Jim Nash (politician) explained

Jim Nash
State House:Minnesota
District:48A
Constituency:48A (2023–present)
47A (2015–2022)
Term Start:January 6, 2015
Preceded:Ernie Leidiger
Party:Republican
Birth Date:23 September 1967
Education:University of Nebraska Omaha (BA)
Spouse:Kim
Children:6
Residence:Waconia, Minnesota, U.S.

James A. Nash (born September 23, 1967) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2015. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, Nash represents District 48A in the western Twin Cities metropolitan area, which includes the cities of Waconia, Victoria, and Chaska, and parts of Carver County.[1] [2]

Early life, education, and career

Nash graduated from the University of Nebraska Omaha with a B.A. in geographic information systems and political geography and attended graduate school there for geography.

Nash was elected to the Waconia City Council in 2008, and served two terms as mayor of Waconia from 2011 to 2014. He works in the cybersecurity industry.

Minnesota House of Representatives

Nash was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2014 and has been reelected every two years since. He first ran after two-term Republican incumbent Ernie Leidiger announced he would not seek reelection. Nash defeated a primary opponent, Bob Frey, who received news coverage for his controversial views.[3] [4]

Nash serves as the minority lead on the State and Local Government Finance and Policy Committee and sits on the Housing Finance and Policy, Rules and Legislative Administration, and Ways and Means Committees. He is the minority whip for the House Republican caucus. Nash served as an assistant majority leader from 2017 to 2018 and was mentioned as a possible candidate for majority leader in 2018.[5] He served as an assistant minority leader from 2019 to 2022.

During the 2016 Republican presidential primary, Nash joined 21 state Republican leaders in endorsing Carly Fiorina.[6] [7] In 2021, Nash supported the decision of Republican Party of Minnesota Chair Jennifer Carnahan to retire after a close associate and campaign donor, Anthony Lazarro, was indicted on charges of sex trafficking.[8]

In 2019, Governor Tim Walz's administration approached Nash, who works in the cybersecurity industry, about applying to be the head of the state's IT system, MNIT.[9] Nash declined, saying, "It's a job that even under a Republican governor I don't know that I would have taken".[10] He said he was cautiously optimistic about the eventual candidate, Tarek Tomes.[11]

Political positions

Nash authored a bill to create a Legislative Commission on Cybersecurity and later served as a member, calling for regular briefings on the state of Minnesota's cybersecurity.[12] [13] He has called for more investments in cybersecurity and cyber attack preparedness, saying, "It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when" a breach occurs. He criticized MNIT, the state's IT system, especially after a failed 2018 rollout of the state's licensing and registry system, and called for a bipartisan working group to look for solutions to improve the systems.[14] [15] [16] He authored legislation requiring MNIT to first look for private-sector bids on state IT projects before designing its own software.[17] [18]

Elections

Nash joined Secretary of State Steve Simon in calling for election infrastructure security improvements and increasing funding to combat cyber threats and later supported the proposals in committee.[19] [20] He has opposed efforts to restore voting rights to felons on parole and to implement automatic voter registration at government offices like DMVs.[21] [22] He has criticized DFLers for pushing legislation that lacks bipartisan support, saying it is "advancing the partisanship in Minnesota around elections".[23] [24] [25]

In 2020, Nash opposed moves by Secretary Simon to expand mail-in voting and reduce in-person polling places during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying it "provides for a lot of electioneering and it does open the door for election fraud".[26] [27] [28] He opposed a move by Simon to send letters to registered voters who had not requested absentee ballots and encouraging them to vote from home and for settling a lawsuit over mail-in ballots.[29] [30] [31] He said he was "diametrically opposed" to universal vote-by-mail, and said he would support expanding no-excuse absentee voting and in-person early voting instead.[32] Nash called for Simon to investigate ballot harvesting allegations made by the conservative activist group Project Veritas.[33]

Nash, who declined to run against Simon in 2022, said election integrity was a "top focus" of the Republican Party but said beating Simon would be an uphill battle.[34]

Transportation

Nash has opposed raising taxes to pay for roads and bridges, saying he would reallocate money away from light rail and transit.[35] He has criticized the Metropolitan Council, a regional government transit planning organization, and called for reforms to the council.[36] [37] [38] He has opposed the Southwest Light Rail Line, criticized the council's management of the project, and supported a legislative audit.[39] [40] [41]

