Families all across Minnesota are starting to face the reality that the coronavirus outbreak is going to alter their daily lives and impact them financially. Several employers in the state are signaling towards extended leave for workers. The University of Minnesota has closed down classes until April. And major sporting venues will no longer allow fans at the games. On top of that, school districts are considering shutting down which would force many parents to leave work to take care of their children.

All of this is happening while legislators at the Capitol are sitting on $4 Billion of our tax money.

The Republicans and Democrat proponents of large government tell us that now, more than ever, is a reason for the state to have a massive reserve account and be careful about giving back the surplus. But that is the exact opposite of what we need right now...more money out of our pocket.

Even President Trump has signaled towards a payroll tax holiday and delaying the tax filing schedule for Americans in response to the outbreak. Of course the Swamp is not on board with that plan.

Why is Senator Paul Gazelka, Republican Majority Leader in Minnesota, not on board with us getting our $1,000 back of the surplus. So far his statements on the surplus is that he wants to give only $1 billion back and keep the $2.4 Billion reserves at record levels. In other words, he wants to keep our money for future spending.

Tell Paul Gazelka that we want our money back. Families in Minnesota are going to struggle and its wrong for government to hold on to our money. Tell him to sign on to Rep Jeremy Munson's Give it Back Act immediately so we all can get $1,000 refunds from the massive $4 Billion surplus. 

Sen Paul Gazelka

651-296-4875

[email protected]

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey declared March 10th "Abortion Providers Appreciation Day". His proclamation follows a move made by the St Paul City Council last week that passed a resolution honoring the work of abortion providers and making March 10th their day.

Frey's proclamation was done to honor a local abortion provider, Whole Woman's Health, and coincided with a case being heard in the Supreme Court.

“Every day, abortion providers like Whole Woman’s Health deliver high quality care in the face of harassment and threats to abortion access at the federal and local levels,” Frey told WCCO. “I’m proud to recognize today as Abortion Provider Appreciation Day to celebrate Whole Woman’s Health as an essential part of our community.”

Here's Frey's tweet about Abortion Providers Day:

Democrat attempts to pass two gun control measures fails in the Senate Judiciary committee this afternoon. Sen Ron Latz proposed two amendments that restrict gun rights. One is commonly referred to as the Red Flag law and would allow law enforcement to take away firearms of citizens without due process. The other amendment was universal background checks that makes it illegal for friends to loan each other a shotgun for a week of hunting.

The next attempt by anti-gun Democrats will be amending omnibus bills on the Senate floor in the final days of the legislative session. We'll keep you informed when these bills come up.

Republican Senator Julie Rosen and several metro Democrats authored a bill that tells restaurants to make the default beverage in children's meals water, sparkling water or white milk. SF 2797 specifies that the beverage can't be more than 130 calories and regulates the advertising for the children's meal only uses imagery of the government approved beverages. 

The Senate bill's chief author is liberal Democrat Senator Karla Bigham (DFL-Cottage Grove). Joining on the bill is Sen Dan Spark (DFL-Austin), Sen Justin Eichorn (R-Grand Rapids) and Rosen. The House bill, which was introduced in February, is authored only be Democrats. It's currently sitting in the Agriculture and Food Finance and Policy Division Committee.

Here's the language:

Rep Jeremy Munson (R-Lake Crystal) introduced the Give It Back Act (HF4270), a bill that would take the nearly $4 Billion budget surplus ($1.5B budgetary balance + $2.4B reserve account) and give it all back to taxpaying Minnesotans by October. Taxpayers in the state would receive a $1,000 refund check for single filers or $2,000 for joint filers. Joining Munson on the bill are several other Republican lawmakers including Rep Cal Bahr (R-East Bethel).

“Last year, the Minnesota legislature fully funded our state government for two years” stated Jeremy Munson. “So we have no need to spend a dime of the surplus on more government. That’s why we want the taxpayers to get that money back as soon as possible.” Munson added “Democrats want to spend the money on more wasteful projects. We want families to have the money back so they can spend it on things important to them. Let’s not forget, it’s their money in the first place.”

