March 11, 2026 • 38 mins
Jon continues the conversation from the previous hour, and expands to MN Paid Family Leave. Luke Sprinkle from Alpha News joins to call attention to local stories.
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
Our three Twins City's News Talk. Hey, I'm eleven thirty
one oh three five FM. I'm watching the UH headlines
on Fox News talking about the latest successes regarding Operation
Epic Fury. US has been sinking mine laying vessels. That
(00:28):
a key choke point in the Strait of Ormuz. I
love all the winning. I do not like I will
say this though, I do not like that the regime
is still in place. I'm curious to see what the
administration ends up doing now that Ayatola Kamane's sun has
taken over. I would like to see the Iranian people
(00:53):
go and take back their country and remove this regime,
and I hope that is part of the endgame in
all of this. I'm very pleased to those so far
with the success that we've been having, and we'll continue
to as we have been doing, mon itor the situation here.
On Twin City's News Talk, we were talking at the
end of last hour this absolutely ridiculous move by Democrats.
(01:18):
Walter Hudson writes this online. You know Trump wants to
give money to schools and lower your taxes. Minnesota Democrats
won't talk in because it's being proposed by Republicans, Walter writes,
would you write a seventeen hundred dollars check to your
school if you got that money back on your tax return.
Of course you would, but Walls won't let you. The
(01:39):
Democrats are blocking it. They're putting up ridiculous videos voiced
and shown on the video Representative Sidney Jordan. You can
actually see this on my Twin Cities News talk feed
on x and also my personal account at John Justice.
As Max Remer writes, and we played some audio from
him last hour, the federal government created a tax credit
scholarship program that states can use if they choose to participate.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
If the state opts in, taxpayers.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Can donate money to approved scholarship granting organizations and thusly
receive a dollar for dollar dollar tax credit up to
seventeen hundred dollars, and then that money goes to students
in private and public schools. This doesn't have an impact
on any other taxpayers. It doesn't really have an impact
on the taxpayer that's spending the money because you get
(02:27):
it back from the federal government, and if we don't
opt in, it goes to other states. And yet you
have Democrats like Sidney Jordan out there complaining about schools
being underfunded, and they are directly voting against giving schools funding.
So instead, if we don't opt in, the support is
going to go to Colorado or Virginia. As Max writes,
it's the easiest vote in the world. And Democrats Walls included,
have said no uniformly. They don't even know why, apart
(02:51):
from they have.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
What's called a Trump derangement problem. Have you heard about
that problem?
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Yeah, regarding that seventeen hundred dollars cat tax break, like
a rich person really gives a rip. It's seventeen hundred bucks.
Speaker 4 (03:05):
Good lord.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
A lot of them spend more than that on a
flipp and purse. They could give a crap. So Democrats,
you just stupid if you buy into this class warfare
crap Trump what's a republic? Is why they're we got
your idiots.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Thank you. Ford of the show JD always colorful with
the top backs. Rarely do they disappoint. Minnesota Paid Family
Medical Eve is disappointing. As predicted. Businesses are facing significant
hurdles with the state's new Paid Family Medical EVE Act,
(03:47):
and that's just two months after its implementation. This is
not a story from a what would be considered a
right leaning outlet. I'm actually working off of this from
Fox nine. The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce shared that eighty
percent of its sixty three hundred members already offered some
form of.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Paid leave before the state mandate.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Business owners are now experiencing increased costs and frustration due
to the new requirements. The Chamber highlighted several concerns, including
the program's complexity, slow execution, and disruption for small or
seasonal businesses. There are also worries about potential misuse in
(04:32):
long term financial sustainability. The Chamber of Commerce in Minnesota
is just repeating what anybody using their brain has been
saying from the start when this program was first debated.
Speaker 5 (04:45):
Morning John.
Speaker 6 (04:45):
I've seen at least five or six well known restaurant
breweries in Saint Paul, Minneapolis annow it's in the last
couple of weeks at their clothing. They blame it on
metro search. However, metro surge would not affect their bottom
line three four months ago. Well, exactly struggle or in
the midst of their struggle. They don't ask them about
the increased minimum wage that is hurting them. The property
(05:06):
tacks that are hurting them or how paid family leave
is hurting them. Let's get down to the truth.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
No, you're absolutely correct. There is so much himming and
han going on from Democrats right now, and they are
blaming everything on Operation Metro Surge, even though, as you mentioned,
the metrics by which are being used are mostly almost
ninety nine point nine percent all things that were occurring
(05:31):
prior to Operation Metro surg So here's what the Chamber
is saying regarding paid family medical leaf. Beyond just the
anti fraud sentiments, employers are reporting concerning trends. For example,
providers are being pressured by patients for the full twelve
weeks leave, even if their condition does not require it.
(05:53):
A number of respondents have shared that their employees are
making more on paid leave than the wage re placement
thresholds in the law. An individual from the Minnesota Chamber
of Commerce said employees are going on vacation or to
music festivals while supposedly on leave. These anecdotes don't necessarily
(06:14):
reveal fraud or a lack of oversight by the department.
They highlight the concerns with the broad eligibility and limited
employer recourse elements.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Of the law.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
They basically created Minnesota's paid family medical leave under the
same dynamics that they did all of the programs that
have turned out to be fraudulent, low barriers of entry,
little oversight. While some employees are reported issues with applying
for and receiving benefits, the majority seem to be experiencing
(06:46):
no major problems. However, it's important to note that the
program is still on us early stages.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
We're two and a half months in.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
It's unclear how the issues will evolves the program continues,
and whether adjustments will be made to address the business concerns.
Oh I can tell you what's going to happen. It's
going to get worse and there will be no adjustments
made under the current leadership that we have under Governor
Tim Walls. All of this was predicted. This is a
(07:16):
redistribution of wealth program, plain and simple, and it was
designed as such good hard working individuals who are not
going to put unnecessary burden on their employers and also
aren't going to lie. Let's just be honest. The Democrats
know that they're not going to go and take advantage
(07:37):
of this program because for the most part, those on
the right, conservatives Republicans aren't generally speaking liars. So all
that money that you're not going to take advantage of,
and I'm not going to take advantage of because I'm
not going to put an undoe burden on my business
that I work for. You're not going to do that. Well,
(07:58):
guess what that money goes into the program anyways. The
employer has to pay into it anyways, and it's going
to go for a lot of other people to go
to their music festivals, to go on their lavish vacations,
to make more money than they are legally allowed to
go and make. Because there's going to be a little
oversight on this. It is the disaster that everybody said
it was going to be. And in the midst of
all this, what do you have Democrats doing during the
(08:19):
legislative session? They want to take even more money from you.
New bill proposes a constitutional sales tax hike to fund affordability.
Doing that thing with my fingers, I'll give you the
details next here on Twin Cities News Talk AM eleven
thirty and one oh three five FM at road dot com.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
That's Homestead Road dot com.
Speaker 7 (08:41):
Abokay Am Minneapolis at app I Road, Twin Cities News Talk.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Listen on the free iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 8 (08:48):
For all your music, radio and podcasts.
Speaker 9 (08:51):
Back to John Justice Live this morning on Twin Cities
News Talk AM eleven thirty FM one O three point
five and on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
All of the concerns.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
After just shy of over two months and its implementation
regarding paid family medical leave, and we're already seeing it
come to fruition within the first thirty days, reports of
potential fraud being flagged. Now the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
comes out and says there's concerning trends providers being pressured
(09:30):
by patients for full twelve weeks of leave even if
their condition doesn't require it. The number of respondents share
that their employees are making more on paid leave than
the wage replacement thresholds that are put in place within
the law. Employees are going on vacation or to music
festivals while supposedly on leave the broad eligibility limited employer
(09:51):
recourse elements of the law. It's a redistribution of wealth.
It doesn't need to be legitimate for the Democrats.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
And yet.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
When it comes to doing things that are fair of
no cost to the taxpayer, providing a benefit for students,
and we'll get back to this in just a moment.