Public safety and crime

Nash has spoken about "rampant lawlessness" in Minneapolis after going on a ride-along, said he found conversations about defunding the police "alarming," and proposed tying state money for city projects to police staffing requirements.[42] [43] He opposed legislation that would disarm police officers of military-grade equipment, and requirements that police officers live in the communities they serve.[44] [45] After protestors brought down a statue of Christopher Columbus on the state Capitol grounds, Nash said he opposed the action but would have been open to considering the statue's removal through an established process.[46] [47] He also opposed calls to limit where protests can occur on Capitol grounds, saying it would limit free speech.[48]

Nash opposed limiting felony-sentence probation lengths to five years, and criticized Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell for violating state open meeting laws when he tried to implement the change.[49]

Gun laws

Nash has said he is a "very vocal supporter of the Second Amendment".[50] He has opposed many gun violence prevention measures, saying: "We don't need more gun control. We have plenty of gun laws... What we need is criminal control".[51] [52] He has opposed universal background checks, saying, "a background check isn't going to slow down someone who is intent on committing a crime".[53] [54] [55] Nash has argued in favor of stricter penalties for criminals who use guns, saying it would get more guns off the street. In addressing school shootings, Nash has opposed further gun control and said he would support increasing physical security presences.[56]

Nash has introduced "stand your ground" legislation allowing those to use lethal force to stop felonies and bills eliminating training requirements for obtaining a permit-to-carry and eliminating the need for a permit to carry a gun on public property.[57] [58] He authored a 2019 law giving provisional firearms safety certificated to people with disabilities given they hunt with another adults.[59]

Housing

Nash, who served on the Legislative Commission on Housing Affordability, called for reform to city mandates to lot size and other requirements to increasing housing supply.[60] [61] He has criticized cities for charging high fees on building permits to pay for other government services and called for cities to refund the additional money.[62] [63] Nash opposed legislation to manage the end of the COVID-19 pandemic eviction moratorium, saying it was skewed too heavily towards renters.[64]

Abortion

Nash signed on to a letter calling on Attorney General Lori Swanson to investigate Planned Parenthood for allegedly selling fetal body parts and called on the University of Minnesota to stop participating in research on "aborted human fetal organs".[65] [66] He has criticized the DFL's abortion rights policies as "overreaching" and "an abomination".[67]

Other political positions

Nash criticized Swanson, saying she was "defiant" with the legislature and "out of touch as an auditor".[68] [69] [70] He criticized a proposal to redesign the Minnesota state flag, saying it should not be a legislative priority and a planned redesign of the State Office Building, citing the high cost to taxpayers.[71] [72] Nash supported legislation to block minimum wage increases in St. Paul and Minneapolis.[73]

Nash wrote legislation to allow blaze pink hunting clothes to be allowed in the state, and submitted a "lighthearted" amendment during a debate on banning the wolf hunt that would have reintroduced wild wolves to the Twin Cities metropolitan area.[74] [75] He authored a bill to give tax credits to businesses to create apprenticeship programs at Greater Minnesota high schools.[76]

Nash authored an amendment to limit monthly rent payments for a temporary residence for Governor Walz after officials signed a deal to pay more than $17,000 a month to lease a house while the governor's residence was renovated.[77] [78] He supported legislation to divest any Minnesota investments into Russia after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.[79]

Nash authored a bill to allow grocery stores and other food retailers to sell beer, wine, and Minnesota-distilled spirits, and supported moves to allow take-out for alcohol during the COVID-19 pandemic.[80] [81] He has supported so-called "free the growler laws", which would allow Minnesota breweries to sell cans and to-go growlers from taprooms and restaurants.[82] [83] In 2021 he sponsored a bipartisan bill that would lift the limit, and said it was "really disappointing" that the bill failed to move forward in both the House and the Senate.[84] [85] He supported a compromise proposal that passed the House in 2022.[86] [87]

