This column was originally published in the Mesabi Tribune. Read it here. 

I’m writing this on the same day the state budget forecast showed a sobering picture of what two years of one-party control has done. After spending the $18 billion dollar surplus, raising taxes by $10 billion dollars, and wasting $600 million in fraud, the deficit now stands at $6 billion dollars.

We have tough decisions ahead of us, but Republicans will work on a budget that puts Minnesotans First. Our budget must protect your income, fund your priorities, stop the fraud, and reduce government growth to address the looming deficit.

Now that we have the budget forecast, addressing the deficit will start to take over our committee hearings. However, we have been busy for the last few weeks, and I’ve been working on a few bills and issues that I wanted to share with you.

Education

My proposal to change Minnesota’s math graduation requirements had a hearing last week, and as usual, it sparked some debate. I argue that high school should prepare students for life, not just a four-year degree. Others suggested that removing Algebra II requirements could lower academic standards. However, less than half of Minnesota students are currently proficient in math, and only about a dozen states require Algebra II for graduation.

I believe there are some things we learn, like civics, because they make us better citizens. There are others, like math, that make us better employees or students. But not every student needs Algebra II for a four-year degree or future job. I would rather give students and schools more flexibility to prepare students for their futures than enforce a broad expectation that may not make sense for each individual.

The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in a future education omnibus bill, so I’m sure we will have this conversation again as that package comes together.

Also, in the realm of education, I recently introduced a bipartisan bill that would decrease the amount of paperwork that special education teachers need to complete. We know that students in the special education program have the highest level of need and we want teachers to be freed up from all of the paperwork to actually have more time to work with students. The chair of the education policy committee signed onto the bill as a co-author, and I am hopeful to get a hearing soon.

AEOA Housing Funding

Another bill I authored to address housing issues in our area had a hearing last week. My bill would provide $2 million to the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency to acquire and rehabilitate tax-forfeited properties, turning them into workforce housing.

We’ve all heard about the housing challenges in Minnesota, and there are broader discussions about how we can help every family achieve the American Dream of homeownership. This bill specifically benefits the Arrowhead region, making lemonade out of lemons by converting tax-forfeited properties, which currently do not contribute to the tax base, into usable housing options for workers and families. This will not only create more housing but also expand the property tax base.

I’m pleased the bill received a positive reception in the hearing and was laid over for possible inclusion in the housing omnibus bill.

Saving Girls’ Sports

Republicans hosted Riley Gaines, a former Division I competitive swimmer from the University of Kentucky, for a rally and legislative effort to protect girls’ sports. Gaines is an outspoken advocate for preserving fairness in women’s and girls’ athletics and has personal experience competing against a biological male.

Recent polling by The New York Times shows that 80% of Americans agree we need to protect female sports from the inclusion of biologically male athletes. Despite this overwhelming support, the Minnesota State High School League and our statewide elected leaders are failing to protect our daughters. They are putting them at physical risk and allowing a fundamentally unfair system to continue by letting boys play in girls’ sports. I do not support this decision and will do everything I can in the Senate to stand up for our girls.

Minnesotans’ Safety First

One of our top priorities is repealing the Minnesota Rehabilitation and Reinvestment Act, which makes 92% of our prison population eligible for early release. This bill has very few exceptions, meaning individuals convicted of assault, domestic violence, and gun violations are eligible for early release.

We also want to bring transparency to the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission, a little-known but highly influential board appointed by the governor to adjust sentencing guidelines.

Finally, we support increased training for law enforcement, including $6 million in ongoing funding for the Philando Castile Memorial Training Fund and $3.5 million for the Violent Crime Enforcement Training Fund. Unfortunately, the governor’s budget proposal currently does not include funding for these critical training programs.

One of the main concerns we hear from law enforcement is that some elected officials do not support them or their families. Providing these funds is a way to show that in St. Paul, we stand with the men and women who wear a uniform and carry a badge every day.