Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope you had a great weekend! Last Thursday was Groundhog Day. Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow so unfortunately we are in for six more weeks of winter!

Sen. Lucero participating in the ribbon cutting Friday morning last week for the new Caribou Coffee in Saint Michael right off I-94 at the Hwy 241 exit.

Sen. Lucero speaking at the Minnesotans for Health & Parental Rights group Thursday last week during the rally at the MN Capitol. "Parental authority is a God-given right and we will not sit by while Democrats seek to usurp and replace with government mandates," said State Sen. Eric Lucero. "It was an honor joining the large group from across Minnesota."

ROLLING BLACKOUTS COMING TO MN

Senate Democrats brought their extreme energy bill to the Senate Floor Thursday last week and the debate lasted until after Midnight. Some headlines are calling the bill “carbon free by 2040.” In truth, the legislation should be called the “Minnesota Blackout bill.” Multiple experts have said the legislation will put our entire electric grid at risk resulting in less energy reliability, plunge us into rolling black-outs, and cause our monthly electric bills to skyrocket even higher.

It is not possible to power our entire state’s electricity demands with windmills and solar panels and maintain cheap and reliable power. The next time we sustain prolonged, below zero temps (as is normal during Minnesota winters) after the new mandates are fully implemented, we will be in big trouble putting the lives of Minnesotans in danger.

Below is a list of amendments Republicans offered during debate:

· All hydroelectric counts as a renewable energy source

· Allow nuclear to be considered a carbon free source

· Allow small modular nuclear reactors to be considered renewable energy

· Co-ops and Municipal electric providers don’t have to comply with standard obligations unless their customers vote to make them comply

· If blackouts occur or equipment cannot be procured, standards are suspended for two years

· PUC must modify or delay implementation of a standard or obligation where there would be significant rate increase or decreased reliability

· Preference given to renewables that had components mined in MN

· PUC must give report on impacts of solar on fish, wildlife, soil, and groundwater due to chemicals and heavy metals in solar panels

· Windmills, solar, and batteries cannot contain PFAS

The extreme Democrat majority DEFEATED EVERY AMENDMENT with all 33 Republicans FOR and all 34 Democrats voting AGAINST. After voting every amendment down, Democrats then passed the dangerous, hyper-partisan bill on a 34-to-33 vote. The bill now goes to Gov. Walz which he has promised to sign into law.

When I talk to constituents around our great community, the feedback I consistently receive is people want clean, cheap, reliable energy. Minnesotans deserve having confidence our electric grid will not thrust us into blackouts, confidence higher costs will not be forced upon us, and confidence our homes will have heat, especially in the heart of winter. The Democrat majority continuing to ignore the 49% of the state represented by Republicans is an incredible disservice to our Republic.

Sen. Lucero meeting Saint Michael constituent and retired pastor Phil who gave the prayer in the MN Senate Wednesday last week.

DEMOCRAT’S CAMPAIGN PROMISES WERE A RUSE

Gov. Walz campaigned on “One Minnesota” and legislative Democrats campaigned on compromise. We now know it was all a ruse simply to get elected. The reality is approximately 49% of Minnesotans did not support Democrats in the last election. This is clearly seen in the MN Senate 34-33 split.

Democrats are absolutely ignoring 49% of the state with their radical agenda including abortion equal to North Korea and China, electric mandates that will result in rolling backouts and higher energy bills, issuing drivers licenses to illegal immigrants, automatic voter registration to everybody with a drivers license (yes, including illegal immigrants), providing state health insurance to illegal immigrants, new business mandates which will cause even more employers to lay workers off, re-locate out-of-state, or close their door altogether, spending the budget surplus on new programs with little to zero oversight accountability inviting more fraud like Feeding Our Future program, raising taxes on vehicle registration tabs, and much, much more.

The 33 Senate Republicans representing half the state have offered well over 100 reasonable, common sense amendments, but Democrats have rejected them all. Why? Because Democrats don’t actually believe in “One Minnesota.” Instead, Democrats are abusing their majority with a “Democrat way or the highway” mentality. Nevertheless, Republicans will continue attempting to work in bi-partisan fashion for the betterment of ALL Minnesota, not just the metro areas Democrats care about.

Sen. Lucero and Rep. Hudson represent Rockford Township in the Legislature and met constituents Wednesday last week during Township Day on the Hill.

