Dear Neighbor,
Time and again this session, House Democrats are making partisan issues out of things that don’t need to be partisan. And, just like under the former Democrat trifecta, House Democrats continue catering to activists and party bosses instead of doing the work to serve all Minnesotans.
Here are just a few of the latest examples:
Government transparency
Legislation I authored to support transparency in the Attorney General’s office came to the House floor on Thursday for what I had hoped would be a vote of approval from the full body.
As mentioned in my last newsletter, there are a lot of special interests trying to influence the AG to file motivated litigation. We need to make sure citizens have access to this information to hold the AG’s office accountable no matter who is occupying it and what nonprofits or dark-money groups are involved.
My bill would make more of the attorney general’s data public and correct state law to more closely align with the legislature’s original intent, rather than abiding by the Supreme Court’s questionable interpretation. In fact, former Democrat House Speaker Paul Thissen, now a Supreme Court Justice, said the approach my bill takes is the right one.
I conducted a press conference Thursday to address this issue. I highlighted that it is absolutely crucial to our democracy that we know what is happening with our public resources in our public offices and unfortunately, because of a 2022 Minnesota Supreme Court decision, our AG’s office has special, secret protection under that statute.
There is no reason this bill should be partisan. It will not weaken the privacy rights of everyday individual Minnesotans. It’s only become partisan because the Democrat Attorney General doesn’t want to pass, and all the House Democrats are falling in line to help his office hide information from the public.
After it became clear House Democrats were simply going to play partisan games with my bill on the floor – catering to activists instead of doing what most Minnesotans want – I tabled it so we can revisit this legislation another time.
Electronic pull tabs
Minnesota charities are bracing for a massive decline in revenue this year due to changes Democrats made to electronic pull tabs. These games were highly popular in recent years and provided a lifeline to bars and other establishments that offer them. Last year alone, $386 million was generated in net revenue from the gaming devices, and the charitable gaming proceeds from them were distributed to needy organizations in our communities.
Then, in 2023, Gov. Tim Walz and legislative Democrats approved a law eliminating an “open all” feature that contributed to the popularity of electronic pull tabs. This just took effect Jan. 1, and already veterans organizations, such as American Legions and VFWs, have reported a dramatic drop in activity, ranging from 20- 44 percent statewide. Even at a 30-percent revenue decline, those relying on charitable proceeds in Minnesota – EMS groups, food shelves, youth sports teams and associations such as the Anoka Ramsey Athletic Association, Boys and Girl Scouts, and other local charities – could be looking at a $115 million annual loss due to the Democrats’ electronic pull tab change.
I am a top author of a bill (H.F. 733) to repeal the law passed in 2023, restoring electronic pull tab features. I hope it soon reaches the House floor for a vote on approval so we can help our local charitable organizations and businesses.
Again, Democrats made a partisan issue out of something that doesn’t need to be partisan.
Safe and fair girls sports
In last week’s newsletter, I mentioned I am a top author of H.F. 12, which supports safe and fair girls sports by indicating: “Only students of the female sex may participate in an elementary or secondary school athletic team or sport that an educational institution has restricted on the basis of sex to women or girls.”
This bill also had its first committee hearing this week and continues moving through the process. To reiterate, polls show around 80 percent of people agree that biological sex should determine participation in sports, and that those born male at birth should be excluded from women’s sports.
Yet again, Democrats in a committee hearing this week made a partisan issue out of something that doesn’t need to be partisan.
Look for more as these and other issues unfold at the Capitol and, as always, your input is welcome.
Sincerely,
Harry