Fogelman denounces effort to penalize flying of old state flag

A new bill that would reduce state funding to a Minnesota local government that chooses to recognize the state's previous flag is being labeled as "outrageous" by District 21B Rep. Marj Fogelman.

Fogelman explained in a press release that the proposed legislation would require state government to reduce a county or city’s local government aid (LGA) amount by 10 percent if that locality flies any flag other than the new flag. Under current Minnesota law, local governments are not required to fly the official Minnesota state flag.

In 2023, Democrats established a 13-member commission to redesign Minnesota’s state flag and seal. The commission later introduced new designs for both. However, Fogelman noted, these designs were never formally approved by voters or the state legislature. Instead, the law that created the commission specified that its final flag selection would automatically take effect as the official state flag.

Stated Fogelman in the press release: “It is interesting that people who want you to believe the nation is ruled by a dictator think state government should punish those who refuse to comply with their partisan decisions. We are a nation of freedoms, and cities and counties should have the freedom to fly the state flag that the majority of their residents support.”