Dear Neighbor,
Greetings from St. Paul, where we are working our way through week 2 in the legislative session. Here is a look at my latest notes from the House:
Fraud
With an estimated $9 billion and counting stolen from Minnesota taxpayers, we must improve oversight and accountability in state programs if we're ever going to get a handle on Minnesota’s fraud problem.
The House could act quickly by passing the Office of the Inspector General bill the Senate approved 60-7 last spring, sending it to the governor for enactment. Instead, House Democrats already have blocked progress on the proposal four separate times already this session, twice in committee and two more times on the House floor.
It’s disappointing they continue to drag their feet on this bill because they want to take away the office’s independence and remove its enforcement authority but we won’t let them. Minnesotan’s don’t want window dressing or empty new laws. They are asking for us to take real action to track down bad actors and hold them fully accountable, which is what I am working to do.
Second Amendment
The governor and House Democrats both came out with proposals this week that would burden responsible gun owners while doing little to actually improve public safety. Their proposal to ban commonly owned firearms, add insurance requirements on guns, and create a heap of new regulations will not stop criminals who already ignore the law.
We need to focus on prosecuting repeat offenders, supporting law enforcement and addressing mental-health issues to target violent crime instead of looking to undermine constitutional rights. I am a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment and oppose these gun-control proposals, tooth and nail.
Local radio
Tune in to KWLM AM1340 at 11 a.m. each Saturday morning as Rep. Dave Baker, Sen Andrew Lang and I join the legendary JP Cola to discuss the latest from St. Paul. It's like a radio town hall, with callers welcome! (Photo courtesy KWLM)
FFA Week/Ag grants
 It’s National Future Farmers of America week and I want to thank the 16,000 FFA members and 200 chapters across the state. Minnesota is a top-tier agricultural state, ranking 6th nationally with $26 billion in annual sales. With 25 million acres of farmland and 67,100 farms in Minnesota, the ag industry drives the state economy. With the average age of farmers on the rise, the state has Beginning Farmer Equipment and Infrastructure Grants is available to help new farmers access equipment and develop infrastructure. Click here for more on these grants. Applications for this round of funding are due on March 26. Two-line fishing A House bill (H.F. 624) has been proposed with the goal of helping people have more success fishing by selling Minnesota licensing stamps that allow people to fish with two lines for all fish instead of the current one-line-per-person regulation. Revenue generated by the two-line stamps would go toward walleye stocking, per the bill. Fish limits would still apply, of course. This proposal is billed as a way to keep Minnesota’s fishing legacy strong at a time the DNR indicates the average age of anglers is increasing in Minnesota, with older age classes showing more stable participation compared to younger ones. On a side note, the DNR proposes reducing the statewide daily and possession limit for walleye from six to four fish, effective March 1, 2027. Public comments on the issue are welcome until March 5. Look for more from the Capitol soon. A new state economic forecast will be issued Friday and we can discuss that next time. For now, have a good weekend. Sincerely, Scott |