Dear Neighbor,
The MN House and Senate reconvened at Noon Tuesday this week for the 2018 legislative session. This session will be a short three months (versus the five-month session last year). The Legislature is constitutionally required to adjourn by May 21 this year. There is much work to accomplish in the coming weeks which is why House and Senate Republicans immediately rolled up our sleeves getting down to work for all Minnesotans statewide.
Rep. Lucero visiting the Minnesota Consortium Citizens with Disabilities event Tuesday this week. It is the conservative,
pro-life worldview society has an obligation to give a helping hand up to those citizens truly in need of assistance
due to circumstances beyond their control.
LEGISLATIVE FUNDING
The first bill of this session has passed by both the House and Senate and has been sent to Gov. Dayton for his signature. The Legislative Branch is currently operating on funds pulled from other areas not intended to fund legislative operations. The bill passed by both bodies on Thursday will fully restore legislative funding and Gov. Dayton has publicly stated he would sign the bill.
Rep. Lucero attending the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus Session Preview & Governor Candidate
Forum last Saturday at the Mermaid in Mounds View.
GUN VIOLENCE
Our hearts continue to pour out to the friends and family of gun violence victims not only of the recent shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, First Baptist Church in Texas, or the music festival in Las Vegas all which garnered high-profile media coverage, but also to the friends and family of gun violence victims of individual incidents occurring every day which garner little to zero media coverage. All lives lost to violence is a tragedy.
In times of tragedy, we recall truth that evil and violence are rooted in the hearts of individuals and not in inanimate objects. Proverbs 24 rings in our mind, “Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them; For their heart devises violence, And their lips talk of troublemaking.”
Stopping those who perpetrate acts of violence must be our focus, not roadblocking law-abiding citizens the ability to defend themselves or others. Disarming or imposing more restrictions on law-abiding citizens, creating more gun-free zones, or requiring guns to be registered only work to cause each of us to be less safe. It’s no coincidence gun violence is greatest in those cities and states with the highest gun restrictions and most mass shootings occur in gun-free zones. Those intent on committing acts of evil know they are less likely to encounter immediate resistance in gun-free zones. History demonstrates the only two effective methods of stopping a shooter is via containment or matching force with force.
The government has proven it cannot keep us safe. Nevertheless, some defy logic continuing to insist law-abiding citizens be disarmed and to trust the same government proven unable to keep us safe. This week was witness to multiple anti-gun bills introduced in the House. As a member of the House Public Safety Committee, I am committed to uploading our Constitutional rights to make each of us safer and I will work to defeat anti-gun legislation.
Rep. Lucero and Sen. Kiffmeyer with members of the Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce and
Elk River School District Tuesday evening at the MN Chamber Session Priorities Dinner.
FEDERAL FUNDING OF LIGHT RAIL MAY BE DEAD
It is growing consensus light rail transit is among the most costly, inefficient, obsolete, and lowest return on investment methods of transportation that exist in Minnesota. These truths may be part of the reason(s) the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in its annual report released last week on Funding Recommendations for Fiscal Year 2019 is not recommending funding for any transit projects in Minnesota such as Southwest LRT and Bottineau LRT. A link for more information can be found here.
Rep. Lucero invited to share his legislative update at the Northwest Hennepin League of Municipalities
monthly meeting Wednesday evening this week.
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.
Sincerely,
Eric Lucero
State Representative
District 30B
Albertville, Hanover, Otsego, Saint Michael, and the Wright County portion of Dayton