In 2017,
Senate Republicans
got it done.

We reformed health care.

Thousands of Minnesota families have been devastated by the exorbitant premiums resulting from the failure of Obamacare and MNsure. This session, our first priority was bringing relief to those on the individual health insurance market and taking the first steps toward significant market reform.

We delivered, passing $300 million in emergency aid for families whose health insurance premiums skyrocketed up to 67% in one year. We passed legislation allowing patients with serious conditions more time to transition to new providers if their insurance networks changed, and passed the first of many reforms that will bring market stability — using state dollars to share in the cost burden for the sickest patients, thereby lowering premiums for 98% of those in the individual market.

We prioritized roads and bridges.

Safe, efficient transportation infrastructure should be a given. Under the largest investment in roads and bridges since 2008, our budget will repair or replace thousands of lane miles and bridges across Minnesota. This comprehensive transportation budget infuses our transportation system with $300 million per biennium in new, ongoing funding, and an additional $300 million in one-time transportation funding from the bonding bill. These provisions include funding for road and bridge projects in across the state — without raising the gas tax or increasing license tab fees.

Our transportation budget also includes reform to MnDOT’s project selection process, weight restrictions increases for road construction materials and milk trucks, and a decrease on the taxpayer subsidy of the proposed metro-area light rail construction.

We invested in education.

Minnesota is home to some of the best and the brightest students in the nation — but we can do better at making sure all students have access to a quality education. Our $18.7 billion education budget, an increase of $1.3 billion, funds programs that have been proven to yield results, while affording local school districts the flexibility they need to attract, hire, and retain great teachers.

An increase of 2% to the per-pupil funding formula raises the formula allowance by $310 by the 2018-2019 school year — going directly to classroom expenses. The budget fully funds an additional 35,000 students expected in Minnesota by 2021, and provides money for critical school needs such as special education and facilities maintenance.

Reformed teacher licensure laws will make it easier for schools to find and hire qualified teachers and community experts for hard-to-fill positions like special education, foreign languages, and career-focused electives. A repeal of the outdated “last in, first out” law finally makes it legal for school districts to consider teacher effectiveness, and not just seniority, when making tough layoff decisions.

We cut your taxes.

In a time of a budget surplus, you deserve a break. You’ll benefit from the largest tax relief package in nearly two decades with the pro-growth Republican tax relief package. The plan offers $650 million in relief — allowing you to keep more of your hard-earned money.

Included in the package is a reduction in income taxes for seniors receiving Social Security, a tax credit for recent college graduates paying off student loans, a tax credit for beginning farmers, and property tax relief for small businesses are all included in the package. Our package also benefits communities across Greater Minnesota through a permanent $15 million increase, per year, to Local Government Aid and $25 million, per year, to County Program aid.

In short, our plan empowers people, not government, and rewards work, families, and communities.

days

bill introductions

committee hearings

million in tax cuts

We heard you.

On the issues, your voice matters.

Driver’s licenses

We passed a compromise REAL ID bill, ensuring Minnesotans can board airplanes and enter federal facilities without problem.

Buffer strips

We enacted a grace period for buffer strips and placed a moratorium on the MnDOT ditch mowing enforcement, hearing the voices of farmers and landowners loud and clear.

Sunday sales

We passed Sunday liquor sales, ending a 159-year old prohibition and giving Minnesota consumers the flexibility they want.

In 2017, Senate Republicans got it done.