A rise in political threats is driving a spike in Minnesota legislative security spending

Minnesota's legislative leaders are now prioritizing multi-million dollar safety upgrades as a new report reveals that security costs for public officials have surged fivefold over the last decade.

Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy (DFL-St. Paul) says right now she wants social media looked at more closely, and emphasized the role it plays in inciting physical danger against officials.

"We have seen in this last year that it is fertile ground for people's review of a member's participation in our democracy, and perhaps a threat directed at them," says Murphy. "And that's no good for our work."

But Murphy says security costs are now a permanent part of doing public business and warns that protecting lawmakers from escalating threats has become a mandatory expense, adding that new capitol screenings and home security reimbursements are proof of security as a priority, and that it will continue to be in future sessions.

"This is an issue that we will have to incorporate into our budgets going forward, like those same ways in which we have incorporated technology where it didn't used to exist," Murphy adds. "It's just a part of doing public business for the people of Minnesota."

As the session winds down, the Senate will look to formalize these protection costs as a permanent line item in the upcoming state budget.