The Democrats supposed it simply because Republicans are supporting it.
By the way, for those that are interested, Yes, an
undocumented immigrant working in Minnesota can also access the paid
(10:26):
Family Medical Leave.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Oh but wait, there's more. Hey, good morning, John.
Speaker 10 (10:31):
I don't think many people realize that even if you
have a legitimate injury at your place of employment, if
you have to go on disability, you are required you
must sign up for the Family Medical Leave Act and
they will pay at least part of that expense. Even
if you're a huge corporation you can't pay it yourself
(10:51):
or your insurance company, you are forced to join that program.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
It's also gross. It just is. It's gross.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
The partisan politics that the DFL plays in the state.
And Governor Tim Watson doesn't give a rip. He doesn't
care about any of this. His DHS fraud plan for
to tackle Medicaid. No, it's just designed to further enable
the left to go and cover up the fraud that's
been taking place. Let's go back to the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 4 (11:23):
Hey, good morning, John.
Speaker 8 (11:24):
I'm just curious why did the Democrats faith that they
care about children so much because at the end of
the day, aren't they the party that wants them to
die before they're born.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
It's amazing.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Anyway, I have a great day.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
They only care about the children if they can use
it to try to gain political capital.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
That's it.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
I found out of the clip I wanted to share
from Representative Harry Niska. Let me play you a portion
of DFL Representative Sidney Jordan basically lying regarding what this
tax credit would actually do to go and help schools.
Speaker 11 (12:01):
Good news and bad news from Minnesota's public schools.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Let's do the bad news first.
Speaker 11 (12:06):
Republicans in the legislature are added again to bring private
school vouchers to our state, and at a time when
our public systems are being attacked and defunded, my colleague,
Representative Andrew Myers is fighting for handouts to rich families
who already send their kids.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
To private schools.
Speaker 11 (12:23):
When Republicans show you who they are, believe them. Handing
out tax breaks to the wealthiest among us at the
expense of everyday kids earning a public education is ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
In their mind, it's a tax break for the wealthy.
If the wealthy can take advantage of it, even though
everybody can go and take advantage of it, Like I
wonder if she would be all furthest if it was
capped at whatever your income is, your medium family income
in a certain amount. That way the wealthy couldn't take
advantage of it. MMn House Republicans posted this online. Democrats
(12:58):
opposing this school funding bill even though it costs zero
dollars to the state, spreading claims about what the bill
supposedly does. Here's the problem. The claims aren't true. Here
is Representative Harry nisk.
Speaker 12 (13:09):
And honestly, we're kind of puzzled why Governor Wallas hasn't
already said yes. This truly is one of the easiest
things we should all be able to agree on. And
I think it's important to clarify what this bill does
not do. It does not create a tax credit program.
That program has already been created by federal law. And
it's not a bill that allows Minnesota taxpayers to donate
(13:30):
to these scholarship granting organizations. Minnesota taxpayers are free to
do that under that existing federal law. This bill simply
answers this question, do we want those Minnesota dollars, those
Minnesota donations to benefit Minnesota kids. House Republicans say yes.
Speaker 13 (13:49):
I simply cannot imagine the gall the audacity of these
DFL monsters to fix their face to say new taxes
in the wake of this fraud, which is, by the way,
which is still going on. The fraud continues to this day.
(14:13):
Of course, to this day, the fraud is.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
Still We'll talk about this with Luke Sprinkle from Alpha
News coming up. But it turns out that when it
comes to the non emergency medical transportation program, this was
one of the things that Nick Shirley had further exposed
beyond the Leering Center. Michael Weiedner, executive director of the
(14:41):
Minnesota Paratransit Providers Association, said that since the questions were
raised about that program, the non emergency medical transportation being fraudulent,
the rides have decreased by sixty two percent. Oh oh
my god, just goes to under underscore how Walls and
(15:04):
his new fraud prevention program's completely unnecessary. If you just
have a DHS that is allowed to do their job
without retaliation for exposing the fraud. If you just moved
to go and begin to prosecute every single individual you said,
without warning, you're going to start inspecting autism centers, daycare
(15:26):
program centers, housing and stabilization services. Oh sorry, I'm sorry.
That whole thing's been canceled because it was all fraudulent.
You wouldn't need any additional programs. It just takes the
will and desire to use the existing law.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Even with the low.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Barriers of entry and the little oversight, you can still
use existing law to make sure there's not fraud in
the program, but they refuse to do that. In the meantime,
disregarding the one percent sales tax hike already enacted in
twenty twenty three, according to Martha Najola Mole out of Center,
(16:03):
the American Experiment, a new bill s F twenty one,
Excuse Me twenty six twenty one, and its house companion
thirty two seventy nine are asking voters to amend the
state constitution to further raise the rate by three eighths
to one percent between twenty seven and twenty fifty two.
(16:24):
As the ballot phrasing explains, the proceeds will fund initiatives
to remove barriers to home ownership, to make rental housing
safe and affordable, and to protect vulnerable households and communities,
from displacement and homelessness and home.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
This is a new.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Bill proposing a constitutional sales tax hike to fund affordability.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
I am appalled.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
Specifically, the state will create a Ownership Opportunity Fund to
buy or develop homes, a Community and Household Stability fund
assistance programs for the homeless, and a Rental Opportunity fund
rental assistance plus development or rehabilitation of rental housing. The
new funds, according to the bill, most supplement to traditional
(17:16):
sources of funding and may not be used as a substitute.
That is, regardless of the revenue shortfalls or changing needs.
The state's constitution would guarantee new housing funding.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
For at least two decades.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
That would mean limited legislative control over future budgets, especially
since earmarked funds are locked away in special accounts that
are rarely part of a broader budget discussion, leaving less
room to maneuver if state finances take a turn for
the worst.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
You've got this.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
On top of Senate Democrats introducing a bill to create
a forty million dollar emergency rental assistance fund to help democrats.
Excuse me, yeah, it is Democrats, but slip of the
tongue ah to help Minnesotans at risk. Eviction lawmakers say
the state has seen about four thousand eviction filings through February,
(18:07):
indicating a record pace for this year. Democrats say it
may get worse as a result of people staying home
during the I Sarch. The problem is, as was mentioned
in the talkback previously, the timeline simply doesn't add up. Sure,
you may have seen the evictions coming to Fruition since
the first of the year, allegedly at the height of
(18:30):
people not going to work, but the amount of time
that it takes to bring about an actual conviction started
well before the beginning of this year and had nothing
to do with Operation Metro Search, tax hikes, rental assistance packages.
We're already losing money on paid family medical leave, as
I mentioned before, suggestions to quintuple your vehicle tabs, walls
(18:54):
in his multimillion dollar fraud prevention program.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
The just list goes on and on and.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
On, and yet the one thing that Republicans wanted money
already allocated from the federal government that would not require
any money from the taxpayer, apart from giving a donation
that you would get back to help our schools and
Democrats said no, We're good because you Republicans went and
suggested it. Discuss Your talk back of the day is
(19:23):
coming up. Will continue to get an update on the
legislative session. Alpha News and Luke Sprinkle will join us
next here on Twinsday's News Talk Am eleven thirty and
one three five FM. Twin City's News Talk Am eleven
(19:50):
thirty and one three five FM. We'll get to our
next guests, Luke Sprinkle from Alpha News with an update
on the legislative session. We didn't need to get to
your talk back of the day. Your talk back of
the day is brought to you by mini Leaf and
minileaf dot com. Head on over to m I N
N E L e e a f dot com check
(20:11):
out all of their amazing products. Oh and remember too
you can also go and check out one of their
brand new locations, Warrior Garden in Saint Paul. Now Here
is your top back of the day, eh, John.
Speaker 5 (20:25):
Good Shall, Yeah, Boife and I joked about using trying
trying to get the twelve weeks off to move on
to Minnesota.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
How perfect would that be?
