Friends and neighbors,
The Senate Transportation Committee recently held a hearing on a controversial new bill that would adopt so-called “Clean Transportation Fuel Standards” in Minnesota.
In layman’s terms, this legislation would grant the Minnesota Department of Transportation sweeping authority to aggressively reduce carbon emissions from transportation fuels through extreme regulations and mandates. It sets arbitrary targets to reduce the “carbon intensity” of fuels sold in Minnesota by 25% by 2030 and a staggering 75% by 2040.
I strongly oppose this proposal. It is effectively a back-door gas tax increase. Expert analysis shows it could increase gas prices by as much as $1.88 PER GALLON by 2040 – an increase that equates to thousands of dollars per year of additional burden that would disproportionately hurt lower and middle-income Minnesota families.
The proposal would also yield virtually no measurable environmental benefits. Research shows that even eliminating all of the greenhouse gases emitted by transportation would only reduce future global temperatures by 0.00095° C by 2100.
I think we all want to protect our environment for future generations, but this proposal represents an extreme overcorrection that sacrifices affordability for symbolism. Fortunately, I do not expect it to go anywhere in 2024, but we should be on the lookout for it in the coming years.
SRO Repair is DONE!
This week I voted for a bill that would finally repair the damage done by last year’s unvetted School Resource Officer law. This bipartisan legislation, which passed overwhelmingly with a vote of 61-3, will restore SROs to their rightful place within our schools and ensure that our children can learn in a safe and secure environment.
Last year, the Democrat majority in the legislature passed a bill that made significant changes to the role of school resource officers (SROs) in our schools. This change was made without any evidence of problems caused by SROs, and without the input of law enforcement officials.
The consequences of that decision have been serious. With the start of the 2023 school year, numerous law enforcement agencies across the state either removed SROs from school buildings or repositioned them outside, leaving our schools more vulnerable to potential threats.
The impact was felt almost immediately, with widespread reports of increased violence and disruptions in schools. Recently an SRO was hospitalized after intervening to break up a fight, highlighting the crucial role these trained professionals play in ensuring the safety of our students, teachers, and staff.
SROs play an important role in keeping students, teachers, and school staff safe. They help mentor students to keep them on the right path, as well as refer them to helpful resources. There have been no reports of SROs harming students before the 2023 change.
While I am pleased that we were able to finally get this repair done, we should never have found ourselves in this situation in the first place. The law was changed under pressure from activist groups, rather than based on evidence or the recommendations of law enforcement professionals. That is not how we should govern.
Contact me:
If you have any questions about any issues we are working on at the legislature, feel free to contact me any time at sen.john.jasinski@mnsenate.gov or 651-296-0284.
And you can always get the latest news from St. Paul on my Facebook page at fb.com/SenatorJohnJasinski.
It is a privilege to serve you!