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November Forecast 2023

MAIN POINT: This short-term surplus with a looming $2.3 billion deficit is a direct result of Democrat’s out of control spending. They passed nearly $10 billion in tax hikes, and even with that, we are seeing future deficits on the horizon. Minnesotans can’t afford one-party Democrat control.

  • Minnesota is an outlier on nearly every level of tax policy nationwide, and it was made worse by the last legislative session. Democrats raised taxes over the next four years by nearly $10 billion, and Minnesotans of every income level will be paying more as a result.  
  • With a looming deficit, Minnesotans can’t trust Democrats to protect their pocketbooks and rein in their out-of-control spending ways.  
  • Inflation continues to hammer family budgets, and because of the Democrat’s spending spree they can count on future tax hike proposals from single party control.  
  • Democrat campaign promises of significant tax relief were broken last session as they passed $10 billion in tax increases. The paltry one-time rebate checks received by Minnesotans this fall are now subject to federal taxes and pale in comparison to the higher costs they will face to finance the Democrat spending spree.  

Student Resource Officer law change

Main Message: School resource officers are important and valuable to efforts to keep our schools safe.  Unfortunately, the changes passed by Democrats this session have led to schools across the state losing access to their school resource officers due to the lack of clarity and guidance they need to do their jobs effectively. Republicans have a bill to correct this error and Democrats should join us and get it done as soon as possible. 

  • The changes surrounding how SROs can operate and use force in the course of their jobs were pushed throughout without feedback from law enforcement and lack the kind of clarity needed for SROs to do their jobs effectively.   
  • Police and sheriff departments across the state have terminated their SRO arrangements as a direct result of this legislation and are calling for its repeal. 
  • Even Democrat-endorsed Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt has pulled her officers from their school resource agreements, and expressed concern officers doing their job to keep students and teachers safe could end up facing legal repercussions.  
  • While we might wish there wasn’t a need for police officers to be in schools or use physical restraints in limited circumstances, there is a need. We should give our SROs the tools and resources they need to do their job and trust them to do it effectively because that’s how they keep students and teachers safe.  
  • Republicans have language that would repeal the changes so our schools can get their SROs back in their positions in the fastest possible way. If the education committee or public safety committee wants to make changes in this area, it should be done with more stakeholder input.  

But isn’t there an exception for bodily harm? 

A: While there is an exception, there remain questions about what types of force and, more importantly, when an officer may intervene. They may be obligated to let a situation escalate to meet the needs of this particular law, but that is in conflict to their obligations to keep the schools safe. I trust the police officers and subject matter experts who say this law creates confusion and prevents police officers from acting as the trained professionals I know them to be.  

Special Interest Spending Bill (Cash Bonding)

MAIN POINT: Republicans support investing in Minnesotans who created our $18 billion surplus before we borrow more taxpayer dollars for government projects. While there are many important projects worthy of investment, the failure of Democrats to work the Republicans to deliver significant tax relief is a broken promise to Minnesotans. 

  • Minnesota has an enormous surplus and politicians of both parties made promises to deliver tax relief to help families afford the impact of high costs in their daily lives. Republicans offered a tax package including rebates, permanent tax relief, and the complete elimination of the tax on Social Security. Our plan would have given every Minnesotan significant and meaningful tax relief.  
  • We have said all session long we would support a bonding bill as long as we delivered meaningful tax relief to Minnesotans first. They created the surplus and they should see relief.  
  • The Democrats who control all levels of government have chosen different priorities. They are about to pass nearly $10 billion in higher taxes and fees that will hit Minnesotans of all income levels. They have increased the size of the state budget by nearly 40%, and they have completely broken any promise they made to Minnesotans to make their lives more affordable or deliver tax relief.  
  • It’s especially troubling Democrats chose to cut out water, transportation, and infrastructure projects in favor of handouts to special interests and non-profits. With more than 54 non-profits receiving funding in this bill, we’re putting special interest groups ahead of clean water and safe roads for Minnesotans. 
  • Republicans made repeated good-faith offers to work with Democrats on bonding. We put the needs of Minnesotans first, pushed for more tax relief and investments in nursing homes. In response, Democrats slammed the door on working together and re-wrote their bonding bill to exact political revenge on those who didn’t go along with their plans.   
  • The public expects us to work together, listen to each other’s ideas, and put forward bills that benefit the whole state. What we’ve seen on this bonding bill is single-party control gone wrong.   Instead of working with members of both parties to develop a strong bill benefiting the entire state, the Democrats decided to spend taxpayer dollars in a hyper partisan way that leaves half the state behind. 

