Third term state Rep. Mike Beard (R-35A) of the Shakopee/Prior Lake area recently shared his observations on the 2007 legislative session and current political climate at the Capitol with Minnesota Christian Chronicle editor Bryan Malley.
MCC: How has the political landscape changed in Minnesota since the elections last November?
Beard: We’re not in charge and you can sure tell when you look at the bill roster. Conservatives don’t set the agenda here anymore; we have to react to what the liberals are doing. My job now is to clearly and cogently state a conservative position, and I try to do that as clearly as I can in the committees I serve on.
MCC: Who is “in charge” now that the political majorities in the House and Senate have shifted?
Beard: Committee chairs with agendas that are different than someone with a conservative worldview. For instance, we’ve got several people now that think government education is the “be-all-end-all solution” to education.
The environmentalists pretty much own the place and they’ve got an agenda that is an anti-traditional prosperity kind of thing. Some of the bills that are getting heard never would have been in the past.
We just try to let God’s light shine through our lives and keep a godly attitude. My job is to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly.
MCC: Local media outlets have made much of Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s public comments on government funding for stem cell research. What’s the status of that issue currently?
Beard: One of the things that hasn’t been very partisan has been the bio-tech area. Into this mix, however, Rep. Phyllis Kahn (D-59B) was all too happy to throw in her embryonic stem cell research funding bill.
(Her bill would allow state funding for research on human embryonic stem cells and stem cells created by a cloning method. The legislation would create an oversight board to review the work and ban the sale of embryos or fetal tissue.)
This is not a discussion about whether we are for or against stem cell research; it’s about embryonic stem cell research.
When we are talking about the foundations of human life, let’s have some respect and not throw the taxpayer money at it. It’s interesting that the private money is going into adult stem cell research where there has been some success. Private money has been staying away in droves from embryonic stem cell research.
MCC: Pawlenty signed a bill last month that requires utilities to get at least 25 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2025. The measure would also require Minnesota’s largest utility, Xcel Energy, to hit 30 percent by 2020. What affect will this have?
Beard: It’s going to be very difficult to maintain our lifestyle of being cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and light when its dark out, and live with the bill that the legislature just passed.
There is a reasonable amount of science that says that the climate is changing and the earth is getting warmer. But the panic and chaos that ensues with the conviction that things are going to get worse, I don’t know where they get that.
People that don’t have a worldview that says God is in charge and in control have tended to get very fearful. And you can feel that over here [at the Capitol].
MCC: Will legislation supporting domestic partnership benefits come up this session?
Beard: I wouldn’t be surprised. Rep. Karen Clark (D-61A) has her own committee dealing with Housing Policy and Public Health. Dan Severson (R-14A, author of Marriage Amendment) is the ranking Republican on that committee.
MCC: Early childhood education is another topic often discussed. No legislative action has been taken yet, but what is the motivation behind these initiatives?
Beard: There is a real push to get kids from homes without biological parents into early childhood education by the age of 3 to get ready for schooling.
Some of us are old enough to remember that that was what kindergarten used to be for. Now they are saying we need a full day of kindergarten. The success of those programs is very unproven.
I’m afraid we are going to throw a lot of money into creating more jobs and more members for Education Minnesota. That’s why some of us are very concerned about the state stamp of approval. If we have to hire only those with a curriculum approved by Education Minnesota, then we’ve just handed our kids over to the government.
To apply that to all children is the endgame, but they know they can’t go there yet.
MCC: Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life has introduced legislation attempting to end taxpayer funding of abortion. Any predictions for that bill?
Beard: We no longer have pro-life majorities in the House or Senate, and that is a first.
I sign on to these bills because I believe in them, but I don’t think the bill will pass or even get to the floor. If it gets to the floor, I will vote for it.
It’s now very difficult to get pro-life legislation to the floor—unless you describe early childhood education or more money for the homeless as pro-life.
MCC: What can readers expect in the area of tax increases?
Beard: There are several tax increases floating around in the Senate, but they’ve got to see if they can get them originated over here in the House.
When we were in charge, we already had targets set by now. In this brave new world, they are out there gathering up the “need.” Then they’ll tell the tax committee what they “need” and how they are going to get it.
It’s too soon to tell, but the governor has already said that when it comes to that stuff, he’s going to veto it.
MCC: Any comments on Pawlenty’s proposed budget?
Beard: I wish he would have started a little more lean. It’s a 9.3 percent increase, even though it doesn’t include many tax increases. That’s a pretty fast government growth for a conservative governor.
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