Protests, heckling shut down meeting between Finstad and Rochester officials

ROCHESTER – U.S. Rep. Brad Finstad’s first public visit to Rochester since the start of President Donald Trump’s second administration ended in private Tuesday after protesters scuttled a public meeting Finstad held with Olmsted County officials.

Commissioner Mark Thein, the County Board chair, cut the meeting short after about five minutes into Finstad’s presentation on recent federal actions when protesters and advocates took issue with Finstad’s description of people on Medicaid as “able-bodied adult dependents.”

Earlier in the day, protesters briefly disrupted a Finstad talk at a Rochester Chamber of Commerce breakfast inside the Mayo Civic Center, while more than 50 people gathered outside in opposition.

“I believe in their First Amendment right to speak,” said Kelly Klein, co-chair of the 507 Indivisible group, about the protesters who interrupted the County Board meeting. Yet Klein said she wished the county meeting with Finstad had continued so she could hear his thoughts on federal issues from recent Medicaid cuts to changes in how federal food benefits are administered.

Finstad was discussing those benefits as part of the federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program when he set off several people who were overheard planning to speak out during the meeting.

Finstad tried to go on with his report, but Thein took control of the meeting, briefly jousting with protesters before recessing.

“We do not take public comment. If you cannot follow that rule you will be ask to leave,” Thein said as protesters shouted at the board and accused Finstad of hurting farmers and low-income families with his support of Trump’s recent “Big Beautiful Bill” budget package.

Thein said after the meeting he could have let Finstad continue but he thought the meeting would get out of hand in short order.

“I was hopeful we were going to have a conversation and that was wrecked by people who don’t really want a conversation,” Thein said.

Finstad’s scheduled meeting was the first time several commissioners could recall a sitting U.S. representative meeting with local officials in public. The board requested the meeting earlier this year amid concerns over how Medicaid cuts and SNAP adjustments would adversely affect county public health and human service budgets.

Minnesota is among 10 states where social services are administered through the county level.

Finstad said during the meeting he’s trying to work with Congress to tweak some of the recent SNAP changes so counties don’t have to bear as much of an administrative burden, noting Minnesota is one of three states that also don’t contribute state funding to administering those benefits.

Finstad and other Republican members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation have largely avoided public meetings for months in response to criticism on a variety of issues championed by Trump. Yet Finstad and other GOPers are touting the Big Beautiful Bill funding package this week. Congressman Tom Emmer is expected to tour part of central Minnesota on Thursday.

Progressives in Minnesota have used Finstad’s absence as a campaigning tactic, asking “Where’s Brad?” as part of their opposition efforts.

Finstad has held several telephone town halls this year, which his office has said reaches thousands of people at the same time.

Several people interrupted the earlier breakfast talk with questions over Medicaid and SNAP before they were forcibly removed. County deputies asked three people to leave after the County Board meeting went into recess before backing off to allow them to vent their concerns.

Megan Rutter, who with her husband runs Badgersett Farm in rural Lanesboro to research hazelnut and chestnut agricultural production, said her family lost nearly $400,000 in contracted grants in January. She and her husband have sold off equipment and are considering temporarily separating so she can find work elsewhere.

“He has voted against the very existence of my right to marry who I want to love,” Fryer said.

Commissioner Dave Senjem, a former state GOP lawmaker, said he had hoped to discuss tweaks to mental health programs, including reimbursements and mental health bed regulations, among other issues.

He noted that the county could pay thousands of dollars for a lobbyist to meet with him in Washington, D.C., or they could try to continue discussions on federal issues in Rochester for free.