 

Tax bill Conference Committee Report

Main Message: With a $19 billion surplus, Democrats in St. Paul are utterly failing in their campaign promises to provide Minnesotans with tax relief. This bill alone raises taxes more than $2 billion on Minnesotans. On top of that, Democrats are forcing through changes to charitable gaming that will harm the efforts of charities across the state to raise money through e-pulltabs.  

  • This is simply stunning. We have a nearly $18 billion surplus and Democrats are still raising taxes on Minnesotans by billions of dollars.  
  • This tax bill raises taxes by more than a $2.2 billion dollars over four years, harming our economic competitiveness and growing government at the expense of Minnesotans.  
  • A few months ago, the budget forecast was released showing the state has a $17.5 billion surplus after accounting for $1.5 billion of inflation due to a legislative policy change passed in February. This record surplus is a direct result of over-taxation of Minnesotans. It’s simple – we’ve been taking too much of their hard-earned money. The state has been rolling in extra cash while Minnesotans are suffering from sticker shock at the price of eggs and energy costs.  
  • They would have 33 solid GOP votes in the Senate to end the Social Security tax. All it would have taken was 1 Democrat to insist upon the full elimination of the tax on Social Security income and we could have done it. No one gets a free pass on this.

CHARITABLE GAMING: 

  • Democrats are going to completely abandon charities across Minnesota and tear down e-pull tabs with significant changes to the games they are allowed to use. They are pulling the rug out from under these organizations, and they will leave countless American Legions, children’s sports, Lions Clubs, and VFWs struggling to raise the revenue they rely on to support communities initiatives across the state.  

Give It Back: 

  • Republicans have offered a better plan – a plan that lowers taxes for all Minnesotans and helps the families who have been struggling with the rising inflation over the last several years. Our plan prioritizes getting taxpayers relief from inflation and the rising costs they are facing in their everyday lives.  
  • Our tax bill would benefit every Minnesotan with permanent ongoing tax relief as well as the full elimination of the tax on Social Security benefits. We would return the one-time money in the surplus through a rebate and a child tax credit. It’s a balanced approach that helps every family across the state. We have a surplus because they were taxed too much and they deserve the relief. 

 

 

 

Federal Equal Rights Amendment Resolution

MAIN POINT: This resolution is little more than talking points on the issue since the ratification deadline of the Equal Rights Amendment passed decades ago. Women’s rights are important and supported through current laws and constitutional language, making this resolution unneeded and unconstitutional. 

  • Since the introduction of the federal Equal Rights Amendment in 1972, women have increased their representation in the political sphere, nearly half have college degrees, are a considerable percentage in the workforce. The fact this was done without an amendment demonstrates the current constitution has the needed protections for all citizens as written. 
  • Minnesotans can agree on equal rights for women and opposing discrimination in society, but that doesn’t mean this constitutional amendment is what we need to achieve either goal. 

Constitutional Amendment Providing for Equality Under Law

MAIN POINT: While this is billed as a state version of the Equal Rights Amendment, it is a far cry from efforts to provide equal rights for women.  It brings divisive social issues to the forefront with a litany of additions to the state constitution. It uses vague and undefined terms such as “gender expression” which could in turn undermine existing laws and programs which protect and promote services for women.  

  • Minnesotans can agree on equal rights for women and opposing discrimination in society, but that doesn’t mean this constitutional amendment is what we need to achieve either goal. 
  • Minnesota currently has considerable legal protections for those who may face discrimination in their lives, most prominently in the Minnesota Human Rights Act. 
  • The use of terms like “gender expression or identity” in addition to sex could undermine efforts to have women-specific programs or services, including female shelters, business development programs to support women-owned businesses, Title IX protections for women’s sports, and separation of sexes in state facilities.  
  • This amendment draft excludes religious affiliation, which could place the listed terms at a higher standing than the right of an American citizen to choose their own religion. Religiously influenced charities, businesses, and programs could be sued for simply following their own faith.  
  • No one is looking to make discrimination legal – opposing this amendment as written is opposing discrimination against people of faith, and opposing efforts to erase what it means to be a man or a woman. 

 

Cannabis Legalization Conference Committee Report

MAIN MESSAGE: While many Minnesotans are increasingly supportive of legalization of cannabis, this bill is not ready. It will make our roads less safe, limit local decision making for our communities, put our kids’ health at risk, and grow government with hundreds of new bureaucrats to enforce convoluted licensing regulations.  It’s simply wrong for the Democrats to plow ahead with legislation they know requires fixes in the future.  