The New House Republican Caucus is unique in the Legislature because they are the only group calling for the budget reserves to go back to the people. “The government is taking money out of the private sector and holding onto it in cash for some rainy day” said Jeremy Munson. “In other words, there’s $2.4 Billion not in our economy, waiting for a day to be spent on more government. That’s wrong. All Republicans should be united on giving that back.”

Action 4 Liberty supports the Give It Back Act. There is no reason a Republican in the legislature should oppose giving back every penny of the $4 Billion budget surplus. 

SIGN THE PETITION TO GIVE IT BACK!

Rep Kurt Daudt (R-Spectacle Lake) and the Old House Republican Caucus announced their plan to spend, or retain in the government coffers, nearly $3 Billion of the $4 Billion budget surplus in Minnesota. A surplus is the amount of money that the state government has overtaxed us by. The vast majority of the surplus is sitting in a government reserve account. They announced tax relief of $1 Billion total and proposed expanding a refundable tax credit. 

There are a few things to like about the plan they released like conforming with federal 179 deductions. They also want to permanently eliminate the state income tax on social security. But why are they calling for these things now when they're in the minority? And why are they doing it in a non-budget year when there is even less of a surplus? Action 4 Liberty has been calling for the elimination of social security for the past four years.

It's important to note that the Old House Republican Caucus is not willing to give all of the surplus back to taxpayers. Government is fully funded for two years (something that Tax chairman Davids admits in the press conference), yet they still want to spend $500 Million more on government spending. 

Action 4 Liberty calls for the whole surplus to go right back to taxpayers. Not a dime more should be spent on government.

Senator Jim Abeler (R-Anoka) authored a bill that would ban private establishments from providing costumers with plastic straws unless they personally request one. Violators of this legislation (SF3595) would be fined $50 per illegal straw.

Abeler, who is well known as a very liberal Republican member, is joined by two metro Democrats on the bill: Sen John Hoffman (DFL-Champlin) and Sen John Marty (DFL-Roseville). The companion bill in the MN House has only Democrat authors.

Here's the language of the bill:

Action 4 Liberty opposes this bill. Private businesses already endure too much government regulation. This bill is the antithesis of freedom and free markets.

The ACLU of Minnesota tweeted support yesterday for the extremely controversial St Paul city resolution that made March 10th "Abortion Provider Appreciation Day". We covered the story yesterday at Action 4 Liberty, including footage of the video when all 7 council members voted for the extreme measure.

Here's the tweet:

It's sick to see a group which purports to believe in civil liberties, praise the work of humans who end the lives of unborn babies. How can the ACLU ignore the civil liberties of the human inside the womb? 

Here's the resolution passed by the city earlier this week:

The St Paul City Council passed a resolution 7-0 yesterday recognizing March 10th as Abortion Providers Appreciation Day, according to the Pioneer Press. Four members of the City Council sponsored the resolution: Rebecca Noecker, Nelsie Yang, Dai Thao and Jane Prince.

Resolution 20-416 recognizes "March 10, 2020 as Abortion Providers Appreciation Day". Here's the text:

Here's video of the vote:

The largest abortion provider in Minnesota is Planned Parenthood which gets taxpayer funding through the passage of the Health & Human Services Omnibus bill at the state legislature. For more information about how your tax dollars funds Planned Parenthood and who is voting for it, click here.  

A bill introduced in the Minnesota Senate by Sen Scott Jensen (R-Chaska) would ban legislators by law from registering as lobbyists until four years after they complete their time in office. SF 3216 states "A member of the legislature is prohibited from registering as a lobbyist for four years after the expiration of the last term for which the legislative member was elected." The House has a companion bill (HF2964) authored by Rep Cantrell (DFL-Savage).

Former Rep Nick Zerwas made news last December when he announced his sudden retirement, creating a taxpayer funded special election to fill his seat. Days before Christmas he tweeted that he took a job with a lobbying firm in Minnesota and in January he officially registered as a lobbyist. This move clearly violated Minnesota House rules that ban lobbying by former members for a year.

House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, who leads the Old House Republican Caucus, took a job last year with a Washington D.C. lobbying firm. To skirt the house rules, Daudt didn't register as a lobbyist, instead his position of "Director of Public Affairs" advises registered lobbyists and makes connections for them at state capitols.

Sen Jensen's bill was referred to the State Government Finance and Policy and Elections Committee. We'll keep you informed if the Senate takes further action.