On Monday, the Minnesota Senate passed emergency funding for law enforcement, as requested by Governor Tim Walz. The bill, S.F. 2441, authored by Majority Leader Paul Gazelka (R-East Gull Lake), secures $2.75 million for the law enforcement response to civil unrest through the Interstate Emergency Management Assistance Compact and $6.3 million for Minnesota State Trooper expenses related to the unrest and Chauvin trial. Senator Justin Eichorn (R-Grand Rapids) voted for the bill and released the following statement:

“Our State Troopers are doing a tremendous job keeping our communities safe,” said Eichorn. “We need to make sure they have the resources necessary to do their jobs and get paid for their work. I stand with our law enforcement officers and am proud the Senate was able to take swift action to get them the support they need.”  

Today’s legislation is the byproduct of a public safety conversation between legislative leaders and the Governor. Legislative leaders all agreed with the importance of getting the bill done at the time of the request.

Additionally, Senator Jeff Howe (R-Rockville) presented a resolution that commends the National Guard, and also calls upon labor organizations to act decisively and fire members of their leadership that harassed National Guard Members and forced them to leave the St. Paul Labor Union Hall without notice last week.

“The vast majority of rank and file union members support our National Guard,” said Eichorn. “Many of them are guard members themselves. Those radical activists who harassed our National Guard and the labor leaders who have defended their actions should be ashamed. I applaud and stand with the numerous union leaders and members who have taken a stand in supporting our National Guard.”

Senator Eichorn voted for the resolution which passed the Senate with bipartisan support.

Both the resolution and emergency law enforcement funding bill now await action by the House of Representatives.