Dear Friends and Neighbors,
While other states continue their efforts to fully open, Gov. Walz this week decided to buck that trend by extending his abuse of emergency powers yet another 30 days. Emergency powers was intended for emergencies when the executive needs to make decisions within a very short timeframe. COVID has not been an emergency for many, many months. The curve was flattened last year. Gov. Walz continues to make politically calculated political science decisions in defiance of truth, but Republicans are continuing our fight hard to return to the Constitution.
NO VACCINE PASSPORTS
Efforts by big business, big tech, and Democrats are pushing for vaccine passports. A vaccine passport is a paper or digital method to verifying a person’s vaccination status before the person is allowed to access to stores, restaurants, government buildings, or engage in other activities such as travel.
Legislation recently introduced in New York State seeks to mandate vaccinations, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently announced New York has launched a vaccine passport in the form of an QR code via a mobile phone app, and the governor of Connecticut recently told National Public Radio vaccination passports were something his administration “was going to look at.” These efforts by Democrats to shame and criminalize people who simply make different, informed consent decisions than themselves is incredibly dangerous. We must absolutely oppose Democrat objectives to discriminate by creating two classes of people, those with privilege and those without. One’s vaccination status must never be permitted to entitle some people greater access to privilege over others.
I’m very concerned about the increasing calls for mandatory vaccinations and vaccination passports as prerequisites to engage in commerce or travel. As a strong defender of individual liberty and autonomy against abusive government coercion, I’m fighting to prevent mandatory vaccinations and vaccination passports. I introduced HF 2530 as chief author this week to prevent vaccine passports in Minnesota.
TRANSPORTATION FINANCE BILL
At the time I am writing this email update, we are expecting to soon debate the Democrat authored transportation finance bill on the House Floor. The Democrat bill includes a provision to issue driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. Other provisions increase transportation taxes by $1.6 billion over four years including:
- Automatic inflation tax increases adjusted annually on October 1.
- Increases the motor vehicle sales tax on vehicle purchases from current 6.5-percent to new 6.875-percent.
- Increases Metro Area sales tax .5-percent to raise over $916 million in new sales taxes to be spent on non-automobile transit within the seven-county metro.
Many in our community have contacted me about the multi-month waiting list to schedule a driving test road exam for those seeking to obtain a driver’s license. Dysfunction existed at the Minnesota Department of Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) creating the backlog pre-COVID and the situation remains a major headache. Earlier this legislative session I introduced House File 1141 to help bring relief by utilizing existing deputy registrars around the state allowing them to administer road tests. Expanding the number of road testing sites around the state will help eliminate the unnecessarily long waiting list. My bill was referred to the Transportation Committee but the Chair killed the bill by not granting a bill hearing. I will be offering HF 1141 as an amendment but the Democrat majority is anticipated to vote my amendment down.
HOUSING BILL
As a licensed real estate agent myself, ensuring the availability of high quality, affordable housing is one of my passions. Thursday this week, the Democrat majority passed their Housing omnibus bill. Unfortunately, the bill accomplishes zero toward addressing the factors causing homeownership to be unaffordable for too many families. Instead, provisions in the bill remove local control and further impose more government mandates. Nevertheless, I'm among the Republicans who is continuing the focus to solve the shortage of market-rate housing, the high cost of developing housing, and make it easier for Minnesotans to achieve the dream of owning their own.
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