WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) released the following statement after voting in support of legislation that would extend current funding levels for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through May 22, 2026:
“For 42 days, Senate Democrats have put our national security at risk by withholding DHS funding because they would rather cause chaos than enforce our country’s immigration laws.
“We’ve done our job in the House, having now voted four times to fund DHS in its entirety. I supported this legislation which will ensure all of DHS, including immigration enforcement and border patrol, are fully funded, while also restoring pay for the federal workers who have had to pay the price of this reckless shutdown.
“This funding bill allows DHS to return to normal operations and ensures our nation’s law enforcement agency has the full resources to protect our homeland. If Senate Democrats are serious about working out our differences and coming to an agreement, this legislation gives us the opportunity to have that discussion. I urge them to pass it and end the political games.”
Anonymous says
Its so comforting to know that the MAGA Republicans are so peace loving and that it’s Republican officials who are under threat, not the Democrats.
Perhaps you can make the case that those who waged three hours, seven minutes of destruction and mayhem at the U. S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, were “behaving like adults.” We were initially told that those who forced their way into that building were “antifa”, whoever “antifa” might be. (I”m still trying to find out who their leader is, as well as the whereabouts of their headquarters). If so, then why didn’t the order go out much sooner to surround the building, to capture every single person who defiled that hallowed public building on that fateful day? One of the first acts after the inauguration on January 20, 2025 was the pardoning of almost every single person who participated in that assault upon our democracy, and yes, people died on that day, and the days that followed.
Speaking of “antifa”, how is it an opposing fascism is now an unforgivable sin? Then who are the “pro-fa” on the other side; those who advocate in favor of fascism? Perhaps we are now to believe that our parents, uncles, grandfathers and grand-uncles who fought against Hitler and Mussolini in 1940s Europe were the bad guys, a source of shame within our families?
Of course, Nancy Pelosi’s husband, the victim of a vicious hammer attack during a nighttime invasion of their home might take exception to your contention that Republicans are peace loving. Governors Josh Shapiro (PA), whose residence was targeted by an arson attack and Gretchen Whitmer (MI), who was in the crosshairs of a plot to kidnap her) might take exception to your contention as well. While you’re at it, you could always ask former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark for their thoughts about that matter, although you had to ask them prior to the day of Donald J. Trump’s 79th birthday, at which time the two were murdered in what has been described as a politically motivated attack. Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, might have something to say about your comments as well…if only they could.
In case you’d like to refresh your memory, this story published by the U. S. Attorneys Office in Minnesota detailed the murders of Hortman and her husband, as well as the shootings of John and Yvette Hoffman, in addition to the attempted shooting of their daughter, Hope Hoffman. Here’s the link to that press release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/vance-boelter-indicted-murders-melissa-and-mark-hortman-shootings-john-and-yvette-0
On a somewhat related topic…
Given your apparent longstanding support of Republican ideology, surely you must have been invited to the following event located near the center of Brad Finstad’s congressional district, i.e., an event billed as a town hall meeting) in Waseca, on April 21, 2026, eight days prior to your comment to this story. The event featured three Republican candidates, Mike Lindell, Royce White and Wendy Phillips. Its difficult to imagine that you did not receive a personal invitation to attend and serve as an honored guest speaker. Perhaps you are out of the loop (which must be a painful slight for you), or if you did know about this event, perhaps you’ve become forgetful?
In case you’re tempted to cry out, “fake news”, perhaps you’d like to have a word with this news source and the story they published: https://www.southernminn.com/faribault_daily_news/news/maga-aligned-candidates-draw-crowd-praise-in-waseca-town-hall/article_ba16d604-06a5-4ac2-83dd-1cbed2ac55e3.html
Further public appearances by the aforementioned candidates are planned. Perhaps you can arrange for them to make an appearance in Wykoff?
So, it’s safe for them, but is too dangerous for Brad Finstad to risk making a public appearance?
