Dear Friends and Neighbors,
With only three days remaining until the Constitutionally mandated adjournment Monday May 20th at Midnight, we are at the Capitol all weekend.
Every day the House is in session we have a different chaplain for the day from different religions/denominations around the state. Some days the chaplain prays to the Earth, some days prays to nothing, and some days simply reads a poem.
Tuesday this week, Pastor Ted Clarke led us in prayer in the name of JESUS CHRIST which deeply angered many Democrats and prompted the Democrat Majority Leader to declare the prayer to our Creator was inappropriate and that Pastor Clarke likely won’t be asked back. The anger expressed by Democrats toward JESUS CHRIST makes me very sad. When I heard of the reaction by Democrats, I could not help but be reminded of Christ’s words recorded in Scripture, "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you."
Rep. Lucero with Pastor Ted Clarke who led the House in prayer this week in the name of JESUS CHRIST!
TAX HIKES
Minnesota State government is flush with YOUR money as a direct result of over-taxation. A $1.5B projected budget surplus already exists and another $2B currently sits in budget reserves.
Despite the reality of Minnesota’s high taxes and billions in budget surplus, Gov. Walz and legislative Democrats continue their demands for more and more and more seeking $12B in NEW tax hikes from already overtaxed hardworking MN taxpayers! Democrats will never have enough of your money to satisfy their insatiable appetite to spend while at the same time turning a blind eye to millions-upon-millions of confirmed dollars lost to waste, fraud, and abuse.
The ONLY reason for the present stalemate is Democrats insisting on crushing taxpayers with new and higher taxes such as higher gas tax, a 2% tax on those who are sick, etc. Republicans in the Senate are fighting on the side of taxpayers working to stop Democrat higher taxes. The time is now to contact House Democrats and tell them to do their job, get the work of the people done, and give up on their immoral demands for higher taxes. If the government shuts down, it will 100% be because Democrats won't give up on their $12B in tax hikes despite the current budget surplus!
Rep. Lucero participating in a press conference this week with supporters announcing HF 2825, a resolution calling on Congress and the President to hold vaccine manufacturers liable for design defects that result in adverse side effects from vaccines.
IMPROVING VACINE SAFETY
After heavy lobbying from pharmaceutical companies, Congress passed an Act in 1986 shielding vaccine manufacturers from liability. The Act also created a vaccine court to handle cases of people injured by vaccines. Since its inception, the vaccine court has paid out billions in damages funded by surcharges on vaccines.
The existence of liability is a critical self-governing mechanism to increase accountability and ensure greater safety. Because the 1986 Act shielded the pharmaceutical industry from liability, the important check and balance on the industry was removed.
I'm a proud co-author of HF 2825, a resolution calling on Congress and the President to hold vaccine manufacturers liable for design defects that result in adverse side effects from vaccines.
Rep. Lucero invited to present and discuss Cyber Security & Data Privacy at a Legislative Breakfast this week in Shoreview hosted by the Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce.
CYBER SECURITY & DATA PRIVACY
Not a day goes by when Cyber Security or Data Privacy headlines are in the news. As technology innovation continues at an exponential pace, there are both positive and negative impacts to individuals, businesses, and legislative policy discussed at the Capitol.
It was an honor to be invited as a guest speaker to the Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast this week in Shoreview. I made a brief presentation and then participated on a panel for audience Q & A. Topics I included in my presentation and discussion included:
- Automatic License Plate Readers
- Police Body Cams
- Use of Law Enforcement drones in residential areas
- GPS tracking
- Digital misrepresentation
- Governance requirements regarding genetic information
- Constitutional Amendment to add digital data to 4th Amendment protections
- Student Data Privacy Act
- Help America Vote Act (HAVA) election security
- Law Enforcement use of facial recognition technology in public areas
- Federal law which considers emails abandoned after 180 days granting access
- Minimum email retention requirements for local units of government
Rep. Lucero visiting with high school student and Hanover constituent Micah who participated in the MN House High School Page program this week.
STAYING IN TOUCH
Each and every day I’m continuously humbled at the opportunity to represent and fight for the values and priorities of our great community!
Please contact me to share any issues, concerns, or feedback you have to 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