Friends,
This Saturday I will be joined by Rep. Steve Green in Bagley for joint office hours at the Great Northern Bar & Grill starting at 9:00 am. Great Northern Bar & Grill is located at 36 Waterplant Drive SW in Bagley. All constituents from 2A & 2B are welcome to bring their questions, concerns, or just to catch up. Hope to see you there! Here is my weekly update on what’s going on in St. Paul.
Criminal Sexual Conduct Reform Proposal
On Tuesday, my bill to close loopholes that have allowed predators who have sexually abused children to be set loose with barely a slap on the wrist and without any warning to the communities in which they live was heard in the Public Safety committee this week. The bill will also begin the process of making reforms to Minnesota’s child pornography sentences that have been chastised as being some of the weakest in the nation.
A number of victims of sexual abuse testified in support of this bill. They don’t want anyone else to have to deal with what they have. It’s inexcusable that our current laws don’t do more to prevent these offenders from reoffending. Someone needs to speak up for the victims and that’s one of the main reasons I am fighting so hard for this bill.
This issue has received a large amount of attention but still deserves more. I refuse to sit by and allow victims to be harmed and perpetrators to go free. We must do more.
See some of the KARE 11 reporting on this here and here. Read more on my efforts to tackle this issue here and here.
Rep. Grossell presenting one of his bills in the Public Safety Committee
Nurses & Firefighter Safety Bill Video
My bill to protect medical personnel & firefighters has received tremendous support from the public. See my video talking about what my bill does and why it’s important here.
Bill to reform MSFA overwhelmingly passes House
Following story after story detailing improper benefits given to family and friends by board members of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA), the group appointed by Governor Dayton & the Mayor of Minneapolis to assist in operating the Vikings Stadium, the House overwhelmingly passed a bill to reform the MSFA 122-7.
The reforms include limiting the use of MSFA-controlled suites to be used exclusively for marketing purposes and making major reforms to the MSFA governance structure. The bill will clean house by immediately end the terms of all current board members and provide greater oversight by the Legislature and a CPA.
BCLB Bears Wrestlers at State Tournament
I was able to sneak away from the Capitol to watch the State Wrestling Tournament. A number of students from Blackduck-Cass Lake-Bena Bears competed with Senior Jonathan Smid and Sophomore Ian Frenzel each taking 6th place in their respective weight classes. Also competing were Mason Preston, Hunter Wilcowski, and Trevor Janssen. Congrats guys! And also congrats to Head Coach Jay Reiplinger and Assistant Coaches Cody Nord and Brian Pater for their great work. Go Bears!
Please continue to stay in touch to share our thoughts or concerns. My phone number is 651-296-4265 or you can email me at rep.matt.grossell@house.mn.
Have a great weekend,
Matt