Friends and neighbors,
As many of you know, I am a big proponent of bonding. When interest rates are reasonable, the bonding bill is a great way to fund projects of statewide importance at a good price. When Republicans ran the Senate, we used bonding to fund critical road and bridge projects across Minnesota, water infrastructure improvements, and much more. These are things that make a real impact on people’s lives.
This week, Senate Democrats unveiled a giant bonding proposal worth about $1.9 billion. There are some good things and some questionable things in it, but that doesn’t matter yet. What really matters is what it tells us about Democrat priorities.
We have a $17.6 billion surplus. Before giving a dime of it back to taxpayers, Democrats are running up the state’s credit card. It’s completely backward.
Like I said, I am a strong supporter of smart bonding. But before I can support a bonding bill, we need to see a lot more seriousness from Democrats about giving the surplus back to taxpayers.
Pot legalization is far more complicated and risky than proponents say
One of the other big priorities of Gov. Walz and Democrats in the legislature this year is legalizing marijuana. They have marketed it a simple change in the name of getting out of people’s lives.
In reality, the bill is a 300+ page monstrosity of new rules, regulations, and restrictions.
Ultimately, none of those regulations will change the fact that the bill would have serious, troubling consequences if it becomes law.
The economic costs will be significant, but there are also tremendous social costs. For example, in 2022 there were more than three times as many pediatric cannabis edible exposures in Minnesota as there were the year prior.
We know that people who use marijuana have higher rates of temporary psychosis and long-lasting mental disorders, as well as depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. We know marijuana use is especially risky for young people and developing brains, and use in teens has been linked to higher rates of mental health issues, addiction, difficulty problem-solving, memory and learning problems, lack of focus, and more.
I have not talked to a single law enforcement officer who thinks this will be good for Minnesota. Not a single one, anywhere in Minnesota. It will not improve public safety on our roads and highways. We don’t have testing in place to catch folks who are driving under the influence. We have no idea what it will cost. Drug dogs that have been trained to detect marijuana won’t be able to be used anymore.
I am supportive of individual rights, for sure. But this specific bill is poorly written and will have serious, dire effects on Minnesota if it becomes law.
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@senate.mn 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!