Brickbat: Flag Football
A new bill in Minnesota proposes cutting state funding by 10 percent for cities or counties that continue to fly the state's pre-2024 flag instead of the current design. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Mike Freiberg, argues the old flag is outdated and offensive, while opponents say the measure punishes essential local services. Several cities have chosen to retain the old flag, and legislative leaders from the opposing party have dismissed the bill as impractical.
- ▪The bill was proposed by eight Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota.
- ▪It would reduce state funding by 10 percent to any city or county flying the old state flag.
- ▪The old flag featured a farmer and a Native American on horseback, which some describe as racist.
- ▪Cities including Inver Grove Heights, Elk River, and Champlin have opted to keep using the former flag.
- ▪House Speaker Lisa Demuth called the bill 'dead on arrival' and criticized its potential impact on local services.
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Flag Brickbat: Flag Football Charles Oliver | 5.5.2026 4:00 AM Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google Media Contact & Reprint Requests <img src="https://d2eehagpk5cl65.cloudfront.net/img/c800x450-w800-q80/uploads/2026/05/MN-Flags-v1-800x450.jpg" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto" width="1200" height="675" title="The current and former state flags of Minnesota" alt="The current and former state flags of Minnesota | Illustration: Jamie Eilat, Undertiago/Seal of Minnesota/Wikimedia Commons" /> (Illustration: Jamie Eilat, Undertiago/Seal of Minnesota/Wikimedia Commons) A new bill in Minnesota, proposed by eight Democratic lawmakers, would cut state funding by 10 percent to any city or county that flies the old state…
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