MN GOP ON MDHA REBUKE OF GOV. TIM WALZ & DFL

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Following the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association’s (MDHA) announcement they will not participate in the 2023 Governor’s Deer Opener, the Republican Party of Minnesota issued the statement below:

“This is just the latest development that shows Gov. Tim Walz and the Democrats have turned their back on Minnesota’s hunters, anglers, boaters, campers and outdoor enthusiasts. From an aggressively partisan war on law-abiding gun owners to raising taxes by more than $10 billion even with a $17 billion surplus, Democrat one-party rule has completely lost touch with the values of everyday Minnesotans. Make no mistake – Republicans will hold the Democrats accountable for their hyper-partisan overreach at the polls in 2024 and beyond.” – Republican Party of Minnesota Executive Director Mike Lonergan

BACKGROUND

The Minnesota Deer Hunters Association’s Executive Board voted unanimously to not participate in the 2023 Governor’s Deer Opener due to Walz & legislative Democrats’ extreme anti-hunter agenda

“In a unanimous decision, our Executive Board voted not to support this year’s Governor’s Opener due to continued attempts to ban wolf hunting and anti-gun legislation within the state…” (Executive Board, Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, MDHA Not to Participate in 2023 Governor’s Deer Opener, 5/10/23)

Democrats are ramming through two anti-gun proposals behind closed doors – after they were not included in bills passed on the floor

  • “The proposals include a “red flag law” that would allow authorities to ask courts for “extreme risk protection orders” to temporarily take guns away from people deemed to be an imminent threat to others or themselves. The provision is part of a broad public safety budget bill that also contains expanded background checks for gun transfers.” (Associated Press, Minnesota Democrats poised to pass sweeping gun control package, 5/12/23)
  • “The two gun measures were not part of the public safety budget bill that the Senate passed earlier. But they were added Wednesday in the conference committee that negotiated the final version, providing some political cover to holdouts by wrapping them into a much bigger public safety package.” (Associated Press, Minnesota Democrats poised to pass sweeping gun control package, 5/12/23)

Gov. Tim Walz and the Democrats have proposed massive tax and fee increases on everything from hunting and fishing to boating and visiting state parks

  • “Despite a nearly $18 billion state budget surplus, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz continues making the case for higher fees on fishing licenses, boat registrations and state parks.” (Tom Hauser, Walz Defends Fishing, State Park Fee Increases, KSTP TV, 5/1/23)
  • “The governor proposes increasing fishing license fees for Minnesota residents from $25 to $30, with bigger increases for non-residents. Fishing boat registration fees would go from $27 to $59 for 17-to-19-foot boats. Those boat fees are paid once every three years. An aquatic species fee would go from just over $10 to $20. State park fees would also go up, from $7 to $10 for daily fees and $35 to $45 for annual fees.” (Tom Hauser, Walz Defends Fishing, State Park Fee Increases, KSTP TV, 5/1/23)

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