BILLS INTRODUCED

Some of the bills I introduced last week:

· SF0858 - Replacement employees who are employed for more than 60 days as a replacement teacher or faculty member inclusion in public employee definition establishment

· SF0923 - Government vaccine mandates enforcement prohibition; proof of natural antibodies as an alternative to vaccination allowance

· SF0924 - Use of funds for state - sponsored health programs for funding abortions limitation

· SF0930 - Designation and election of presidential electors establishment

· SF0931 - Public union release time restriction

· SF0932 - Requirement that the term incumbent be printed next to the incumbent candidate's name on the ballot repeal

· SF0933 - Drag performances as adult entertainment classification; location restrictions on adult entertainment establishment

· SF0934 - Male student participation in female athletics restriction; male access to female changing facilities restriction

· SF0935 - State loan, grant, or assistance for persons convicted of offense related to protest demonstration, rally, civil unrest, or march prohibition

· SF0936 - COVID - 19 liability immunity establishment

· SF0937 - Employers requiring or incentivizing public safety of medical information prohibition

· SF0938 - Local enforcement of federal vaccine passports prohibition

· SF0939 - Education Savings Accounts for Students Act

· SF0940 - The Stop Environmental Social Governance (ESG) and Social Credit Score Discrimination Act

· SF0941 - Right to carry without a permit provision

· SF0942 - Permitted and trained school staff permission to carry firearms

· SF0943 - Geolocation and smartphone monitoring prohibition of another in certain circumstances

· SF0945 - Minnesota Constitution amendment proposition to allow owners of agricultural land, real property that is both nonhomesteaded and noncommercial, or small business property to vote on levy or bond referendums where the property is located

· SF0946 - Religious protections provision during emergency declarations

· SF0950 - Consumer's consent prior to collecting personal information requirement

· SF0951 - Minnesota Constitution amendment proposition to provide that the right of citizens to be secure from unreasonable searches and seizures to include protection against unreasonable searches and seizures of electronic communications and data

· SF0952 - Prohibition abolition on issuing certificate of need for new nuclear power plant

· SF0953 - Public postsecondary institutions requirement to keep certain student information private

· SF0954 - Standards establishment for biometric privacy

· SF0955 - Three - fifths majority approval requirement from booth bodies to extend peacetime emergencies beyond 30 days

· SF0956 - General data audit trail requirements creation for not public data

· SF0957 - Crime of unauthorized computer access expansion to include accessing a computer without penetrating security system

· SF0958 - Use of facial recognition technology limitation

· SF1026 - Crime of digital picture and recording misrepresentation provision

· SF1103 - Income tax rates decrease

· SF1104 - Closing prohibition of places of worship during an emergency declaration

· SF1105 - Health care providers administering vaccines requirement to disclose certain information to patients

· SF1106 - Consent for vaccination requirement

· SF1107 - Political affiliation addition to the humans right act

· SF1108 - Online content discrimination prohibition

· SF1109 - Compensation requirement to former property owners after sale of tax - forfeited property and payment of canceled taxes to taxing districts

· SF1110 - Neurodata rights establishment

· SF1111 - Motor vehicle registration period increase to 24 months

· SF1211 - Existing law modification on the use of genetic information by government agencies; consumer protection law regarding the use of genetic information establishment

· SF1225 - State Board of Investment investment in certain assets that exclude Minnesota - based energy or natural resources companies or Minnesota - based agricultural or livestock companies prohibition; divestment of these assets requirement; financial services discrimination prohibition

· SF1226 - Elk River sewer improvements bond issue and appropriations

Upcoming joint town hall February 18th in Oak Grove with Sen. Eric Lucero, Sen. Cal Bahr, Rep. Paul Novotny, and Rep. Peggy Scott.

TOWN HALL

Six joint town hall events took place in January in each Hanover, Saint Michael, Albertville, Otsego, Elk River, and Nowthen. I’m excited to announce a seventh joint town hall in Oak Grove. I look forward to seeing you!

Saturday February 18

· Bridge Street Coffee Box at 10-11:30 AM

o Sen. Lucero, Sen. Bahr, Rep. Novotny, & Rep. Scott

o 3122 Viking Blvd NW, Oak Grove, MN 55011