Dear Neighbor,
Mother’s Day is this coming Sunday. We are so thankful for the Mothers in our lives, for their tremendous love, selflessness, and sacrifice for us.
Rep. Lucero and Sen. Kiffmeyer meeting 6th grade students from St. Michael-Albertville Middle School East
on a field trip visiting and touring the newly renovated Capitol.
BUDGET BILLS SENT TO GOVERNOR
After this weekend there will only be slightly over a week before the constitutionally required deadline of May 22 for the Legislature to adjourn. My Republican colleagues and I in the Legislature have been working hard to complete our work and send the funding bills to Gov. Dayton long before the required deadline. I’ve included highlights of several of the bills already passed and sent to Gov. Dayton.
Transportation
- $350 million funding for the Corridors of Commerce transportation program which is expected to contribute to funding the 3-lane expansion of I-94 from Saint Michael to Albertville. I’m proud to be chief author in the House of the Corridors of Commerce provision included in the bill.
- Met Council reform that requires only locally elected officials serve and the governor only appoints the chair.
- No state funding of operating costs for any newly constructed light rail lines, including the Southwest and Bottineau lines, unless approved by the legislature.
Health and Human Services
- Completely repeals the ineffective disaster known as MNsure.
- Requires public health care program enrollees verify their eligibility status.
- Pro-life language that will require clinics to begin reporting medicinal abortions performed via tele-medicine.
Tax Cuts
- Long overdue tax relief for middle class Minnesotans totaling $1.15 billion across a myriad of tax cuts.
K-12 Education
- There were several good reforms included in this bill but no substantive reforms related to equity in education funding, the most important reform needed for our community. It’s for this reason I was one of three House Republicans who voted against the bill.
State Government Finance
- Brings state government spending into control by putting a stop to double-digit state agency budget increases.
- Zero funding cuts to Veteran’s programs.
- Ends the public campaign subsidy program, otherwise known as welfare for politicians.
Environment and Natural Resources
- Reforms the funding process of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) by creating more transparency on where and how efficiently funds are used.
- Reforms the permitting process of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the MPCA, ensuring these agencies abide by the longstanding rulemaking process and don’t overstep the scope of their authority.
- Reforms the makeup of the Environmental Quality Board from statewide appointments to appointments by congressional district and narrows the focus of their work to environmental review and permitting.
- Allows scopes to be used on muzzleloaders.
- Prohibits the DNR from further restricting the use of lead shot.
- Allocates $820,000 to the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center at the U of M to further develop solutions that reduce the impacts of aquatic invasive species by preventing spread, controlling populations, and managing ecosystems.
Agriculture
- Continued support for production agriculture research, farm safety, preventing tractor rollover, Ag Education, and youth development.
- Growing and diversifying our agro-economy into areas such as industrial hemp.
- Rapid response to plant pests and pathogens.
- Ag emergencies such as Avian Flu and noxious weeds.
Copy of signed letter sent to MN Department of Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius.
GENDER TOOL-KIT
I was among 46 State Representatives and 21 State Senators who signed a letter sent to education commissioner Brenda Cassellius this week expressing my opposition to the Minnesota Department of Education’s planned distribution of their “Toolkit” resource for dealing with gender identity issues in schools. Gender identity is a very personal topic and should be left to parents, not government schools. Additionally, finite resources would better be used for our children in other areas rather than advancing a progressive social agenda which many experts consider harmful.
If you agree state resources should be focused on ensuring all of our kids, regardless of background, receive the best education possible and not promoting a controversial, progressive social agenda, please contact the commissioner at mde.commissioner@state.mn.us expressing your concerns.
STAYING IN TOUCH
As always please contact me to share any issues, concerns, or feedback you may have that will assist me best represent you. The best way to reach me is by email at Rep.Eric.Lucero@House.MN or by phone at 651-296-1534.
Have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Eric Lucero
State Representative
District 30B
Albertville, Hanover, Otsego, Saint Michael, and the Wright County portion of Dayton