Speaker 5 (20:37):
Using the twelve weeks to get partially paid to move
yourself away from this state.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Brilliant.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
That is your talk back of the day, brought to
you by Mini Leaf and minileaf dot Com. Joining me now,
Luke Sprinkle from Alphanews. Good morning, Luke. How are we
doing this morning?
Speaker 4 (20:53):
Doing good? How are you? John?
Speaker 9 (20:55):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (20:55):
I'm doing all right.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
No shortage of things to talk about via the legislative session.
It seems as if we are now mired in the
Democrats attempt to basically just ignore anything that the GOP proposes,
all to provide talking points for the elections later on
(21:16):
later on this year. I'm curious your thoughts on how
the legislative session is going so far in your mind,
having watched the proceedings in Saint Paul.
Speaker 7 (21:27):
Well, I think right now they're still sort of in
sort of the show stage, if that makes sense. So,
I mean both of the you know, both the Republicans
and Democrats in the House, they get to schedule their
own committee meetings because the legislatures split, so they kind
of trade committee meeting schedules, and so each of them
are you know, the Democrats are hearing a lot of
(21:48):
bills about anti ice stuff. Republicans are hearing a lot
of bills about frauds. So I think they're both sort
of preparing for the twenty sixteen or the twenty twenty
six excuse me twenty six campaign is getting all their
messaging out there, and a lot of these bills that
they put forward. Oftentimes they'll put them forward knowing that
they're going to get voted down, knowing that they're not
(22:09):
going to advance, but they want the other side to
be on the record. So the Republicans want to talk
about fraud, you know, to put the Democrats on their
record about what they thought about this proposal or that proposal.
Democrats are going to do the same with ice stuff.
So I think as of right now, it's kind of
the posturing stage.
Speaker 4 (22:25):
There's still you know, quite a few weeks to go.
Speaker 7 (22:27):
Before the session ends, and I think then, you know,
as we get further on in the session, I think
things will start to get more and more serious about
you know, is anything going to pass the session, what's
going to pass?
Speaker 4 (22:38):
Is a bonding bill going to pass? All that stuff?
Speaker 7 (22:41):
But right now, I think it's still sort of the
the posturing stage right now.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
Do you think that.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
I mean, we talked earlier this morning two big issues, Luke,
we talked about the Office of Inspector General. This was
passed unanimously bipartisan last year, but Democrats continue to oppose it,
even though what was brought back again this week. Do
you see that eventually passing once we get past the
stage as you're referring to it of posturing taking place.
Speaker 7 (23:10):
I, you know, as right now, I don't really know
if it's going to get passed or not. I do
know that, I mean, there was a sort of a
big push for the OIG at the beginning of session,
kind of when everything started, you know, everyone was back
in Saint Paul on the Republicans highlighted the need for
the OIG quite a lot during the first few weeks.
But there hasn't been a whole lot of activity on
(23:30):
the OIG recently.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
I uh, yeah, I'm not sure. I believe the.
Speaker 7 (23:35):
There's a working group of bipartisan legislators, a couple of
Republicans and Democrats that worked on that bill that put
it together, and I believe that they are meeting again regularly,
so they're sort of meeting behind the scenes to kind
of fine tune it see if there's a past path
forward for it. But I think things on that bill
have kind of gone dark right now, but I think
eventually that working group is going to come out and
(23:57):
they're going to have either a new strategy for getting
it done fine tuned bill. So I think it'll definitely
come up, but as of right now, it's sort of
line low.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
There's a couple of different stories available at Alpha news
dot org. Talking with Luke Sprinkle from Alpha News. This
one I found. It's sad but it's almost comical. Industry
leader is sounding the alarm on fraud in the Minnesota
transportation program. This was brought to our attention about a
month or so ago. There was coverage that the non
Emergency medical Transportation program may be filled with fraud.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
It's incredibly easy.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
To go and fill out the online forms stating that
you transported an individual from their location to a say
a doctor's you know, visit non emergency medical transportation. A
little oversight over this, and now the executive director of
the Minnesota Paratransit Provider Association is saying that there's been
a massive decrease in the number of e any MT
(24:56):
rides that have taken place since the allegations of fraud
is echo.
Speaker 7 (25:01):
Uh, yeah, he used it a committee and said that
he suspects that this sixty two percent decrease in the
rides that have occurred on he suspects of that decreases fraud.
Basically now that the that Emergency Medical Transportation program is
one of the fourteen programs the DHSS has deemed high risk,
so it's under the microscope for fraud right now. There
(25:22):
have been other of those, you know, fourteen programs where
criminal charges have been brought against people that defrauded those.
So I suspect that, you know, fraudsters that have been
defrauding the an e MT program and other programs they
know they're under the microscope. And so there's probably people
that have stepped away because well, you know, if they
know they're committing fraud, they don't want to be on
the on the radar. And so yeah, this this guy
(25:44):
was telling a legislative committee that he thinks that sixty
two percent decrease could very well people be people that
decided uh to no longer participate in the program because
their participation was fraudulent.
Speaker 4 (25:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
I want to share one quote from the story, and
I encourage everybody to head on over dwal org to
see it in its entirety. But Michael Wiedener, he's this
executive director of the Paratransit Providers Association, he said this,
it's a sixty two percent reduction in rides. Where did
they go? They just vanished. They weren't picked up by
any other non emergency medical transportation department. It's sad to say,
(26:19):
but it seems like there is at least sixty two
percent of the rides that are fraudulent, you know, Luke,
earlier this morning, we were talking about this. Yesterday, Governor
Tim Walls unveiled this new proposal to tackle fraud in
terms of you know, decentralizing or centralizing you know, the program. Really,
all it's going to do, according to many individuals and
(26:40):
myself included, is going to provide the ability to cover
up the fraud further. But beyond that, it seems to
me that if we just went and tackled the issue
of holding people accountable, even with these programs that have
low barriers to entry and are easy to commit the fraud,
if we actually did the investigations into it, and we
actually began to look and had some scrutiny, you wouldn't
(27:00):
need any other additional programs because it seems as if,
like with this program, it's kind of self correcting. And
again I just encourage everybody to head on over to
alphaus dot org to check that out. It's pretty pretty
stunning testimony there, Luke.
Speaker 4 (27:13):
Yeah, No, pretty pretty crazy.
Speaker 7 (27:14):
And the the interesting thing was the DHS they responded
to it, and they basically said, well, we don't know
if sixty two percent, if there actually has been a
sixty two percent decrease, because people in this program, they
actually have a year that they can build DHS for
a service. So to my understanding, it's you, you you know,
do a ride, you help someone with a non emergency
(27:35):
medical ride, you actually have a year to build the
state for that service. So you could you know, have
conducted a ride in you know, let's say June of
twenty twenty five, and then you still have you know,
until like April May of twenty twenty six to build
for that ride.
Speaker 4 (27:49):
And so DHS said.
Speaker 7 (27:50):
Well, we don't know if there's been a drop because
you know, maybe people haven't built us for the rides yet.
Maybe there's a lot of rides you know, that are
out there still that you know, are yet to come in.
So maybe sixty two percent isn't real and represented Walter
Hudson basically just said in the committee, like, I don't
buy that.
Speaker 4 (28:06):
For a second.
Speaker 7 (28:07):
He was just he totally rejected the premise and just said,
you know, we're supposed to believe that there's hundreds of
thousands of rides that have not been built twenty twenty five, Like, yeah,
it's it's just it's crazy.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
Well, so much talk about rides.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
I feel it's appropriate to drop this in before we
go to our next story.
Speaker 7 (28:23):
Expect for the next eleven months for me to ride
you like you've never been ridden?
Speaker 4 (28:29):
All right?
Speaker 1 (28:29):
With that, Minnesotan's living in a homeowners association community might
soon be able to fly a new type of flag
on their property. Talk about this Minnesota House legislation that
is advancing regarding HOA residents and what flies, what's flags
are they looking to actually allow in the hoas?
