On Monday, the Minnesota Senate passed emergency funding for law enforcement. This legislation came forward in response to an emergency funding request made by Governor Walz last week. Included language 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. 

“Minnesotans deserve to feel safe, and our state is on the precipice of an emergency that compromises that,” said Senator Eric Pratt (R-Prior Lake). “Last year, we passed funding to help keep Minnesotans safe, and the House declined to approve that funding. So now that the issue is before us again, I’m hopeful that all parties can agree to support our local law enforcement organizations so that they can continue protecting our communities while preventing further unrest.”
 

Earlier this session, the Senate passed legislation funding for the Law Enforcement Operations Account (LEO), committing to keep Minnesotans safe by securing resources for emergency law enforcement operations tied to extraordinary and unplanned emergency events. House Democrats failed to pass the bill or Governor Walz’s version of the legislation, known as SAFE. Additionally, House Democrats have not introduced any of their own provisions regarding emergency police funding, jeopardizing the safety of residents of the Twin Cities and hindering law enforcement’s ability to respond to emergency events.   

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

Also presented today was a resolution that commends the National Guard for their actions to local communities during the civil unrest, and also calls upon the unions to act decisively and fire their members and leadership that forced the Guard Members to leave without notice and allowed them to be harassed as they exited the premise.  

“Our Guard Members were invited into the Labor Center and left when asked, and they did not deserve the taunting nor the jeers they received as they peacefully left the building,” continued Sen. Pratt. “These men and women of the Guard were called to duty to keep fellow Minnesotans safe, and we should hold union leaders’ accountable for their reprehensible actions. We need to stand up for the dignity of our National Guardsmen—this shouldn’t be a partisan vote, nor should it be a partisan issue.”

This Resolution follows actions that occurred last Wednesday, when more than 50 members of the Minnesota National Guard were kicked out of the St. Paul Labor Center, despite having permission to be stationed there. Guard Members peacefully left the building as union members taunted and jeered at them.

“We need to keep in mind that members of our law enforcement organizations and National Guard are our neighbors, friends, and family members—they are Minnesotans just like us. They put their lives on hold to serve our communities and keep Minnesotans safe, and now more than ever, they deserve our support,” finished Sen. Pratt.