GRAND RAPIDS — Four Republican legislators talked cutting regulation, natural resources, energy and fraud at the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce’s Lunch with Legislators on Jan. 8 in Grand Rapids.
Rep. Roger Skraba of Ely, Rep. Spencer Igo of Wabana Township, Rep. Ben Davis of Mission Township and Sen. Steve Green of Fosston answered questions from the chamber and two of the 70 or so attendees during the two-hour event.
All six of Itasca County’s legislators were slated to appear, but Sen. Keri Heintzeman was unable to attend due to travel delays, and Sen. Grant Hauschild was not able to attend because of a work matter.
The lunch served as both a recap of last year’s session and a preview of what’s to come.
The discussion didn’t include any major reveals or unfamiliar territory; each legislator largely stuck to their typical talking points: unlocking critical minerals, lowering government spending and energy affordability, to name a few.
But those can still reveal where the lawmakers’ heads are at as they prepare to return to St. Paul. The Legislature is set to reconvene Feb. 17.
While there was some partisan finger-pointing, Igo and Skraba in particular sought to strike a bipartisan note. With the House split 50/50, votes from both parties are needed for any legislation to pass.
"What is our vision together that we want to see? Not a Republican or a Democrat, but what is it we want?” Skraba said. “I know we all kind of want the same thing, but can we work together to get it? And I want to, just a heads-up on it.”
Igo highlighted his work in energy and as the co-chair of the housing committee. In the coming months, he aims to pass a bill ending the nuclear energy moratorium and getting more funding approved for market-rate housing projects.
The legislators also reminded the room of the importance of local voices in state politics, especially if they want to see a change in policy.
“We need people to stand together as a group, whether it be you as business folks and joining together with your local governments to be in St. Paul,” Green said. “Not just your lobbyists, but you be in St. Paul and tell the powers that be, ‘We can’t do this. This is not possible for us to do.’”
Davis said implementing voter ID requirements is a top priority for him. He also highlighted the passage of his bill strengthening fraud reporting requirements.
“The main provision of that bill was that government employees must promptly report fraud when they see it happening,” he explained. “Before that, it was written in state statute that they were encouraged to report fraud. Folks, that’s a broken system.”
Fraud came up several times, as Minnesota is under scrutiny for pervasive fraud in state-run health and human services programs.
It served as a reminder that none of these issues exist in a vacuum. Perhaps an even greater reminder was the recognition of the killing of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis the day before.
The Legislature reconvening next month will be the first time Minnesota politicians all gather since the assassination of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman last June.
In his opening remarks, Skraba noted what legislators have endured in the last few years feels much different than their predecessors.
“This session will be interesting to see what we do, amongst the other things that we’re all concerned about in here,” he said.
“ ... There’s a lot of things that we still have to do. We can’t just get froze and locked up because of all the sideshows that are happening, unfortunate or fortunate, whatever sideshows they are. We have to remain focused on representing our districts.”