Speaker 7 (28:49):
Yeah, so this is a bill from Yeah, it's a
Republican Republican author Basically, under undercurrent law, hoas can limit
the types of flags are flown in their communities. They
can limit all flags except for the American flag and
the Minnesota flag. So anyone that lives in an HOA
Minnesota can fly those two flags. This field basically would
(29:11):
add to the list of flags that are allowed to
be that hoas can't limit, and it would be all
branches of the US military. Those flags could fly I
believe the Gold Star Service flag, the Blue Star Service flag,
and the Prisoner of War Missing an Action flag as well.
So I mean basically it would add you know, these
(29:33):
flags still lists that hoas can't limit.
Speaker 1 (29:37):
The last story we want to touch upon, and we
covered this briefly on the show, but again head on
over to alphanews dot org. You can see the story
in its entirety. But when it comes to the campaign,
the battle between Congressman and Angie Craig and Lieutenant Governor
Peggy Flan Again, you had Angie Craig suddenly going in
flip flopping on the Lake and Riley vote amid this
(29:58):
heated dfl Senate to send it primary. And I know
that Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flann again and candidate was recently
on with Esmie Murphy and they were talking about this
very issue of Angie Craig flip flopping on the Lake
and Riley vote. But clearly, you know Angie Craig feels
like she's under pressure she has to go and make
a move, a move like this, because it wasn't all
(30:19):
that controversial when she voted in support of it, but
apparently now she feels that she can no longer back
it because she wants to win this primary.
Speaker 4 (30:29):
Yeah, no, it was.
Speaker 7 (30:30):
I honestly think for people that have been watching the
campaign unfold, I really don't think it was even like
that's surprising. I mean that we've seen how basically the
entire DFL party has sort of, you know, centered on
this anti ice.
Speaker 4 (30:43):
Politics that's been like their big message.
Speaker 7 (30:45):
And so you know, Peggy Flannagan has been attacking Angie Craig,
you know, pretty consistently over her support for the Lake
and Riley Act, And yeah, I think you know, the
fact that Angie Craig walked away from it, I think
that says volumes about where she believes her campaign is
that I think Craig is really concerned that all the
(31:07):
momentum is with Flanagan. Flannagan has sort of the far
left energy on her side in that primary. And even
though Angie has a huge fundraising advantage in this VFL primary,
Angie has a lot more money than Peggy does. But
Peggy has been leading in a lot of different polls,
actually polls commissioned by Flanagan's own campaign, National Republicans that
(31:29):
have monitored the race, and even in one of Angie
Craig's own internal polls, Flanagan is ahead of Angie in
this race. So I think the flip flop was just
because Angie can kind of see the writing on the wall,
so to speak. She knows that she's losing to Peggy
Flanagan and she was trying to make a change. But
when you do that, I mean Angie is going to
(31:50):
put herself on the defensive in the months leading up
to the convention.
Speaker 4 (31:53):
And I mean in any campaign, you.
Speaker 7 (31:55):
Don't want to be the candidate on the defensive sort
of explaining your positions, and that's kind of where she's
at right now.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
Luke Sprinkle alphin News, I encourage everybody head on over
to alphaanews dot org and check out all the latest
stories in Luke, thank you for the time this morning
and the Legislative A session update.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
It's always great to talk with you and I hope
to talk real soon.
Speaker 4 (32:15):
Thanks John.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
All right, let's wrap up on this.
Speaker 1 (32:20):
From Worthy Outlets and the game has changed dramatically. We
were discussing this a bit yesterday regarding Republicans' efforts to
get the truth out, doing a better job than they
have in years past. A lot of that has to
do with being able to take advantage of the social
media aspects. The Democrats usually had a leg up on
(32:42):
and they had a further leg up because there was
a lot of blocking of conservative views, and that's changed
dramatically over the years, especially and specifically with Elon Musk
purchasing X You've even seen Mark Zuckerberg change his tune
on Facebook. The bias in the media, of course, still exists,
but thankfully we have outlets like Alpha News that are
growing in size and bringing the truth to individuals instead
(33:05):
of the bias. Now to that point, a couple of
things here real quick. This comes from bringing me the
news pretty bias in and of itself. Members of the
community are criticizing the Minneapolis Police Department for not doing
enough to protect residents from federal immigration agents during Operation
Metro Surge. You had a bunch of activist organizations, Communities
(33:25):
United against Police Brutality, the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice
accusing minneappoles police of failing to intervene when federal agents
used excessive force against residents, and alleged that the Fry
and his administration, along with MPD repeatedly lied about its
policy of non cooperation with ICE. It's all a bunch
(33:47):
of semantics, nonsense. They don't even bother to pull any
quotes from anybody in those activist groups that I just
mentioned a moment ago. Now, you did have one individual,
a commissioner Chris Baker, who asked Minneapolis Police Chief Brian
O'Hara why he hasn't had direct communication with Henneben County
(34:10):
Attorney Mary Moriarty over the alleged incidents of excessive force
by ICE. O'Hara explained that Moriarty had been in contact
with the Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnett. Baker told O'Hara
that he took three weeks off of work in January
to do community dispatch and that a patroller in his
group was threatened by a federal agent almost every day,
(34:34):
including people who had weapons pulled on them or ICE
vehicles drive by their homes. What he really means to
say is he went out and via an active insurrection
attempted to disrupt Ice and their lawful actions, and Ice
responded that always gets left out of the equation, but
there was an interesting quote in the story. Baker went
(34:56):
on to say, there are thousands of people like me
who took time I'm away from their daily life to
doing that thing with my fingers, patrol and to dispatch,
and we feel hung up to dry. I want to
know when the next surge happens, if you're going to
be able to provide support when they threaten our lives again.
(35:17):
Other commissioners also pressed O'Hara on his claim the department
deepened relationship with communities of color where they were targeted
by the immigration crackdown. Commissioner Julie Palmer said public comment today,
I think has shown very clearly that you have not
done that, and the community is very upset with you,
adding that the black and Indigenous communities in particular do
(35:41):
not feel engaged with the police. And again there's no
quotes from other members of the community in those organizations. Now, Alison,
I have no I'm not a fan of O'Hara by
any stretch whatsoever. That being said, he was pult between
a rock and a hard place.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
And the community.
Speaker 1 (36:00):
Expecting that he was going to push back against ICE
is simply just ridiculous. And most of these claims of
these alleged incidents of excessive force were incidents wherein individuals
attempted to go and block ICE from doing their job. Now,
here's a tale of two headlines as we wrapped the
show up today.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
From Cara Levin.
Speaker 1 (36:18):
Judge won't stop ICE from using practices alleged to be
racially biased. And make no mistake for the Left, when
they say that an ICE agent is racially profiling, it
basically just means that a person of color was questioned.
That's tatamount to racial profiling.
Speaker 2 (36:39):
That's it.
Speaker 1 (36:41):
That person happens to be a person of color and
they were questioned by ICE. That's racial profiling in their minds.
But this district judge denied the grant of an injunction
against the United States Immigrations and Customs Enforcement that would
have stopped the agency from using practices alleged to be
racially biased.
Speaker 2 (36:59):
So that was all that's the story. The judge ended
up siding with ICE.
Speaker 1 (37:03):
Now, the judge did say that he felt ICE likely
used unconstitutional policies, but they didn't break the law in
doing so, and therefore it's all just circumstantial and subjective.
So Caro Levin had the proper headline, the judge won't
stop ICE from using practices alleged to be racially biased.
(37:25):
So how did Fox and nine cover this judge rules
ICE agents acted unconstitutional. Well, that's certainly different because that's
not at all what the judge said. So that was
the sidebar headline. The actual headline to the story was
a judge found that federal agents likely engaged in unconstitutional
(37:45):
immigration enforcement, but stop short of telling them to stop.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
I mean, the bias is just disgusting.
