Dear Neighbor,
It’s been very busy this week working hard making progress on legislation important to our community!
Rep. Lucero with Bryan Strawser and Rob Doar of Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus during
pro Second Amendment bill hearings in front of the Public Safety Committee.
PRO SECOND AMENDMENT
Two pro-Second Amendment bills I strongly support and am co-author of were heard in the Public Safety Committee this week:
• HF188: Constitutional Carry
• HF238: Defense of Dwelling & Person Act of 2017
During the several decades preceding and including the 1990s many falsely believed society would be safer by enacting increased gun control restrictions on law abiding citizens. Decades of history now clearly demonstrate increased gun control restrictions on law abiding citizens DO NOT make society safer. Just the opposite is true. The overwhelming number of mass shootings occur in "gun-free zones" and gun violence is among the highest in those cities/states with the most stringent gun control restrictions.
Over the course of the last decade prevailing societal attitudes toward increased gun restrictions on law abiding citizens has significantly changed by returning to Second Amendment Constitutional principles. According to a Washington Times article published Monday, October 3, 2016:
"Missouri became the fourth state this year to approve a so-called “constitutional carry” law when Republican legislators overrode a veto by Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon on Sept. 15, making permitless carry legal. West Virginia, Mississippi and Idaho also have adopted constitutional carry laws in 2016, bringing the total number of such states to 12."
Moreover, the Washington Times article also states 25% of the country has already successful enacted Constitutional Carry. Hopefully Minnesota is soon to follow suit.
Rep. Lucero joined by family childcare providers Hollee Saville and Julie Seydel
testifying in favor of HF 1508 in front of the House Health & Human Services Policy Committee.
FAMILY CHILDCARE PROVIDERS
The Legislative Task Force on Access to Affordable Child Care recently released a report and recommendations outlining several steps that could be taken to begin combating the growing shortage of family childcare providers in Minnesota. One of the areas identified as needing to be addressed is the area of correction orders and appeals.
As a strong supporter of family childcare providers I'm proud to chief author of HF 1508 which seeks to bring several, much needed reforms to help our great family childcare providers across the state. It was an honor to be joined by Hollee Saville and Julie Seydel for the bill hearing in front of the House Health & Human Services Policy Committee this week. The bill successfully passed the committee and was sent to the Civil Law Committee where a hearing is scheduled for next week.
Rep. Lucero explaining his school bus safety bill HF 1601 in front of the Public Safety Committee.
SCHOOL BUS SAFETY
I had a hearing in front of the Public Safety Committee this week on my bill HF 1601, which seeks to create a misdemeanor penalty for anyone not authorized to board a school bus and refuses to leave if directed to do so. It’s important school bus drivers be empowered with the authority to direct a person to exit who is not authorized to be on a school bus. Current law does not grant school bus drivers this authority. The hearing was successful and the bill was laid over for possible inclusion into the Public Safety omnibus bill to be released later.
Rep. Lucero was invited to speak at the Republican Liberty Caucus of Minnesota event in Bloomington.
CONTINUED DEMOCRAT SAGA AND THE MSFA
For months the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA) has been producing negative headlines from continued revelations the MSFA Board has been benefitingDemocrat friends and family with special treatment access to U.S. Bank Stadium luxury suites and high demand tickets.
One of the most recent of the disturbing revelations is that Michele Kelm-Helgen, former Chair of the MSFA, had helped friends and family purchase rights to front-row season tickets before longtime Vikings season-ticket holders had an equal opportunity to purchase. The seats Kelm-Helgen helped secure for friends and family were marketed as “the most exclusive and upscale” space providing the “ultimate football viewing experience” located on the 50-yard line in rows 1, 2, and 3.
HF 778 passed off the House floor this week seeking to modify the governance structure of the MSFA board by bringing a series of reforms, restrictions, transparency, and new operating requirements. I voted in favor of the reforms that will bring an end to special treatment for the politically well-connected.
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