Personal life

Nash lives in Waconia, Minnesota with his spouse, Kim, and has six children.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nash, Jim - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present . 2023-02-19 . www.lrl.mn.gov.
  2. Web site: Rep. Jim Nash (48A) - Minnesota House of Representatives . 2023-04-27 . www.house.mn.gov.
  3. Web site: Brucato . Cyndy . 2014-07-09 . Minnesota House candidate makes AIDS, 'Gay Agenda' campaign issues . 2015-07-23 . Minnpost.com.
  4. Web site: 2014-07-21 . GOP House Candidate Bob Frey Believes Dinosaurs Lived With Humans . 2015-07-23 . CityPages.com.
  5. Web site: Coolican . J. Patrick . August 4, 2018 . Primaries for Minnesota governor looking wide open . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  6. Web site: Condon . Patrick . September 25, 2015 . Fiorina lands Minnesota GOP support in presidential bid . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  7. Web site: Scheck . Tom . September 24, 2015 . Minnesota leadership team organizes behind Fiorina . 2023-04-30 . MPR News . en.
  8. Web site: MPR News Staff . August 19, 2021 . Under fire, Minnesota GOP chair Carnahan steps down . 2023-04-30 . MPR News . 20 August 2021 . en.
  9. Web site: Star Tribune Editorial Board . January 25, 2019 . EDITORIAL Fixing IT system should be at the top of Minnesota's to-do list . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  10. Web site: Coolican . J. Patrick . January 21, 2019 . Gov. Tim Walz faces troubled IT agency, the only department still lacking a permanent leader . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  11. Web site: Pugmire . Tim . April 16, 2019 . Walz names Tomes to head troubled state IT department . 2023-04-30 . MPR News . en.
  12. Web site: Bierschbach . Briana . 2017-06-29 . Amid global threats — and infighting at the Capitol — Minnesota's cybersecurity operation struggles to keep up . 2023-04-30 . MinnPost . en-US.
  13. Web site: Montemayor . Stephen . November 27, 2021 . New legislative commission begins work on studying Minnesota's cyberdefenses . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  14. Web site: Pugmire . Tim . March 2, 2018 . Lawmakers blow past deadline for more MNLARS funds . 2023-04-30 . MPR News . en.
  15. Web site: Bierschbach . Briana . February 27, 2019 . Audit finds 'mixed' review of state's chief IT agency . 2023-04-30 . MPR News . en.
  16. Web site: Bierschbach . Briana . 2018-02-20 . 6 issues to watch as the legislative session gets under way . 2023-04-30 . MinnPost . en-US.
  17. Web site: Pugmire . Tim . March 8, 2018 . MN lawmaker wants outside bids on all state IT projects . 2023-04-30 . MPR News . en.
  18. Web site: Bierschbach . Briana . 2018-03-13 . The woman at the center of Minnesota's biggest political fight doesn't really have time for a political fight . 2023-04-30 . MinnPost . en-US.
  19. Web site: Simon . Steve . Nash . Jim . October 1, 2018 . OPINION EXCHANGE Minnesota's voting systems: We repelled an attack in 2016, but must do much more . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  20. Web site: Montemayor . Stephen . January 17, 2019 . Bid to get Minnesota federal election security money picks up early in session . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  21. Web site: Van Oot . Torey . January 4, 2019 . Democrats push proposals to increase voter turnout . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  22. Web site: Montemayor . Stephen . April 30, 2019 . Minnesota House GOP amendments probe DFL pressure points . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  23. Web site: Montemayor . Stephen . April 7, 2021 . National voting rights clashes color debate over Minnesota election law proposals . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  24. Web site: Pugmire . Tim . April 6, 2021 . Election bills highlight Minnesota's political divide . 2023-04-30 . MPR News . en.
  25. Web site: Callaghan . Peter . 2019-05-01 . In pushing changes to the state's election laws, is the Minnesota House rewriting one of the Capitol's unwritten rules? . 2023-04-30 . MinnPost . en-US.
  26. Web site: Montemayor . Stephen . April 8, 2020 . Minnesota secretary of state proposes election changes because of COVID-19 . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  27. Web site: Pugmire . Tim . April 8, 2020 . Vote-by-mail plan for Minnesota gets cool reception . 2023-04-30 . MPR News . en.
  28. Web site: Van Oot . Torey . August 4, 2020 . Minnesota judge extends vote-by-mail changes prompted by coronavirus to November election . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  29. Web site: Van Berkel . Jessie . September 18, 2020 . Minnesota secretary of state sends absentee ballots applications after lawsuit . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  30. Web site: Pugmire . Tim . June 17, 2020 . GOP lawmakers blast Simon for deal in voting lawsuits . 2023-04-30 . MPR News . en.
