Democrats see Michigan and Minnesota as guides for what to do with majority power

The Associated Press ^ | August, 7, 2023 | BY STEVE KARNOWSKI AND JOEY CAPPELLETTI

[Oldeconomybuyer]

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Fueled by election gains, Democrats in Minnesota and Michigan this year enacted far-reaching policy changes that party leaders in other states are looking to as a potential roadmap for what they could swiftly achieve with similar control.

Gun safety packages, expanded voting rights, free meals for all students, and increased protections for abortion rights and LGTBQ+ people were just some of pent-up policy proposals that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law within months under the new legislative majorities.

“We’ve definitely paid attention to what they’ve done,” Pennsylvania state Sen. Sharif Street, chair of the state Democratic party, said about the two states. “I’ve offered to Pennsylvanians that if we could flip the Senate, we could pass similar legislation.”

Democrats in four states, including Massachusetts and Maryland, scored victories in the 2022 midterms to gain a “trifecta” — control of the state House, state Senate and the governor’s office. Republicans, who held trifectas in 19 more states than Democrats just six years ago, now hold an advantage of 22 states to the Democrats’ 17.

Whitmer, who spoke with The Associated Press last week, said she hopes voters in other states see that “you can lead with your brain and also be a kind person in the process.” She added an oft-repeated phrase of her second-term that “bigotry is bad for business.”

The quick work by Democrats in the two states was due in part to uncertainty over how long the full control will last considering voters could decide to flip state House majorities back to Republican control as soon as next year. Michigan and Minnesota Republicans are already strategizing to regain some power in the 2024 elections by calling out what they say have been overly partisan sessions.

[dfwgator]

So, the Marxists get a free lunch and free other things until “other people’s money runs out” (let’s give Maggie credit) and the people they were taxing are gone!

But in Maggie's case, that's a whole country. It's a lot tougher to leave a country, than to just move from a State. (Although I suspect eventually the Rats have a plan to stop that, as well)

[The Great RJ]

Minnesota DFL law makers spent every nickel of a $12 billion surplus and then raised taxes, turned the state into an abortion Auschwitz, legalized marijuana, gave illegals drivers licenses and instate college tuition and tried to implement a “list” of persons spreading “disinformation”. Proof of the old adage that ...no man’s life liberty or property are safe when the legislature is in session.

[madison10]

Same. Although the two counties I live in, and frequent, voted very conservatively. Our votes got stomped again.