ST. PAUL – Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson (R- East Grand Forks) released the following statement on the Conference Committee for the Public Safety and Judiciary Finance bill:

“It remains to be seen if Senate Democrats have the votes to pass their public safety bill. The self-described moderates will have to decide if they will stay true to the promises to their constituents or bend to the will of party leadership. But they will also be voting for a bill that no longer funds three important provisions: mental health grants and wellness grants for first responders, additional school safety center staff, and body camera grants for law enforcement. Moreover, the bill undoes the unanimous change in the House to leave in law the language that clearly states pedophilia is not a protected class.

“We didn’t think the “Get out of Jail Free” Public Safety bill could get any worse, but somehow, Democrats found a way.”