NW Twin Cities

In the third week of the House Republican Majority, legislative activity in Minnesota is progressing with both parties introducing bills and holding committee hearings. Representative Joe McDonald (R-Delano) noted increased bipartisan cooperation, stating that Republicans and Democrats are working together to pass legislation. He said, "After four years in the legislature, I’m seeing more bipartisan cooperation than ever before. Both Republicans and Democrats recognize that we need 68 votes to pass anything, which means we have to work together—and that’s exactly what’s happening."

McDonald described instances where Democratic colleagues have sought Republican support for bills they believe serve Minnesotans, emphasizing a collaborative approach on issues such as education, transportation, and healthcare. He remarked, "When legislation is good for Minnesota and good for our districts, it’s about working together, not playing politics. Whether it’s education, transportation, healthcare, or other key issues, we are finding common ground to pass meaningful reforms."

Among the bills advancing is one focused on maintaining fairness in women’s sports by restricting participation to women only. The bill has passed through committee and is expected on the House floor soon. McDonald commented on public sentiment regarding this issue: "The reality is that over 87% of Americans agree that men should not be allowed to compete in women’s sports. It’s unfortunate that we even need a bill for something so fundamental, but we’re standing up to protect opportunities for female athletes."

Another measure under consideration aims to ensure only women are housed in female prisons by preventing male inmates from transferring based solely on gender identification. McDonald stated his support: "No male inmates should be able to simply identify as women and be transferred into female facilities. This, again, is basic common sense, and I’m proud to support legislation that keeps women safe in correctional settings."

Efforts continue within the legislature to address waste and fraud within state agencies. According to McDonald: "The numbers are staggering—over $600 million in fraud has been uncovered in the last four years, including scandals like CCAP and Feeding Our Future." Legislative committees are focusing on reform measures intended to prevent further misuse of taxpayer funds.

Looking ahead at fiscal policy goals and session deadlines set by the state constitution (https://www.revisor.mn.gov/constitution/#article4), lawmakers plan to pursue balanced budget measures with an aim of concluding their work by May 20th.

McDonald concluded with optimism about ongoing efforts: "While lawmaking isn’t perfect and at times a little messy, we’re on the right track! We’re working toward fiscally responsible policies, commonsense legislation, and a balanced budget. Our goal is to wrap up session by May 20th, which is the constitutional deadline..."