News – Page 137 – Minnesota Senate Republicans

January 26, 2022

Kiffmeyer: Election judge volunteers needed and update on our state budget surplus

Friends and neighbors, Poll workers / election judges: Transparency has always been a fundamental value of our elections, and our election judges play a key role in ensuring our elections are transparent, honest, and open.…

January 25, 2022

Senate Republicans respond to Walz $5.1 billion spending spree

ST. PAUL, MN – Senate Republicans responded to Walz’s $5.1 billion surplus spending spree today, issuing the following statements: Senator Roger Chamberlain (R-Lino Lakes): Last year Senate Republicans passed record funding for schools; a 2.5% increase…

January 25, 2022

Statement from Sen. Rich Draheim on closure of RentHelpMN

St. Paul, MN – Senator Rich Draheim (R- Madison Lake) released the following statement in response to the closure of RentHelpMN: I am disappointed that Commissioner Jennifer Ho and the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA)…

January 25, 2022

Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen Responds to House Democrats Public Safety Proposal

(St. Paul, MN) Today, House Democrats unveiled their plan for a $100 million public safety plan. The proposal contains significant funding for community engagement and nonprofits but was noncommittal to provide resources for new officers…

January 24, 2022

Senator Paul Gazelka Responds to House Democrats Public Safety Proposal

Today, House Democrats unveiled their plan for a $100 million public safety plan. The proposal contains significant funding for community engagement and nonprofits but was noncommittal in providing resources for new officers or strengthening sentencing…

January 24, 2022

Senate Majority Leader responds to House DFL public safety proposal

ST. PAUL, MN –Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller (R- Winona) released the following statement in response to the House DFL public safety proposals: “Senate Republicans will make communities safer by funding more police officers, holding…

January 21, 2022

Senator Ingebrigtsen, the former Douglas County Sheriff, releases statement on Hennepin County Sheriff Dave Hutchinson

ST. PAUL, MN –Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen (R- Alexandria) released the following statement calling for Hennepin County Sheriff Dave Hutchinson to resign after his December accident in Douglas County: “I served four terms as the elected…

January 21, 2022

Senator Jasinski: Independent expert review confirms changes badly needed at DVS; deputy registrars not compensated adequately for their work

Watch the press conference here. ST. PAUL, MN – On Thursday, Senator John Jasinski (R-Faribault) and a bipartisan group of legislators joined Rick King, chair of the Independent Expert Review (IER) tasked with investigating Minnesota’s…

January 21, 2022

Chamberlain: Audit all COVID-related funds and spending

ST. PAUL, MN – Senate Education Committee Chair Roger Chamberlain (R- Lino Lakes) released the following statement regarding an FBI raid on the non-profit group, “Feeding Our Future” for millions of dollars of fraudulent spending from COVID federal…

January 20, 2022

Bipartisan Legislators and Independent Expert Review Chair discuss changes recommended to improve customer experience with driver’s services

ST. PAUL, MN –Today Senator Scott Newman (R- Hutchinson), Representative Steve Elkins (D- Bloomington), and Representative John Petersburg (R- Waseca) joined Rick King, chair of the Independent Expert Review (IER) authorized to examine Driver and…

January 20, 2022

Miller: Walz checks nothing more than election year gimmick

ST. PAUL, MN –Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller (R-Winona) issued the followed statement in response to Governor Walz’s proposed “Walz Checks” and other spending items: “Walz checks are nothing more than an election year gimmick, and…

January 19, 2022

Kiffmeyer: Addressing Minnesota’s budget surplus, unemployment insurance, and health care worker shortage

Friends and neighbors, With the 2022 legislative session set to begin at the end of January, a key topic my colleagues and I in the legislature will discuss is our state’s budget surplus. Minnesota’s state…

January 17, 2022

Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen Announces Retirement

ST. PAUL, MN – State Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen (R – Alexandria) announced today that he would not seek re-election in 2022. Ingebrigtsen, who is currently in his 5th term, was first elected to the Minnesota Senate…

January 14, 2022

Senator Paul Gazelka announces legislation combating Minnesota’s weak stance on crime

Today, Senator Paul Gazelka (R-East Gull Lake) announced three legislative reforms that will introduce minimum sentencing for carjackings and repeat offenders of crimes with a firearm to combat the leniency given to violent offenders who…

January 14, 2022

Sen. Chamberlain’s priorities for 2022: public safety, education, cost of living

Friends and neighbors, Each year, I am asked about my priorities for the upcoming session. This year there are a few issues that stand out above the rest. These responses will also appear in the…

January 14, 2022

Senator Utke named Chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee

Senator Paul Utke (R-Park Rapids) has been named the Chair of Senate Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee for the 2022 Legislative session. Sen. Utke was elected to the Senate in 2016 and…

January 13, 2022

Senator Paul Gazelka Responds to Sentencing Guidelines Commission’s Postponement of Vote on Controversial Sentencing Reduction Proposal

Today, the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission pushed a vote to remove a factor used to determine appropriate sentences in state courts for repeat criminals despite solid opposition from the public, law enforcement, and legislators. Senator Paul…

January 13, 2022

Chamberlain: Beauty is a Cure

Beauty is a CureBy: Senator Roger Chamberlain Beauty means many different things to people. A hike on a favorite trail in Superior National Forest, holding a baby, time spent in a deer stand, good architecture,…

January 13, 2022

Senator Chamberlain statement on Sentencing Guidelines Commission decision to postpone vote on reducing criminal penalties on certain repeat offenders

The Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission today decided to postpone voting on an unpopular proposal to reduce criminal penalties for offenders who commit crimes while on probation. The proposal had drawn criticism from law enforcement groups,…

January 13, 2022

Limmer: Commission Postpones Controversial Sentencing Reduction Proposal

After unprecedented outcry and opposition from Minnesotans, law enforcement groups, and legislators, the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission (MSGC) voted Thursday, Jan. 13, to postpone action on a controversial proposal to reduce sentences for repeat criminals.…