This week I was pleased to receive several new Endorsements from groups which I work closely with.
One is the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Leadership Fund. This is the political arm of the Minnesota State Chamber of Commerce which is involved in many business and job creation issues. I think that this is the 6th consecutive endorsement which I have received from the Chamber.The Chamber is one of the groups, making up the Minnesota Transportation Alliance, which is supporting the Constitutional Amendment to dedicate the Motor Vehicle Sales Tax to Roads and Transit.
There is a need provide more money for our State highways. In the Metro area, they want more money for transit. The proposed Constitutional Amendment spends at least 40% for transit, and up to 60% for roads and highways. I support this Amendment, even though it will shift money which now goes to the State General Fund.
Another Endorsement received this week was from the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA). I have worked closely with Law Enforcement agencies for 16 years, including the Police Agencies, Sheriff’s Association, Department of Corrections, Probation Agents, Domestic Abuse Advocates, and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.I also was given the endorsement by the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis. 
It was a natural fit for me, since I was a State Public Defender for almost 20 years, and am very familiar with the entire Criminal Justice System. I have been the Ranking (lead) Republican Senator on the Crime Prevention Committee or the Senate Public Safety Budget Committee for about the past 10 years.
Last year, Senator Jane Ranum (DFL- Minneapolis) and I co-wrote the Senate Bill dealing with Sex Offenders. The Bill was in response to the Dru Sjodin/ Alfonso Rodriguez abduction case. It was a very tough bill, but also focused on the “worst of the worst” sex offenders.
Over the next 20 years, Minnesota will need to build about 1300 new prison beds as a result of the bill, but it’s worth the cost to remove the most dangerous sex offenders from our communities. And it’s better than trying to “civilly commit” these same offenders when they get out of prison. State Hospitals are not well suited to “treating” these offenders, and the cost is much higher than prison.