ST. PAUL – Should cities and counties be financially punished for refusing to fly the new Minnesota state flag? Minnesota House Democrats say yes, as a new bill would reduce state funding to a local government that chose to recognize the state’s previous flag.
State Representative Greg Davids (R-Preston) said this violates state statute.
“Under state law, cities and counties do not have to accept this ugly new flag,” Davids said. “It would make more sense to pass a law to get rid of this homely thing once and for all, put it in a museum somewhere and never speak of it again.”
The House Democrat bill would require state government to reduce a county’s or city’s government aid amount by 10% if that locality flies any flag other than the new 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, these designs were never formally approved by voters or the state legislature. Instead, the law that the commission created specified that its final flag selection would automatically take effect as the official state flag.
“States that allowed citizens to vote on the design are much more accepting of the concept,” Davids said. “Many Minnesotans took one look at this new flag and said, I’ll pass. In fact, I’ve personally bought so many of the old flags that I could hang a new one each year and have enough to last until I turn 162 years old.”
Numerous communities across the state are choosing to fly the 1983 version of the Minnesota flag on city owned property.
“You can’t tell a town to fly whatever state flag you want and then take funding away if they dislike the new version,” Davids said. “This should be a freedom issue, not a financial one.”
Steve Ellis says
Greg Davids, art expert and aesthetician, occupying the pinnacle of perceptions of beauty.
“Under state law, cities and counties do not have to accept this ugly new flag,” Davids said. “It would make more sense to pass a law to get rid of this homely thing once and for all, put it in a museum somewhere and never speak of it again.”
The people of Minnesota are surely fortunate to have Mr. Davids around to decide matters of artistic merit.
Are there any other questions of taste that he would like to decide for citizens? Perhaps he should be turned loose in the art galleries to decide which works pass his subjective views of “ugliness”.
Good grief.
Bill Anderson says
As soon as the Democrats changed the flag, I ordered a couple of the old ones to run up my flagpole. I recall that the winning design presented was then changed by the committee to suit what they wanted. They rammed it through without any across the aisle support.
My neighbor is a staunch 3rd generation Democrat, and he flies the old one like I do. I’ve mentioned that his party is not the same one that his forefathers voted for, but he’s still got his blinders on. We’re big buddies anyway!
Anonymous says
Where was the Filmore County Journal when the multi-year process to redesign the flag started? Seems to me that a lot of people in Fillmore County don’t keep up with what’s going on at the state level. Then something happens, and you get butt-hurt and claim you weren’t included.
Shame on the FCJ for not telling its readers about the flag redesign effort, something they could have been involved with from the start.
But let’s face it, you want something to complain about.
Star Ostgard says
Question: Why are people suddenly so upset about the new flag – which was adopted TWO YEARS AGO. Vote on it? The original 1893 flag wasn’t voted on. A committee chose it, the legislature approved it. The 1957 update was decided by committee and approved by the legislature. The 2024 flag is no different – selected by committee which was appointed by the legislature. Even Spring Valley’s city council kowtowed to this ridiculous pettiness when they accepted a “donated” flag pole with the stipulation it fly the old flag. That wasn’t a donation – that was vindictiveness being supported by the city council. Frankly, this whole flag business is just another attempt by the rightwing to go after the libs. This is obvious by comments seen on social media, which include attacks on the governor and remarks about a particular country and people. It’s nothing more than the same political venom couched in terms of a piece of cloth. If you don’t like the new flag, tough. Grow up.
Jim says
By your own words and Mr. David’s above, in 2024 the flag was not approved by the state legislature, just the establishment of a committee as had been done in the past. We the people had no say in the matter this time and neither did our representatives!!! What a waste of legislative time when we have billions given away fraudulently and a multi-billion dollar surplus that was NOT returned to the taxpayers who were overtaxed and generated that surplus.
Ann says
IF I had been able to vote on the new flag/old flag, I definitely would have voted to keep the old flag. Then, later, I saw how similar the new flag is to the Somali flag and I really wanted our old flag back……
Jarred says
I would draft a bill to remove funding from any city that flies the rainbow flag. Would that be ridiculous enough to embarrass the advocates of the SoMNalian flag?
Barbara says
I want to fly the old flag because it has a lot more meaning for my family !!
Catherine Bendzick says
Minnesota Democrats designed a flag Minnesotans hate, NEVER put it to a vote, and now want to CUT funding to any city that flies the old one.
Rep. Davids said it best — ‘You can’t tell a town to fly whatever flag you want and then punish them financially if they refuse.’
This flag was never approved by voters. Never approved by the legislature. A 13-member commission decided for ALL of Minnesota.
That’s not democracy. That’s exactly the kind of government overreach Minnesotans are sick of.
WE WANT OUR FLAG BACK. 🇺🇸
The one that actually represents Minnesota — not a design that looks like it belongs to another country.
anonymous says
A 13-member commission was selected to choose the final design. The process, which you didn’t follow, took several years. There was a ton of public input, many designs, and many redesigns. Source: me, I participated in the process from Fillmore County somehow.