Green

A Tale of Two Policy Bills

This week Democrats passed two controversial policy bills off the floor: the Labor policy bill and the Education policy bill. Both have many problems. I want folks to be aware of what’s in them. Let’s…

Gruenhagen: The doctors who oppose assisted suicide

Friends and neighbors,  As you know, Democrats in the legislature this session have indicated they wanted to legalize assisted suicide in Minnesota. As I have written before, this is a terrible idea. It sends a…
Howe

Education policy omnibus burdens schools, fails to put students first

Yesterday Senate Democrats passed a partisan, mandate-heavy education policy omnibus bill. The legislation fails to address the three areas where schools need the most support: increasing academic success, providing mandate relief and improving school safety.…

Nelson applauds Net Operating Loss repair

The Minnesota Senate finally approved a repair to a legislative error that would have hit Main Street Minnesota businesses with a $15 million tax hike. Minnesota State Senator Carla Nelson (R-Rochester), a co-author of the…

Senator Lieske Celebrates Local Ag Education Grants

Minnesota State Senator Bill Lieske (R-Lonsdale) today praised two schools in his district for receiving competitive grants from the Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council (MAELC) to enhance agricultural education programs. Farmington High School was awarded…

Lieske: Giving Minnesotans a say in the flag debate

Friends and neighbors, Thursday on the Senate Floor I supported a motion to immediately bring up for a vote a bill that would give Minnesotans a voice on the new state flag and seal designs.…

Koran: Religious freedom must be protected!

Dear Friends and neighbors, This week in the dark of night – after midnight – Democrats deliberately launched an attack on the freedom of religious groups and faith-based schools. Here is what happened: Senate Democrats…

Draheim: Public health projects, not luxury amenities

By: SENATOR RICH DRAHEIM One of my big criticisms of last year’s bonding bill was that it included too much waste. There are communities across the state that have urgent needs, but Democrats chose to…

Lucero: Unfunded mandates crushing school budgets

TO THE EDITOR: Last year the Democrat-trifecta passed a hyper-partisan K-12 education funding budget filled with unfunded mandates. The result has been to further crush school budgets in our community and across the state that…

Gruenhagen: Democrats are attacking your religious freedom

Friends and neighbors, Concerning news from the Minnesota Senate this week. In the middle of the night, Democrats on the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee rejected an amendment that would have protected religious freedom…

State graduation rate drops, student test scores warrant concern

ST. PAUL – Senate Education Policy Committee Lead Republican Julia Coleman (R-Waconia) released the following statement on the state’s graduation rates: “Graduating from high school is such an important indicator to track, but I am concerned…