  31. Web site: Callaghan . Peter . 2020-06-18 . Secretary of state agrees to deal on absentee ballots; Republicans cry foul . 2023-04-30 . MinnPost . en-US.
  32. Web site: Callaghan . Peter . 2020-04-09 . Minnesota secretary of state's vote-by-mail push gets push-back from GOP . 2023-04-30 . MinnPost . en-US.
  33. Web site: Bierschbach . Briana . Otárola . Miguel . September 29, 2020 . Trump seizes on conservative group's claim of fraud in Minneapolis election . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  34. Web site: Montemayor . Stephen . October 3, 2021 . Plenty of GOP criticism, yet few challengers for Secretary of State Steve Simon . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  35. Web site: Condon . Patrick . January 8, 2015 . Roads, bridges on Dayton's plate at Chamber dinner . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  36. Web site: Runbeck . Linda . Peppin . Joyce . November 29, 2017 . OPINION EXCHANGE The Met Council: Why this unelected governing body needs reforms . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  37. Web site: Moore . Janet . January 24, 2018 . Southwest light-rail project faces questions from lawmakers . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  38. Web site: Callaghan . Peter . 2015-07-09 . Met Council approves revamped Southwest LRT funding plan . 2023-04-30 . MinnPost . en-US.
  39. Web site: Moore . Janet . July 9, 2015 . Southwest light rail's new $1.74 billion budget approved by Met Council . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  40. Web site: Bierschbach . Briana . 2016-01-14 . Why the 2016 legislative session will be critical for Southwest LRT . 2023-04-30 . MinnPost . en-US.
  41. Web site: Bakst . Brian . March 3, 2022 . Audit fever hits Minnesota lawmakers . 2023-04-30 . MPR News . en.
  42. Web site: Walsh . Paul . September 3, 2020 . Cop gives '#MplsRiot2020' coin to lawmaker after police ride-along in Minneapolis . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  43. Web site: Van Berkel . Jessie . October 17, 2020 . Minnesota legislators push past politics to strike bonding deal . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  44. Web site: Nelson . Emma . October 10, 2017 . Minneapolis mayoral candidate Raymond Dehn focuses on racial equity, criminal justice . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  45. Web site: Pugmire . Tim . June 16, 2020 . House Democrats move quickly on police changes . 2023-04-30 . MPR News . en.
  46. Web site: Condon . Patrick . June 12, 2020 . Gov. Tim Walz says he understands why Christopher Columbus statue was toppled, but there will be consequences . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  47. Web site: MPR News Staff . June 10, 2020 . MN protesters pull down Columbus statue at Capitol . 2023-04-30 . MPR News . 10 June 2020 . en.
  48. Web site: Pugmire . Tim . July 10, 2017 . Protest policies under review at MN Capitol . 2023-04-30 . MPR News . en.
  49. Web site: Montemayor . Stephen . November 7, 2019 . Minnesota House member challenges vote on probation caps . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  50. Web site: Grow . Doug . 2017-09-07 . Why gun-rights advocates may — or may not — be really ticked at Republican lawmakers in Minnesota . 2023-04-30 . MinnPost . en-US.
  51. Web site: Shenoy . Rupa . March 15, 2013 . Gun background checks bill heads to full Senate . 2023-04-30 . MPR News . en.
  52. Web site: Nord . James . 2013-03-15 . Background-checks gun bill advances in Senate, but fate uncertain . 2023-04-30 . MinnPost . en-US.
  53. Web site: Montemayor . Stephen . February 28, 2019 . Minnesota gun debate in spotlight as two bills draw hours of emotional testimony . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  54. Web site: Faircloth . Ryan . December 12, 2022 . Minnesota Democrats poised to revive gun control talks after winning full control of Legislature . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  55. Web site: Pugmire . Tim . April 30, 2019 . Minnesota House passes gun control measures . 2023-04-30 . MPR News . en.
  56. Web site: Bakst . Brian . March 14, 2018 . Dayton takes trip down memory lane in last big speech . 2023-04-30 . MPR News . en.
  57. Web site: Williams . Brandt . Cox . Peter . March 8, 2017 . Gun debate at Capitol draws large crowds . 2023-04-30 . MPR News . en.
  58. Web site: The Associated Press . February 16, 2023 . MN Legislature considering 5 bills related to guns . 2023-04-30 . MPR News . en.
