Although politics between two competing parties can become testy at times in the Legislature, one group of lawmakers vocally vows to put aside partisanship as they hear, discuss and vote on bills. The House Veterans Affairs Division has a non-partisan approach to legislating.
Led by Rep. Bob Dettmer (R-Forest Lake), the division chair, and Rep. Paul Rosenthal (DFL-Edina), the ranking minority party member, the division finalized its session work Monday by approving a draft of its report activities.
“Leave politics at the door,” Dettmer mentioned in his closing statements, echoing sentiments from earlier this year and in 2017.
Once, a testifier identified himself with a veterans group and his political affiliation. Dettmer reminded the man that party politics have no place in the way he runs the division.
“[We’re] a committee dedicated to serving veterans throughout the state,” Rosenthal said Monday.
The report highlights the 24 bills heard during the division’s eight meetings, along with presentations from a number of groups and agencies. They include, but are not limited to: