Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The Legislature reconvened this week after being in recess last week in observance of Passover and Resurrection Day. This week was dominated with completing many of the multiple bills to fund all of state government passing the bills out of the various committees sending them on their path to the full House Floor beginning next week.
Rep. Lucero recently was awarded a 100% score for his conservative, pro-Constitution votes. "I'm incredibly honored to be among the four Minnesota legislators to receive a 100% score in the ratings released by the American Conservative Union Foundation," said State Rep. Eric Lucero. "I'm firmly committed to continuing the fight for truth, Constitutional principles, and the future of our great Republic!"
MORE AND MORE AND MORE TAXES
House Democrats this week released their Transportation Omnibus bill which includes more than $1.5 billion in unexpected transportation tax and fee hikes over the next four years. None of the tax/fee proposals received committee hearings this year making their inclusion even more shocking, including gas and light rail tax hikes at a time when Minnesota has a projected surplus of more than $4 billion. The Democrat tax hike proposals would hit Minnesotans of all income levels at a time when many are still struggling and will make Minnesota an even more expensive place to live and drive. We absolutely DO NOT need to raise taxes to fund the most basic functions of government.
Several of the Democrat tax increases at a time the state is flush with cash include:
- A gas tax increase ($363 million over four years) by linking Minnesota's gas tax to the Highway Construction Cost Index. This would result in an automatic annual inflationary gas tax increase.
- A sales tax increase to fund light rail and other transit ($916 million over four years). Democrats are proposing a half percent increase in the Metro sales tax.
- A Motor Vehicle Sales Tax (MVST) increase ($120 million over four years).
- Vehicle registration tax increase ($149 million over four years) through changes to vehicle depreciation schedules.
- Luxury vehicle registration tax increases ($10.7 million over four years).
The Democrat transportation bill also includes loads of Democrat pet project funding earmarks including Milwaukee/Chicago passenger rail funding, $6 million for the proposed Rondo Land Bridge project over Interstate 94, and a transportation study that funds “cost estimating, environmental permitting, and preliminary engineering” for a major highway project through a Democrat House member’s district.
If the above wasn’t bad enough, House Democrats also released their tax bill this week seeking to raise other taxes by more than $1 billion. The bulk of the additional tax hike revenue would come from the creation of a brand new 5th tier income tax of 11.15% which would make Minnesota the second-highest top income tax rate in the country.
Rep. Lucero Easter morning with friends State Rep. Cal Bahr and Ramsey City Council Member Chelsee Howell. Council Member Howell was among the Ramsey City Council members who recently voted to pass a resolution declaring no city resource shall be used to enforce Gov. Walz's mask mandate or any other executive orders that infringe on people's constitutionally protected rights.
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
On a party-line vote, Democrats jammed through their Public Safety Omnibus bill which includes numerous anti-law enforcement policies as well as provisions to reduce sentences for criminals and hide even violent offenses from the public record. It is incredibly disappointing Chair Mariani once again prioritized the anti-law enforcement policies promoted by the extreme Democrat caucus despite the fact the Democrat inspired, anti-law enforcement policies have bipartisan opposition.
Minnesota's top law enforcement organizations — the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA), the Minnesota Chiefs Association, and the Minnesota Sheriff's Association — sent letters opposing the Democrat Public Safety Omnibus bill highlighting a multitude of concerns including unfunded mandates on local law enforcement agencies, automatic expungement of numerous violent crimes, and granting activist civilian organizations policy and discipline power over local agencies. The law enforcement groups also noted their disappointment that the bill did not include funding for the proposed SAFE Account, as well as the Arik Matson bill that strengthens penalties for deadly force assault of police officers and other criminal justice officials. The Officer Matson bill (SF 82) has bipartisan co-authors in the Senate and passed the Senate Judiciary Committee without opposition on a voice vote earlier this year.
The omnibus bill did contain several good measures Republicans support including important reforms to Minnesota's Criminal Sexual Conduct (CSC) laws and grants to combat sex trafficking, but the same Democrat partisan agenda that derailed the SAFE Account bill several weeks back will cause certain doom for the omnibus bill in the Republican controlled Senate. As a member of the Public Safety Committee and one who supports our law enforcement professionals, I voted NO to the Democrat Public Safety Omnibus bill.
Rep. Lucero last week invited to speak to a large crowd in South Saint Paul sharing his continued efforts fighting for election integrity including the articles of impeachment Rep. Lucero drafted against MN District Judge Sara Grewing for colluding to usurp MN election law, violating equal protection under the law, and failing to protect the principle of one citizen-one vote.
COMMERCE COMMITTEE
The Commerce Committee has jurisdiction over Minnesota’s regulated industries such as real estate, pharmaceuticals, building contractors, insurance, etc. While the Commerce Omnibus bill included a handful of good policy provisions, once again, the Democrat majority packed the bill full of other highly controversial, partisan provisions. I voted no to the omnibus bill. I’ve included several provisions below Democrats included in the bill:
- Prescription drug price control board to further grow government socialized medicine
- Invokes government price controls on third-party food delivery fees
- Increases the eviction burden on storage facility owners when occupants fail to pay their monthly rent
Rep. Lucero last week was invited to speak to a large crowd in Champlin sharing a Capitol update highlighting his ongoing efforts working hard to stop the radical Democrat agenda which includes their goals of vaccine passports, promoting gender confusion to young children, perpetrating the false narrative the United States is the source of evil the world over, and that the United States is rampantly racist with every institution dominated by racists and racists on every corner and behind every tree.
CONVENTION OF STATES
Among the hot topics I continue to receive feedback on is Convention of States. I share the concerns of many across our community and state at the direction the Federal government is pulling our country both with uncontrolled spending and with blatant disregard for the 10th Amendment. We are undeniably on an unsustainable path and something must be done to change course. For these reasons I’m a full supporter of Convention of States.
I will be joining colleagues State Reps. Shane Mekeland, Cal Bahr, and State Sen. Andrew Matthews participating in a Convention of States Town Hall Forum Saturday April 24th beginning at 10 AM at South Santiago Lutheran Church in Clear Lake. I’m looking forward to a great conversation and I hope you will be able to join us!
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