Senator Grant Hauschild (DFL–Hermantown) is calling a newly proposed bill to cut state aid to cities and counties over disputes involving Minnesota’s state flag “nonsense,” saying lawmakers should be focused on the real issues impacting working families and communities across the state.
The proposal would reduce local government aid by 10% for cities or counties that fly a flag other than Minnesota’s current state flag, beginning in 2027.
The bill has already been described as having “no path forward” in the House.
“This is nonsense,” said Hauschild. “I’m begging legislators to get serious about the issues that actually matter to Minnesotans. Families are dealing with rising costs, communities are demanding real accountability on fraud, rural hospitals are facing serious threats from harmful federal decisions, and we still need to pass an infrastructure jobs bill that puts people to work. This shouldn’t be that hard.”
Hauschild said local government aid should be used to support roads, public safety, emergency services, and critical local infrastructure, not turned into a political punishment tool over symbolic dispute.
“In Northern Minnesota, people expect us to focus on results, not distractions,” Hauschild said. “Whether it’s lowering property taxes, protecting healthcare access, supporting law enforcement, or rebuilding roads and critical infrastructure, that’s where our attention should be. Not this.”
“Minnesotans sent us here to solve problems,” Hauschild said. “We should act like it.”