Speaker 1 (37:51):
Thank goodness, we have Alpha News centered the American Experiment
and others. Thank you so much for checking out the
show today. If you missed any portion of today's broadcast,
check out the podcast that'll be available up on the
iHeartRadio app. Shortly, enjoy the rest of your Wednesday. Be
careful driving around. Yes, it's my fault that it's snow,
and I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
Bunch you guys. Tomorrow morning, just after six b
Our three Twins City's News Talk. Hey, I'm eleven thirty
one oh three five FM. I'm watching the UH headlines
on Fox News talking about the latest successes regarding Operation
Epic Fury. US has been sinking mine laying vessels. That
(00:28):
a key choke point in the Strait of Ormuz. I
love all the winning. I do not like I will
say this though, I do not like that the regime
is still in place. I'm curious to see what the
administration ends up doing now that Ayatola Kamane's sun has
taken over. I would like to see the Iranian people
(00:53):
go and take back their country and remove this regime,
and I hope that is part of the endgame in
all of this. I'm very pleased to those so far
with the success that we've been having, and we'll continue
to as we have been doing, mon itor the situation here.
On Twin City's News Talk, we were talking at the
end of last hour this absolutely ridiculous move by Democrats.
(01:18):
Walter Hudson writes this online. You know Trump wants to
give money to schools and lower your taxes. Minnesota Democrats
won't talk in because it's being proposed by Republicans, Walter writes,
would you write a seventeen hundred dollars check to your
school if you got that money back on your tax return.
Of course you would, but Walls won't let you. The
(01:39):
Democrats are blocking it. They're putting up ridiculous videos voiced
and shown on the video Representative Sidney Jordan. You can
actually see this on my Twin Cities News talk feed
on x and also my personal account at John Justice.
As Max Remer writes, and we played some audio from
him last hour, the federal government created a tax credit
scholarship program that states can use if they choose to participate.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
If the state opts in, taxpayers.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Can donate money to approved scholarship granting organizations and thusly
receive a dollar for dollar dollar tax credit up to
seventeen hundred dollars, and then that money goes to students
in private and public schools. This doesn't have an impact
on any other taxpayers. It doesn't really have an impact
on the taxpayer that's spending the money because you get
(02:27):
it back from the federal government, and if we don't
opt in, it goes to other states. And yet you
have Democrats like Sidney Jordan out there complaining about schools
being underfunded, and they are directly voting against giving schools funding.
So instead, if we don't opt in, the support is
going to go to Colorado or Virginia. As Max writes,
it's the easiest vote in the world. And Democrats Walls included,
have said no uniformly. They don't even know why, apart
(02:51):
from they have.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
What's called a Trump derangement problem. Have you heard about
that problem?
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Yeah, regarding that seventeen hundred dollars cat tax break, like
a rich person really gives a rip. It's seventeen hundred bucks.
Speaker 4 (03:05):
Good lord.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
A lot of them spend more than that on a
flipp and purse. They could give a crap. So Democrats,
you just stupid if you buy into this class warfare
crap Trump what's a republic? Is why they're we got
your idiots.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Thank you. Ford of the show JD always colorful with
the top backs. Rarely do they disappoint. Minnesota Paid Family
Medical Eve is disappointing. As predicted. Businesses are facing significant
hurdles with the state's new Paid Family Medical EVE Act,
(03:47):
and that's just two months after its implementation. This is
not a story from a what would be considered a
right leaning outlet. I'm actually working off of this from
Fox nine. The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce shared that eighty
percent of its sixty three hundred members already offered some
form of.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Paid leave before the state mandate.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Business owners are now experiencing increased costs and frustration due
to the new requirements. The Chamber highlighted several concerns, including
the program's complexity, slow execution, and disruption for small or
seasonal businesses. There are also worries about potential misuse in
(04:32):
long term financial sustainability. The Chamber of Commerce in Minnesota
is just repeating what anybody using their brain has been
saying from the start when this program was first debated.
Speaker 5 (04:45):
Morning John.
Speaker 6 (04:45):
I've seen at least five or six well known restaurant
breweries in Saint Paul, Minneapolis annow it's in the last
couple of weeks at their clothing. They blame it on
metro search. However, metro surge would not affect their bottom
line three four months ago. Well, exactly struggle or in
the midst of their struggle. They don't ask them about
the increased minimum wage that is hurting them. The property
(05:06):
tacks that are hurting them or how paid family leave
is hurting them. Let's get down to the truth.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
No, you're absolutely correct. There is so much himming and
han going on from Democrats right now, and they are
blaming everything on Operation Metro Surge, even though, as you mentioned,
the metrics by which are being used are mostly almost
ninety nine point nine percent all things that were occurring
(05:31):
prior to Operation Metro surg So here's what the Chamber
is saying regarding paid family medical leaf. Beyond just the
anti fraud sentiments, employers are reporting concerning trends. For example,
providers are being pressured by patients for the full twelve
weeks leave, even if their condition does not require it.
(05:53):
A number of respondents have shared that their employees are
making more on paid leave than the wage re placement
thresholds in the law. An individual from the Minnesota Chamber
of Commerce said employees are going on vacation or to
music festivals while supposedly on leave. These anecdotes don't necessarily
(06:14):
reveal fraud or a lack of oversight by the department.
They highlight the concerns with the broad eligibility and limited
employer recourse elements.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Of the law.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
They basically created Minnesota's paid family medical leave under the
same dynamics that they did all of the programs that
have turned out to be fraudulent, low barriers of entry,
little oversight. While some employees are reported issues with applying
for and receiving benefits, the majority seem to be experiencing
(06:46):
no major problems. However, it's important to note that the
program is still on us early stages.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
We're two and a half months in.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
It's unclear how the issues will evolves the program continues,
and whether adjustments will be made to address the business concerns.
Oh I can tell you what's going to happen. It's
going to get worse and there will be no adjustments
made under the current leadership that we have under Governor
Tim Walls. All of this was predicted. This is a
(07:16):
redistribution of wealth program, plain and simple, and it was
designed as such good hard working individuals who are not
going to put unnecessary burden on their employers and also
aren't going to lie. Let's just be honest. The Democrats
know that they're not going to go and take advantage
(07:37):
of this program because for the most part, those on
the right, conservatives Republicans aren't generally speaking liars. So all
that money that you're not going to take advantage of,
and I'm not going to take advantage of because I'm
not going to put an undoe burden on my business
that I work for. You're not going to do that. Well,
(07:58):
guess what that money goes into the program anyways. The
employer has to pay into it anyways, and it's going
to go for a lot of other people to go
to their music festivals, to go on their lavish vacations,
to make more money than they are legally allowed to
go and make. Because there's going to be a little
oversight on this. It is the disaster that everybody said
it was going to be. And in the midst of
all this, what do you have Democrats doing during the
(08:19):
legislative session? They want to take even more money from you.
New bill proposes a constitutional sales tax hike to fund affordability.
Doing that thing with my fingers, I'll give you the
details next here on Twin Cities News Talk AM eleven
thirty and one oh three five FM at road dot com.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
That's Homestead Road dot com.
Speaker 7 (08:41):
Abokay Am Minneapolis at app I Road, Twin Cities News Talk.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Listen on the free iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 8 (08:48):
For all your music, radio and podcasts.
Speaker 9 (08:51):
Back to John Justice Live this morning on Twin Cities
News Talk AM eleven thirty FM one O three point
five and on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
All of the concerns.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
After just shy of over two months and its implementation
regarding paid family medical leave, and we're already seeing it
come to fruition within the first thirty days, reports of
potential fraud being flagged. Now the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
comes out and says there's concerning trends providers being pressured
(09:30):
by patients for full twelve weeks of leave even if
their condition doesn't require it. The number of respondents share
that their employees are making more on paid leave than
the wage replacement thresholds that are put in place within
the law. Employees are going on vacation or to music
festivals while supposedly on leave the broad eligibility limited employer
(09:51):
recourse elements of the law. It's a redistribution of wealth.
It doesn't need to be legitimate for the Democrats.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
And yet.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
When it comes to doing things that are fair of
no cost to the taxpayer, providing a benefit for students,
and we'll get back to this in just a moment.
The Democrats supposed it simply because Republicans are supporting it.