On the other side of the aisle…
Surely it must have been one of those “rude, obnoxious leftists” who disrupted a January public appearance by Rep. Ilhan Omar? Here’s the story about that incident: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/what-were-learning-about-the-man-arrested-in-the-attack-on-rep-ilhan-omar
Undaunted, Rep. Ilhan Omar has continued to hold public town hall events, something that Brad Finstad is apparently afraid to do: https://omar.house.gov/services/town-halls
It seems that the Democratic Representative Angie Craig is holding public town hall events as well: https://craig.house.gov/contact/town-halls
The Democratic Representative Dr. Kelly Morrison has also held public town hall events: https://morrison.house.gov/about/events
It’s not a matter of insufficient time for Finstad to be attending such events, given the numerous recesses of the House of Representatives as ordered by Mike Johnson. At present, they have again been on recess from last Thursday until May 11, 2026 at the earliest.
I would submit that it’s a matter of will, not opportunity.
Perhaps you can explain how it is that the aforementioned politicians, Republicans and Democrats have the courage that seems to be sorely lacking for Finstad?
FINAL NOTE: If prior submissions to the Fillmore County Journal are any indicator, it seems likely that you will respond with one or both of following two responses: 1) Denial and deflection and/or 2) Personal attacks directed toward whoever utters an opinion that is at variance with those views you appear to hold.
Jeff Erding says
There is a very simple reason Mr. Finstad can not do Town Hall meetings, and it’s the same reason Jim Hagedorn had to stop doing them :rude, obnoxious leftists show up and are so loud, and disrespectful that civil discourse is completely impossible.
If Democrats had a shred of decency old fashioned Town Hall Meetings would be held. Sadly, you people are no longer capable of behaving like adults. You are unable to refrain from shrieking, name calling, talking over other speakers, and acting like spoiled 3 year olds.
Anonymous says
Why doesn’t Finstad appear at public town halls, where he can answer questions that some of his constituents might have?
Wouldn’t Finstad be greeted by ticker tape parades in every small town in his district?
Finstad could answer so many potential questions, of which only a small number might include…
“What are you doing to insure that ICE obtains judicial warrants before kicking people’s doors down? What are you doing to ensure that those who murdered Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti are brought to justice, or are those two killings freebies? Do you support ICE officers refusing to wear identification, who also insist upon wearing masks, when other law enforcement officers are not afforded the same “protection”, recalling that the Ku Klux Klan did much the same?”
“You are no doubt aware that the White House conditioned $40 billion in aid to Argentina just prior to their elections last fall, to be released only if incumbent Javier Milei and his party were re-elected? Do you support that use of U. S. taxpayer dollars and if not, what have you done about it?”
Here’s the story about the $40 billion gift to Argentina: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-administration-working-on-doubling-argentina-financing-to-40-billion
How does Argentina demonstrate its gratitude? They temporarily suspended their export tax on soybean sales to China, much to China’s delight, selling more than 2.5 million metric tons of soybeans, 2.5 million metric tons that will not be sold by U. S. farmers? Maybe Finstad could explain to farmers in his district how this works to their benefit?
Of course, every bushel of soybeans that Minnesota farmers are unable to sell represents lost income, and lower profits. That leaves them with less money to spend that can help to keep local businesses afloat. Maybe Finstad could explain why increased prosperity for Argentinian farmers will benefit those who do business with the farmers who reside in his district?
Finstad could also explain the concerns for farmers raised in this article published by Fortune magazine, which is hardly a left-wing publication: https://fortune.com/2026/03/27/trump-farmers-announcement-12-billion-wealthy-landowners/
There are so many additional questions that Finstad could answer, if only he’d emerge from hiding.
Is Finstad so certain that his constituents will unconditionally support him, no matter what, that he doesn’t need to waste his time meeting with them, when they will vote for him anyway? Is Finstad afraid to face his constituents? Or might it be a combination of the two?
Julie Fryer says
Finstad wants full funding without oversight of the agency who murdered two people in Minnesota, terrorized more, and spent $220M on a Glamour Shots commercial for the now-fired director. All while local farmers can’t afford fertilizer and families can’t afford gas or groceries. Talk about political games.
Anonymous says
Fail