminated costly legal battles. Cities can no longer challenge a disability determination, meaning officers don’t need to spend tens of thousands on attorneys.
Reduced the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) waiting period from three years to two.
Increased the annual COLA from 1 percent to 3 percent, helping our retired heroes keep up with inflation.
Is the work done? Not yet. But we’ve stopped the bleeding, and I’ll be back next session to fight for even more improvements, especially eliminating the COLA waiting period entirely.
Thank You for Your Trust
In closing, I hope you feel your vote for me was the right one. I never backed down, and I stayed true to my word. I don’t play political games, I don’t sugarcoat things, and I won’t forget who sent me to St. Paul. I work for you, and I’ll keep fighting for what’s right.