By the way, for those that are interested, Yes, an
undocumented immigrant working in Minnesota can also access the paid
(10:26):
Family Medical Leave.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Oh but wait, there's more. Hey, good morning, John.
Speaker 10 (10:31):
I don't think many people realize that even if you
have a legitimate injury at your place of employment, if
you have to go on disability, you are required you
must sign up for the Family Medical Leave Act and
they will pay at least part of that expense. Even
if you're a huge corporation you can't pay it yourself
(10:51):
or your insurance company, you are forced to join that program.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
It's also gross. It just is. It's gross.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
The partisan politics that the DFL plays in the state.
And Governor Tim Watson doesn't give a rip. He doesn't
care about any of this. His DHS fraud plan for
to tackle Medicaid. No, it's just designed to further enable
the left to go and cover up the fraud that's
been taking place. Let's go back to the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 4 (11:23):
Hey, good morning, John.
Speaker 8 (11:24):
I'm just curious why did the Democrats faith that they
care about children so much because at the end of
the day, aren't they the party that wants them to
die before they're born.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
It's amazing.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Anyway, I have a great day.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
They only care about the children if they can use
it to try to gain political capital.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
That's it.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
I found out of the clip I wanted to share
from Representative Harry Niska. Let me play you a portion
of DFL Representative Sidney Jordan basically lying regarding what this
tax credit would actually do to go and help schools.
Speaker 11 (12:01):
Good news and bad news from Minnesota's public schools.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Let's do the bad news first.
Speaker 11 (12:06):
Republicans in the legislature are added again to bring private
school vouchers to our state, and at a time when
our public systems are being attacked and defunded, my colleague,
Representative Andrew Myers is fighting for handouts to rich families
who already send their kids.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
To private schools.
Speaker 11 (12:23):
When Republicans show you who they are, believe them. Handing
out tax breaks to the wealthiest among us at the
expense of everyday kids earning a public education is ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
In their mind, it's a tax break for the wealthy.
If the wealthy can take advantage of it, even though
everybody can go and take advantage of it, Like I
wonder if she would be all furthest if it was
capped at whatever your income is, your medium family income
in a certain amount. That way the wealthy couldn't take
advantage of it. MMn House Republicans posted this online. Democrats
(12:58):
opposing this school funding bill even though it costs zero
dollars to the state, spreading claims about what the bill
supposedly does. Here's the problem. The claims aren't true. Here
is Representative Harry nisk.
Speaker 12 (13:09):
And honestly, we're kind of puzzled why Governor Wallas hasn't
already said yes. This truly is one of the easiest
things we should all be able to agree on. And
I think it's important to clarify what this bill does
not do. It does not create a tax credit program.
That program has already been created by federal law. And
it's not a bill that allows Minnesota taxpayers to donate
(13:30):
to these scholarship granting organizations. Minnesota taxpayers are free to
do that under that existing federal law. This bill simply
answers this question, do we want those Minnesota dollars, those
Minnesota donations to benefit Minnesota kids. House Republicans say yes.
Speaker 13 (13:49):
I simply cannot imagine the gall the audacity of these
DFL monsters to fix their face to say new taxes
in the wake of this fraud, which is, by the way,
which is still going on. The fraud continues to this day.
(14:13):
Of course, to this day, the fraud is.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
Still We'll talk about this with Luke Sprinkle from Alpha
News coming up. But it turns out that when it
comes to the non emergency medical transportation program, this was
one of the things that Nick Shirley had further exposed
beyond the Leering Center. Michael Weiedner, executive director of the
(14:41):
Minnesota Paratransit Providers Association, said that since the questions were
raised about that program, the non emergency medical transportation being fraudulent,
the rides have decreased by sixty two percent. Oh oh
my god, just goes to under underscore how Walls and
(15:04):
his new fraud prevention program's completely unnecessary. If you just
have a DHS that is allowed to do their job
without retaliation for exposing the fraud. If you just moved
to go and begin to prosecute every single individual you said,
without warning, you're going to start inspecting autism centers, daycare
(15:26):
program centers, housing and stabilization services. Oh sorry, I'm sorry.
That whole thing's been canceled because it was all fraudulent.
You wouldn't need any additional programs. It just takes the
will and desire to use the existing law.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Even with the low.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Barriers of entry and the little oversight, you can still
use existing law to make sure there's not fraud in
the program, but they refuse to do that. In the meantime,
disregarding the one percent sales tax hike already enacted in
twenty twenty three, according to Martha Najola Mole out of Center,
(16:03):
the American Experiment, a new bill s F twenty one,
Excuse Me twenty six twenty one, and its house companion
thirty two seventy nine are asking voters to amend the
state constitution to further raise the rate by three eighths
to one percent between twenty seven and twenty fifty two.
(16:24):
As the ballot phrasing explains, the proceeds will fund initiatives
to remove barriers to home ownership, to make rental housing
safe and affordable, and to protect vulnerable households and communities,
from displacement and homelessness and home.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
This is a new.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Bill proposing a constitutional sales tax hike to fund affordability.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
I am appalled.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
Specifically, the state will create a Ownership Opportunity Fund to
buy or develop homes, a Community and Household Stability fund
assistance programs for the homeless, and a Rental Opportunity fund
rental assistance plus development or rehabilitation of rental housing. The
new funds, according to the bill, most supplement to traditional
(17:16):
sources of funding and may not be used as a substitute.
That is, regardless of the revenue shortfalls or changing needs.
The state's constitution would guarantee new housing funding.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
For at least two decades.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
That would mean limited legislative control over future budgets, especially
since earmarked funds are locked away in special accounts that
are rarely part of a broader budget discussion, leaving less
room to maneuver if state finances take a turn for
the worst.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
You've got this.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
On top of Senate Democrats introducing a bill to create
a forty million dollar emergency rental assistance fund to help democrats.
Excuse me, yeah, it is Democrats, but slip of the
tongue ah to help Minnesotans at risk. Eviction lawmakers say
the state has seen about four thousand eviction filings through February,
(18:07):
indicating a record pace for this year. Democrats say it
may get worse as a result of people staying home
during the I Sarch. The problem is, as was mentioned
in the talkback previously, the timeline simply doesn't add up. Sure,
you may have seen the evictions coming to Fruition since
the first of the year, allegedly at the height of
(18:30):
people not going to work, but the amount of time
that it takes to bring about an actual conviction started
well before the beginning of this year and had nothing
to do with Operation Metro Search, tax hikes, rental assistance packages.
We're already losing money on paid family medical leave, as
I mentioned before, suggestions to quintuple your vehicle tabs, walls
(18:54):
in his multimillion dollar fraud prevention program.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
The just list goes on and on and.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
On, and yet the one thing that Republicans wanted money
already allocated from the federal government that would not require
any money from the taxpayer, apart from giving a donation
that you would get back to help our schools and
Democrats said no, We're good because you Republicans went and
suggested it. Discuss Your talk back of the day is
(19:23):
coming up. Will continue to get an update on the
legislative session. Alpha News and Luke Sprinkle will join us
next here on Twinsday's News Talk Am eleven thirty and
one three five FM. Twin City's News Talk Am eleven
(19:50):
thirty and one three five FM. We'll get to our
next guests, Luke Sprinkle from Alpha News with an update
on the legislative session. We didn't need to get to
your talk back of the day. Your talk back of
the day is brought to you by mini Leaf and
minileaf dot com. Head on over to m I N
N E L e e a f dot com check
(20:11):
out all of their amazing products. Oh and remember too
you can also go and check out one of their
brand new locations, Warrior Garden in Saint Paul. Now Here
is your top back of the day, eh, John.
Speaker 5 (20:25):
Good Shall, Yeah, Boife and I joked about using trying
trying to get the twelve weeks off to move on
to Minnesota.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
How perfect would that be?
Speaker 5 (20:37):
Using the twelve weeks to get partially paid to move
yourself away from this state.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Brilliant.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
That is your talk back of the day, brought to
you by Mini Leaf and minileaf dot Com. Joining me now,
Luke Sprinkle from Alphanews. Good morning, Luke. How are we
doing this morning?
