Town Hall Event
Sen. Andrew Lang and I will be hosting a town hall event at 7:00pm on Monday, April 19th. We are eager to answer any questions you may have about the legislative process, our district, or recent news in Minnesota.
You can join us on my Facebook page or through Zoom. The Zoom information is below. I hope to see you there!
Zoom Meeting ID: 979 9976 6714
https://zoom.us/j/97999766714
Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/aeqbgW8fE7
Social Studies Standards
Every ten years, the Minnesota Department of Education puts together a workgroup to examine and modify social studies standards for Minnesota students. This workgroup is unelected and unaccountable to the people. Nevertheless, they will determine what curriculum is a part of the social studies material that our children will study. This gives me great concern.
As we have seen in the last few years, many radical groups are attempting to insert partisan political agendas into social studies education in America. I want to prevent this from happening. As such, I brought forward an amendment that would give the Minnesota Legislature the final authority to set social studies standards for students. I want to ensure that all our children receive a terrific education. American history and civics must be fundamental parts of that education. Unfortunately, my amendment was defeated on a party line vote.
Please see the video below for more details.
Massive Government Spending
The Minnesota Legislature is in the process of voting on massive spending bills. These pieces of legislation, known as omnibus bills, will dictate how much money we spend on public safety, agriculture, welfare, and many other topics. In the Minnesota House of Representatives, Democrats have put forward an agenda to spend $52.5 billion over the next two years. This would be the largest budget in Minnesota history.
Democrats plan to pay for this new spending with increased taxes on businesses and individuals. Tax increases and record new spending is entirely unnecessary. Currently, Minnesota has a budget surplus of $1.6 billion. Additionally, the federal government sent $8 billion in total to our state. Nevertheless, Democrats insist on passing omnibus bills that will raise taxes and spend more of your hard-earned money.
I will be voting against the proposed tax increases and the record spending. The omnibus bills put forward by Democrats will not help Minnesota recover from this pandemic. Instead of collecting more taxes during these tough times, government should be cutting taxes to help people and businesses thrive once again.
Regarding the Tragedy in Brooklyn Center
When Will the Governor’s Emergency Powers End?
One year ago this month, several of my colleagues and I voted to end Governor Walz’s emergency powers. We were the first individuals in the Minnesota House of Representatives to call for executive restraint. We warned of a governor who would abuse constitutional rights if left unchecked. Sadly, we now know the destruction and pain that is caused when a governor consistently dismisses our constitutional rights.
Governor Walz has used his emergency powers to bully and manipulate Minnesotans. His actions caused permanent business closures and severe anguish for many Minnesota families. Even now as we begin to beat this pandemic and see the light at the end of the tunnel, Governor Walz refuses to give up his emergency powers.
From New Hampshire to Texas, states are opening up and lifting mandates. Yet Governor Walz will not see reason. I will keep voting to end the governor’s emergency powers whenever possible. My hope is that we will be able to restore proper checks and balances soon.
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