Draz: Shotgun zone eliminated!

Friends and neighbors, One significant victory from this year’s legislative session was that we successfully eliminated the archaic shotgun-only hunting zone for southern Minnesota. Hunters here will finally be treated fairly with the rest of…

Draz: Overview of the new state budget

Friends and neighbors, Bad news for Minnesotans hoping to rein in unsustainable state spending: the new budget is $66 billion. While slightly lower than the $70 billion budget passed two years ago, it remains dramatically…

Lieske: We can, and must, disagree without violence

By Senator Bill Lieske By now, you are all aware of the tragedy that took place early on June 14, when Minnesota was rocked by unimaginable violence. A masked gunman, posing as a police officer, visited…

Remembering Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman

By Senator Julia Coleman Speaker Hortman was the kind of person who could command a room both when she spoke and when she listened. That balance, leading with strength while remaining fully present for others,…

Honoring Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman

By Senator Mark Koran When I first met Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, what stood out to me immediately was her presence. Engaging, kind, and down-to-earth. Nearly a decade later, those same qualities remained just as…

Remembering Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman

By Senator Rich Draheim Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman was the kind of servant leader who made the Minnesota Legislature a better place. She led with conviction and principle, but even in the most divisive moments…

Gruenhagen: Pray for the Hortman and Hoffman families

Friends and neighbors, By now you have heard the shocking news about House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and Senator John Hoffman and their families. Words can hardly describe how we are feeling today. Needless to…

Sen. Warren Limmer responds to attacks on legislators

Senator Warren Limmer (R-Maple Grove) released the following statement responding to the attacks of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, Senator John Hoffman, and their spouses: “This morning we received the tragic news that Speaker Emerita Melissa…