Speaker 4 (20:53):
Doing good? How are you? John?
Speaker 9 (20:55):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (20:55):
I'm doing all right.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
No shortage of things to talk about via the legislative session.
It seems as if we are now mired in the
Democrats attempt to basically just ignore anything that the GOP proposes,
all to provide talking points for the elections later on
(21:16):
later on this year. I'm curious your thoughts on how
the legislative session is going so far in your mind,
having watched the proceedings in Saint Paul.
Speaker 7 (21:27):
Well, I think right now they're still sort of in
sort of the show stage, if that makes sense. So,
I mean both of the you know, both the Republicans
and Democrats in the House, they get to schedule their
own committee meetings because the legislatures split, so they kind
of trade committee meeting schedules, and so each of them
are you know, the Democrats are hearing a lot of
(21:48):
bills about anti ice stuff. Republicans are hearing a lot
of bills about frauds. So I think they're both sort
of preparing for the twenty sixteen or the twenty twenty
six excuse me twenty six campaign is getting all their
messaging out there, and a lot of these bills that
they put forward. Oftentimes they'll put them forward knowing that
they're going to get voted down, knowing that they're not
(22:09):
going to advance, but they want the other side to
be on the record. So the Republicans want to talk
about fraud, you know, to put the Democrats on their
record about what they thought about this proposal or that proposal.
Democrats are going to do the same with ice stuff.
So I think as of right now, it's kind of
the posturing stage.
Speaker 4 (22:25):
There's still you know, quite a few weeks to go.
Speaker 7 (22:27):
Before the session ends, and I think then, you know,
as we get further on in the session, I think
things will start to get more and more serious about
you know, is anything going to pass the session, what's
going to pass?
Speaker 4 (22:38):
Is a bonding bill going to pass? All that stuff?
Speaker 7 (22:41):
But right now, I think it's still sort of the
the posturing stage right now.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
Do you think that.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
I mean, we talked earlier this morning two big issues, Luke,
we talked about the Office of Inspector General. This was
passed unanimously bipartisan last year, but Democrats continue to oppose it,
even though what was brought back again this week. Do
you see that eventually passing once we get past the
stage as you're referring to it of posturing taking place.
Speaker 7 (23:10):
I, you know, as right now, I don't really know
if it's going to get passed or not. I do
know that, I mean, there was a sort of a
big push for the OIG at the beginning of session,
kind of when everything started, you know, everyone was back
in Saint Paul on the Republicans highlighted the need for
the OIG quite a lot during the first few weeks.
But there hasn't been a whole lot of activity on
(23:30):
the OIG recently.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
I uh, yeah, I'm not sure. I believe the.
Speaker 7 (23:35):
There's a working group of bipartisan legislators, a couple of
Republicans and Democrats that worked on that bill that put
it together, and I believe that they are meeting again regularly,
so they're sort of meeting behind the scenes to kind
of fine tune it see if there's a past path
forward for it. But I think things on that bill
have kind of gone dark right now, but I think
eventually that working group is going to come out and
(23:57):
they're going to have either a new strategy for getting
it done fine tuned bill. So I think it'll definitely
come up, but as of right now, it's sort of
line low.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
There's a couple of different stories available at Alpha news
dot org. Talking with Luke Sprinkle from Alpha News. This
one I found. It's sad but it's almost comical. Industry
leader is sounding the alarm on fraud in the Minnesota
transportation program. This was brought to our attention about a
month or so ago. There was coverage that the non
Emergency medical Transportation program may be filled with fraud.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
It's incredibly easy.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
To go and fill out the online forms stating that
you transported an individual from their location to a say
a doctor's you know, visit non emergency medical transportation. A
little oversight over this, and now the executive director of
the Minnesota Paratransit Provider Association is saying that there's been
a massive decrease in the number of e any MT
(24:56):
rides that have taken place since the allegations of fraud
is echo.
Speaker 7 (25:01):
Uh, yeah, he used it a committee and said that
he suspects that this sixty two percent decrease in the
rides that have occurred on he suspects of that decreases fraud.
Basically now that the that Emergency Medical Transportation program is
one of the fourteen programs the DHSS has deemed high risk,
so it's under the microscope for fraud right now. There
(25:22):
have been other of those, you know, fourteen programs where
criminal charges have been brought against people that defrauded those.
So I suspect that, you know, fraudsters that have been
defrauding the an e MT program and other programs they
know they're under the microscope. And so there's probably people
that have stepped away because well, you know, if they
know they're committing fraud, they don't want to be on
the on the radar. And so yeah, this this guy
(25:44):
was telling a legislative committee that he thinks that sixty
two percent decrease could very well people be people that
decided uh to no longer participate in the program because
their participation was fraudulent.
Speaker 4 (25:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
I want to share one quote from the story, and
I encourage everybody to head on over dwal org to
see it in its entirety. But Michael Wiedener, he's this
executive director of the Paratransit Providers Association, he said this,
it's a sixty two percent reduction in rides. Where did
they go? They just vanished. They weren't picked up by
any other non emergency medical transportation department. It's sad to say,
(26:19):
but it seems like there is at least sixty two
percent of the rides that are fraudulent, you know, Luke,
earlier this morning, we were talking about this. Yesterday, Governor
Tim Walls unveiled this new proposal to tackle fraud in
terms of you know, decentralizing or centralizing you know, the program. Really,
all it's going to do, according to many individuals and
(26:40):
myself included, is going to provide the ability to cover
up the fraud further. But beyond that, it seems to
me that if we just went and tackled the issue
of holding people accountable, even with these programs that have
low barriers to entry and are easy to commit the fraud,
if we actually did the investigations into it, and we
actually began to look and had some scrutiny, you wouldn't
(27:00):
need any other additional programs because it seems as if,
like with this program, it's kind of self correcting. And
again I just encourage everybody to head on over to
alphaus dot org to check that out. It's pretty pretty
stunning testimony there, Luke.
Speaker 4 (27:13):
Yeah, No, pretty pretty crazy.
Speaker 7 (27:14):
And the the interesting thing was the DHS they responded
to it, and they basically said, well, we don't know
if sixty two percent, if there actually has been a
sixty two percent decrease, because people in this program, they
actually have a year that they can build DHS for
a service. So to my understanding, it's you, you you know,
do a ride, you help someone with a non emergency
(27:35):
medical ride, you actually have a year to build the
state for that service. So you could you know, have
conducted a ride in you know, let's say June of
twenty twenty five, and then you still have you know,
until like April May of twenty twenty six to build
for that ride.
Speaker 4 (27:49):
And so DHS said.
Speaker 7 (27:50):
Well, we don't know if there's been a drop because
you know, maybe people haven't built us for the rides yet.
Maybe there's a lot of rides you know, that are
out there still that you know, are yet to come in.
So maybe sixty two percent isn't real and represented Walter
Hudson basically just said in the committee, like, I don't
buy that.
Speaker 4 (28:06):
For a second.
Speaker 7 (28:07):
He was just he totally rejected the premise and just said,
you know, we're supposed to believe that there's hundreds of
thousands of rides that have not been built twenty twenty five, Like, yeah,
it's it's just it's crazy.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
Well, so much talk about rides.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
I feel it's appropriate to drop this in before we
go to our next story.
Speaker 7 (28:23):
Expect for the next eleven months for me to ride
you like you've never been ridden?
Speaker 4 (28:29):
All right?
Speaker 1 (28:29):
With that, Minnesotan's living in a homeowners association community might
soon be able to fly a new type of flag
on their property. Talk about this Minnesota House legislation that
is advancing regarding HOA residents and what flies, what's flags
are they looking to actually allow in the hoas?
