Dave Lislegard

Lislegard is a vocal supporter of the mining industry in the Iron Range, and has been called "arguably the most pro-mining legislator" in the state.[8][9] He co-authored legislation to officially declare Minnesota a "mining-friendly" state.[10] He has supported the PolyMet and Twin Metals mining proposals, and criticized Mesabi Metallics for failing to meet state deadlines for its taconite mining project.[4][11][12]

Lislegard has argued mining can be done safely, boost the local economy, and create good-paying jobs and that opponents of mining would force the outsourcing of materials to countries with looser environmental standards.[3][11] He has said that if the companies fail to show they can meet environmental standards, he would oppose their permits.[11]

Lislegard authored legislation for a $10 million extension of unemployment benefits for 400 miners laid off from Cleveland-Cliffs Northshore Mining operations in May of 2022.[13] The bill passed the house with broad bipartisan support and was signed by Governor Tim Walz on January 24, 2023.[14][15] He introduced a bill that would provide $25 million in state funds to renovate power lines in Northern Minnesota.[16]

Lislegard supported a major expansion of a solar manufacturing plant in the Iron Range, saying the materials for the plant should be mined in Minnesota.[17][18] He raised concerns over the reestablishing of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's citizen's board and the impact it would have on the mining industry.[19] His and other rural DFL members opposition led to the proposal being scaled back to only include the seven-county metro and other large cities.[20]

Lislegard supported a full elimination of state taxes on Social Security benefits, and authored legislation to repeal the tax.[21][22][23] He later supported a full repeal for couples earning less than $100,000 annually.[24] Lislegard supported the DFL's 2023 tax proposal, including raising taxes on the top 0.8 percent of earners and corporate income.[25] He has supported efforts to permanently increase local and county government aid.[26]

Lislegard, who played an extra in the 2005 film "North Country" filmed in the Iron Range, has led efforts to give tax incentives and rebates to the entertainment industry to increase film and TV production in Minnesota.[27][28][29] He co-authored legislation in 2022 to propose a gas tax holiday due to rising costs and inflation.[30][31]

Lislegard has opposed "right to work" laws and called himself a "labor Democrat".[32][33] He has supported the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA) priorities on pensions, labor agreements, local government aid, and frontline worker pay, and was one of a handful of DFL candidates earning their endorsement in 2022.[34] He authored legislation that delivered money for a public safety center in Virginia, Minnesota.[33] He was endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) in 2022.[35][36]

Lislegard voted for the PRO Act, which established a fundamental right to an abortion in state law in accordance with a 1995 Minnesota State Supreme Court ruling.[37] He authored legislation to build a facility in St. Louis County to treat PFAS chemicals.[38] During the COVID-19 pandemic, he voted with House Republicans attempting to rescind Governor Walz' emergency powers in November of 2020.[39]