  59. Web site: Anderson . Dennis . November 14, 2019 . Anderson: Impact of law change plays out for disabled hunter on opener . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  60. Web site: Van Berkel . Jessie . Webster . MaryJo . August 9, 2021 . Minnesota legislators aim to spur creation of more entry-level housing . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  61. Web site: Van Berkel . Jessie . September 25, 2021 . Legislative debate over solutions to Minnesota's housing shortage off to rocky start . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  62. Web site: Roper . Eric . August 22, 2019 . Builders say cities are overcharging for permits . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  63. Web site: Moylan . Martin . August 20, 2019 . Home builders: Cities gouge with permit fees to fund other needs . 2023-04-30 . MPR News . en.
  64. Web site: Bakst . Brian . April 26, 2021 . Legislature divided over end to COVID-19 eviction rule . 2023-04-30 . MPR News . en.
  65. Web site: Multiple Authors . July 16, 2015 . Readers Write (July 17): Planned Parenthood, MNsure and the Affordable Care Act, Tennessee shooting . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  66. Web site: Whelan . Abigail . January 15, 2016 . OPINION EXCHANGE Fetal tissue research should cease at U . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  67. Web site: Ferguson . Dana . January 16, 2023 . DFL begins to move its agenda at the MN Capitol . 2023-04-30 . MPR News . en.
  68. Web site: Golden . Erin . August 14, 2017 . State Auditor Rebecca Otto campaigns for governor while fighting for the future of her office . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  69. Web site: Keen . Judy . April 18, 2018 . Minnesota Supreme Court rules against Rebecca Otto in county audits case . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  70. Web site: Nelson . Tim . February 15, 2017 . MN House panel grills state auditor over lawsuit . 2023-04-30 . MPR News . en.
  71. Web site: Nelson . Emma . April 9, 2022 . Some Minnesota legislators want to rethink state flag . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  72. Web site: Van Berkel . Jessie . December 21, 2022 . Minnesota legislators approve $500M overhaul of State Office Building . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  73. Web site: Nelson . Tim . March 3, 2017 . MN House votes to block minimum wage, sick time moves in Mpls. and St. Paul . 2023-04-30 . MPR News . en.
  74. Web site: Bakst . Brian . March 30, 2016 . 'Blaze pink' hunting wear bill heads toward House vote . 2023-04-30 . MPR News . en.
  75. Web site: Orenstein . Walker . 2019-05-14 . The long-simmering fight over wolf hunting in Minnesota is political — and emotional . 2023-04-30 . MinnPost . en-US.
  76. Web site: Hinrichs . Erin . 2017-03-08 . Looking to give high schoolers better access to vocational training, legislators propose credit-for-apprenticeships program . 2023-04-30 . MinnPost . en-US.
  77. Web site: Van Berkel . Jessie . March 30, 2023 . Republicans attempt to limit governor's temporary housing costs . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  78. Web site: Bakst . Brian . March 28, 2023 . Walz's temporary quarters stir uproar over dollars . 2023-04-30 . MPR News . en.
  79. Web site: Ibrahim . Mohamed . March 10, 2022 . Minnesota lawmakers plan bipartisan divestment from Russia . 2023-04-30 . MPR News . en.
  80. Web site: Bierschbach . Briana . 2018-05-04 . Is a behind-the-scenes debate at the Legislature foreshadowing more big changes to Minnesota's liquor laws? . 2023-04-30 . MinnPost . en-US.
  81. Web site: Callaghan . Peter . Orenstein . Walker . 2020-11-24 . Walz, Republicans propose plans to help Minnesota businesses affected by COVID restrictions . 2023-04-30 . MinnPost . en-US.
  82. Web site: Galioto . Katie . January 29, 2021 . Down the drain: Castle Danger dumps beer as it pushes to 'free the growler' . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  83. Web site: Callaghan . Peter . 2020-03-13 . Bottles, caps and cans: the state of booze bills before the 2020 Minnesota Legislature . 2023-04-30 . MinnPost . en-US.
  84. Web site: Star Tribune Editorial Board . April 9, 2021 . EDITORIAL Free the growler and help Minnesota breweries . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  85. Web site: Hollingsworth . Jana . April 29, 2021 . 'Free-the-growler' legislation appears dead at Minnesota Capitol . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  86. Web site: Nelson . Emma . May 7, 2022 . Dust off the growler: This could be the year Minnesota liquor laws change . 2023-04-30 . Star Tribune.
  87. Web site: Callaghan . Peter . 2022-05-20 . Not so vice: Minnesota lawmakers reach deal on growler sales while bill to legalize sports betting hits major hurdle . 2023-04-30 . MinnPost . en-US.

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