FAIRMONT – The Center for Effective Lawmaking recently released the State Legislative Effectiveness Scores for Minnesota’s 2023-24 session, and Bjorn Olson, State Representative for District 22A which includes Martin and Faribault Counties, scored the highest out of the Republican lawmakers.

Olson stood atop a list with multiple notable names, including current gubernatorial candidates Lisa Demuth and Kristin Robbins, as well as long-time legislators Gregory Davids and Peggy Scott.

When asked about the 2023-24 session, Olson said it was tough due to the DFL trifecta.

“We cannot overstate how shut out the minority party is in Minnesota’s legislature,” he said. “There’s a lot of other states where Republicans and Democrats don’t have this incredible us-versus-them kind of theology. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that we’re always so neck and neck close. Right now we’re tied that no one wants to give the win.”

This was reflected in the CEL’s results. Placing first with only a 0.56, Olson was only able to introduce 34 bills, of which five received action beyond committee and only one passed in the house. By comparison, top-scoring DFL member Rick Hansen got a 5.44 and introduced 99 bills, of which 34 received action beyond committee, seven passed the house and four became law.

The Republicans proposed 3,804 bills during that session, and only one of them became law. All of this was felt by Olson and other lawmakers.

“It was very discouraging for many of us,” he said. “You saw there was a significant number of retirements after that session, individuals who couldn’t take it any longer because you’re beating your head against a stone wall, saying, ‘This is a really good thing. This is really a good thing. If someone would just listen, we’d be able to do a really great thing.’ The most discouraging thing is when the opposite of what you’d like to see happen is being implemented.”

Currently, Olson said the situation has changed with both political parties being even on representatives, as a bill needs at least one representative from both parties to pass.

“The Democrats introduced a bill that would cut Local Government Aid to any city that is not flying the new flag,” he said. “Well, that’s never going to happen. It won’t happen this year, and I can promise you that, because there will not be a single Republican in the House who would vote to penalize rural cities that want to stick with the old flag and not the new one.”

Duane Quam, who was also on the top 10 list for Republicans, was the one who broke the news to Olson about the CEL’s metrics and his spot at the top.

“He’s on the list too, and he was proud of it, but he was also really proud of me,” Olson said. “He handed it to me and said, ‘Hey, look at you. Good job.’ That was pretty cool.

As the current session continues on at a strong pace, Olson said a key thing he learned from the 2023-24 session that he continues to utilize now is an understanding of relationships.

“If your team doesn’t trust you, doesn’t see you as a competent leader, doesn’t value your assistance, you are of no value as a legislator,” he said. “I’ve really tried my very best to embody the concept of whatever you need me to do, I will do it on the team, and I’m fighting with all of us all the way, and that’s really seen great benefits within my group.”