Unfortunately, the news of a state lawmaker illegally lobbying for wilderness groups wasn’t a surprise. Rep. Alex Falconer (DFL) carried legislation backed by an environmental lobbyist group the same year he was employed by the group.
“Under state law, candidates for the Minnesota Legislature are required to file an economic interest statement (EIS) with the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board. An EIS discloses the candidate’s employer, income, securities, property ownership, and other items.”
Falconer, who was elected in 2024, filed the form in January this year and described his occupation as “senior advisor” to Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness.
The first bill he introduced was to modify mining restrictions currently in place in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. He did that for the groups he works for. That’s wrong, and we believe it’s illegal.
We are also looking into a fire that grew to five acres on Falconer’s property on Farm Lake during a drought. It could have taken off and whipped through the BWCA. So far, the DNR has not decided if a citation should be issued.
What is clear is that activists becoming legislators creates the opportunity for groups to have access and influence in how laws are crafted. That can’t be the way. We need our legislators to represent their constituents, not the groups they work for.
Minnesota House Republicans are filing an ethics complaint against Falconer over conflict- of-interest concerns with “numerous bills” he has introduced. The Republicans say Falconer is “effectively a legislator lobbyist.”
There needs to be a clear separation between elected officials and lobbyists. Especially when someone is doing both at the same time.
