Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Mother’s Day is this coming Sunday. I wish blessings and a special THANK YOU to every mother, grandma, and great grandma, as well as our wives, sisters, and aunts who are all special to us in our lives!
Also, this weekend is the state’s fishing opener. I encourage everybody to get outside and enjoy Minnesota’s great outdoors and if you’re planning to spend time on the lake fishing I wish you fun and best of luck!
$4 BILLION SWING
February this year, the Minnesota Management and Budget Office (MMB) announced an approximate $1.5 billion budget surplus (e.g., pre-COVID-19). Tuesday this week, MMB released an updated budget projection showing an approximate $2.4 billion deficit due to the steep decline of income and sales taxes collectioned. That’s an approximate $4 billion negative reversal pushing the state into the red! Because the Minnesota Constitution requires a balanced budget, the new $2.4 billion deficit will need to be resolved through a combination of unapproving previously approved spending and dipping into the state’s budget reserve.
Rep. Lucero Thursday this week speaking on the House Floor.
HOUSE FLOOR
Thursday this week, Democrats brought forward HF 1507 seeking to spend more than $200 million on various items, several not COVID-19 related. During debate of the bill on the House Floor, Democrats repeatedly claimed they were seeking to help small businesses through loans and grants. I offered comments on the House Floor in response to Democrat claims which can be viewed at the following link here.
Rep. Lucero was among the group of legislative colleagues who gathered on the MN Capitol steps Thursday this week during the National Day of Prayer to pray to our Creator.
ELECTIVE MEDICAL PROCEDURES
Earlier this week Gov. Walz ended his moratorium on many elective medical procedures and surgeries. Hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and clinics must still provide a plan to maintain a safe environment for staff, patients, and visitors, as well as criteria for determining which procedures will proceed. Once those plans are in place, elective medical procedure providers will be permitted to resume many currently-delayed procedures.
SCHOOL GRADUATION GUIDANCE
A big candy store appealed to Gov. Walz and this week was granted permission to allow up to 200 people in the store but at the same time denies allowing students to socially distance on a football field to celebrate their once in a lifetime high school graduation milestone. Student graduation guidance released by Gov. Walz this week can be found at the following link here. The guidance is the latest example of inconsistent, arbitrary, decision making Gov. Walz continues to mandate with zero input from the Legislative Branch.
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