Speaker 7 (28:49):
Yeah, so this is a bill from Yeah, it's a
Republican Republican author Basically, under undercurrent law, hoas can limit
the types of flags are flown in their communities. They
can limit all flags except for the American flag and
the Minnesota flag. So anyone that lives in an HOA
Minnesota can fly those two flags. This field basically would
(29:11):
add to the list of flags that are allowed to
be that hoas can't limit, and it would be all
branches of the US military. Those flags could fly I
believe the Gold Star Service flag, the Blue Star Service flag,
and the Prisoner of War Missing an Action flag as well.
So I mean basically it would add you know, these
(29:33):
flags still lists that hoas can't limit.
Speaker 1 (29:37):
The last story we want to touch upon, and we
covered this briefly on the show, but again head on
over to alphanews dot org. You can see the story
in its entirety. But when it comes to the campaign,
the battle between Congressman and Angie Craig and Lieutenant Governor
Peggy Flan Again, you had Angie Craig suddenly going in
flip flopping on the Lake and Riley vote amid this
(29:58):
heated dfl Senate to send it primary. And I know
that Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flann again and candidate was recently
on with Esmie Murphy and they were talking about this
very issue of Angie Craig flip flopping on the Lake
and Riley vote. But clearly, you know Angie Craig feels
like she's under pressure she has to go and make
a move, a move like this, because it wasn't all
(30:19):
that controversial when she voted in support of it, but
apparently now she feels that she can no longer back
it because she wants to win this primary.
Speaker 4 (30:29):
Yeah, no, it was.
Speaker 7 (30:30):
I honestly think for people that have been watching the
campaign unfold, I really don't think it was even like
that's surprising. I mean that we've seen how basically the
entire DFL party has sort of, you know, centered on
this anti ice.
Speaker 4 (30:43):
Politics that's been like their big message.
Speaker 7 (30:45):
And so you know, Peggy Flannagan has been attacking Angie Craig,
you know, pretty consistently over her support for the Lake
and Riley Act, And yeah, I think you know, the
fact that Angie Craig walked away from it, I think
that says volumes about where she believes her campaign is
that I think Craig is really concerned that all the
(31:07):
momentum is with Flanagan. Flannagan has sort of the far
left energy on her side in that primary. And even
though Angie has a huge fundraising advantage in this VFL primary,
Angie has a lot more money than Peggy does. But
Peggy has been leading in a lot of different polls,
actually polls commissioned by Flanagan's own campaign, National Republicans that
(31:29):
have monitored the race, and even in one of Angie
Craig's own internal polls, Flanagan is ahead of Angie in
this race. So I think the flip flop was just
because Angie can kind of see the writing on the wall,
so to speak. She knows that she's losing to Peggy
Flanagan and she was trying to make a change. But
when you do that, I mean Angie is going to
(31:50):
put herself on the defensive in the months leading up
to the convention.
Speaker 4 (31:53):
And I mean in any campaign, you.
Speaker 7 (31:55):
Don't want to be the candidate on the defensive sort
of explaining your positions, and that's kind of where she's
at right now.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
Luke Sprinkle alphin News, I encourage everybody head on over
to alphaanews dot org and check out all the latest
stories in Luke, thank you for the time this morning
and the Legislative A session update.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
It's always great to talk with you and I hope
to talk real soon.
Speaker 4 (32:15):
Thanks John.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
All right, let's wrap up on this.
Speaker 1 (32:20):
From Worthy Outlets and the game has changed dramatically. We
were discussing this a bit yesterday regarding Republicans' efforts to
get the truth out, doing a better job than they
have in years past. A lot of that has to
do with being able to take advantage of the social
media aspects. The Democrats usually had a leg up on
(32:42):
and they had a further leg up because there was
a lot of blocking of conservative views, and that's changed
dramatically over the years, especially and specifically with Elon Musk
purchasing X You've even seen Mark Zuckerberg change his tune
on Facebook. The bias in the media, of course, still exists,
but thankfully we have outlets like Alpha News that are
growing in size and bringing the truth to individuals instead
(33:05):
of the bias. Now to that point, a couple of
things here real quick. This comes from bringing me the
news pretty bias in and of itself. Members of the
community are criticizing the Minneapolis Police Department for not doing
enough to protect residents from federal immigration agents during Operation
Metro Surge. You had a bunch of activist organizations, Communities
(33:25):
United against Police Brutality, the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice
accusing minneappoles police of failing to intervene when federal agents
used excessive force against residents, and alleged that the Fry
and his administration, along with MPD repeatedly lied about its
policy of non cooperation with ICE. It's all a bunch
(33:47):
of semantics, nonsense. They don't even bother to pull any
quotes from anybody in those activist groups that I just
mentioned a moment ago. Now, you did have one individual,
a commissioner Chris Baker, who asked Minneapolis Police Chief Brian
O'Hara why he hasn't had direct communication with Henneben County
(34:10):
Attorney Mary Moriarty over the alleged incidents of excessive force
by ICE. O'Hara explained that Moriarty had been in contact
with the Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnett. Baker told O'Hara
that he took three weeks off of work in January
to do community dispatch and that a patroller in his
group was threatened by a federal agent almost every day,
(34:34):
including people who had weapons pulled on them or ICE
vehicles drive by their homes. What he really means to
say is he went out and via an active insurrection
attempted to disrupt Ice and their lawful actions, and Ice
responded that always gets left out of the equation, but
there was an interesting quote in the story. Baker went
(34:56):
on to say, there are thousands of people like me
who took time I'm away from their daily life to
doing that thing with my fingers, patrol and to dispatch,
and we feel hung up to dry. I want to
know when the next surge happens, if you're going to
be able to provide support when they threaten our lives again.
(35:17):
Other commissioners also pressed O'Hara on his claim the department
deepened relationship with communities of color where they were targeted
by the immigration crackdown. Commissioner Julie Palmer said public comment today,
I think has shown very clearly that you have not
done that, and the community is very upset with you,
adding that the black and Indigenous communities in particular do
(35:41):
not feel engaged with the police. And again there's no
quotes from other members of the community in those organizations. Now, Alison,
I have no I'm not a fan of O'Hara by
any stretch whatsoever. That being said, he was pult between
a rock and a hard place.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
And the community.
Speaker 1 (36:00):
Expecting that he was going to push back against ICE
is simply just ridiculous. And most of these claims of
these alleged incidents of excessive force were incidents wherein individuals
attempted to go and block ICE from doing their job. Now,
here's a tale of two headlines as we wrapped the
show up today.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
From Cara Levin.
Speaker 1 (36:18):
Judge won't stop ICE from using practices alleged to be
racially biased. And make no mistake for the Left, when
they say that an ICE agent is racially profiling, it
basically just means that a person of color was questioned.
That's tatamount to racial profiling.
Speaker 2 (36:39):
That's it.
Speaker 1 (36:41):
That person happens to be a person of color and
they were questioned by ICE. That's racial profiling in their minds.
But this district judge denied the grant of an injunction
against the United States Immigrations and Customs Enforcement that would
have stopped the agency from using practices alleged to be
racially biased.
Speaker 2 (36:59):
So that was all that's the story. The judge ended
up siding with ICE.
Speaker 1 (37:03):
Now, the judge did say that he felt ICE likely
used unconstitutional policies, but they didn't break the law in
doing so, and therefore it's all just circumstantial and subjective.
So Caro Levin had the proper headline, the judge won't
stop ICE from using practices alleged to be racially biased.
(37:25):
So how did Fox and nine cover this judge rules
ICE agents acted unconstitutional. Well, that's certainly different because that's
not at all what the judge said. So that was
the sidebar headline. The actual headline to the story was
a judge found that federal agents likely engaged in unconstitutional
(37:45):
immigration enforcement, but stop short of telling them to stop.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
I mean, the bias is just disgusting.
Speaker 1 (37:51):
Thank goodness, we have Alpha News centered the American Experiment
and others. Thank you so much for checking out the
show today. If you missed any portion of today's broadcast,
check out the podcast that'll be available up on the
iHeartRadio app. Shortly, enjoy the rest of your Wednesday. Be
careful driving around. Yes, it's my fault that it's snow,
and I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
Bunch you guys. Tomorrow morning, just after six b
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