Public Safety  

  • There are too many questions about our ability to ensure public safety with this final conference committee report.   
  • We don’t have reliable roadside tests for driving under the influence of cannabis and we don’t have clear standards ready to ensure safe driving conditions.   
  • What we do know is that increased cannabis use is associated with an increase in traffic deaths.  
  • According to the National Institutes of Health, traffic deaths involving marijuana impaired drivers increased 138% and for all drivers 29% since marijuana was legalized in Colorado. 
  • The Governors Highway Safety Association has noted increases in impaired driving cases in Washington state since legalization, and increases in fatal crashes in both Colorado and Washington.   
  • There is some funding for local law enforcement officers to receive drug recognition expert training, but it will take months (if not years) for this to have a significant impact on impaired driving enforcement. Meanwhile, people will be able to use cannabis recreationally under Minnesota law this summer. Law enforcement simply isn’t ready to enforce traffic safety for cannabis impaired driving.  

 Local Control  

  • Under this bill, local communities would not be able to deny cannabis licenses and have limited ability to regulate the number and location of facilities selling cannabis.  
  • We should give local elected officials the power to limit access to cannabis as they best see fit for their constituents.   
  • When there are public safety calls or complaints about misuse of cannabis – such as using in a public park or near a school, they will go to our local law enforcement agencies. They aren’t empowered with training or sufficiently supported with financial resources, and they will be overwhelmed with public safety calls.   
  • On top of not giving local officials necessary resources to respond to public safety calls and health impacts in their communities, we also restrict them from levying a local cannabis excise tax. They could find a dramatic increase in staffing needs directly as a result of legalization, and they would not be able to charge a tax to those who are creating the need in the first place.  

Illicit Market 

  • Proponents tout this bill as the best way to eliminate the illicit market with a robust legal Minnesota market.  However, the bill instead creates a vacuum that will make Minnesota a target for illegal activity.   
  • Beginning July 1, this bill creates an opening for Minnesotans over 21 years old to possess or give away up to 2 ounces of cannabis flower to legal recipients, and to have up to 2 pounds in their homes. However, until August 1, current criminal penalties for possession and sale will still apply, and new penalties for open packages in a motor vehicle will not apply. 
  • On August 1 this summer, a person selling up to 2 ounces of flower only receives a petty misdemeanor penalty, and many other penalties will be eliminated or reduced, even for large quantities.  
  • Eventually, the new Office of Cannabis Management may impose an administrative fine for illegal sale, but there will be a gap between August 1, 2023, and when the new Office will be able to effectively enforce sanctions. 
  • Authors of the bill have stated it will take the new Office up to 18 months to be fully functional and to issue licenses, so this leaves a gap for the illicit market to fill the vacuum until the legal market is up and running. 
  • Law enforcement is concerned this timeline will invite more illegal gang and cartel activity with few tools for them to use to tamp down behavior that comes with an illicit drug market. 

Protection for Kids

  • We protect kids from the harmful influences of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. We restrict where the products can be sold to limit exposure. We do education and prevention programs so kids don’t take up harmful habits when their brains are still developing.  
  • This bill doesn’t do nearly enough to ensure impressionable kids aren’t set on a path to develop potentially harmful habits.   
  • According to the National Institutes of Health, people who begin using marijuana before the age of 18 are 4-7 times more likely to develop marijuana use disorder as adults.  
  • We’ve seen in Colorado stunning challenges of accidental overdose or exposure, especially due to edibles, which are often designed to taste like treats.  
  • According to Kaiser Health News, incidences of exposures to marijuana among kids under five nearly tripled in 2021.   

 Substance Abuse Concerns   

  • We know states that have legalized recreational marijuana have seen increases in overdoses and addiction. This bill doesn’t provide adequate support to prevent substance abuse or assist with addiction treatment.   
  • According to a study from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, cannabis use disorder increased after legalization in states that legalized cannabis use. Cannabis Use Disorder was increased at a 25% higher rate in cannabis legalization states vs non-legalization states.  
  • In particular, this bill legalizes the possession of 2 pounds of cannabis.  That amount is beyond simple personal use and is of an amount that could easily contribute to overdoses, especially accidental overdoses.  
  • The ease of distribution of cannabis will inherently increase likelihood for use by vulnerable populations, as well as contributing to higher rates of addiction and substance abuse more broadly.  

 Closing

  • This bill simply isn’t ready. We haven’t seen the work done to ensure safety in our communities, support for local communities, protection for kids, or support for those struggling with addiction issues.    

Cannabis Legalization – Recreational Pot

Press Release

MAIN MESSAGE: While many Minnesotans are increasingly supportive of legalization of cannabis, this bill is not ready. It will make our roads less safe, prevents local decision making for our communities, puts our kids’ health at risk, and grows government with hundreds of new bureaucrats to enforce convoluted licensing regulations.  

Additional Points:   

Public Safety  

  • There are too many questions about our abilities to ensure public safety with this current draft of legislation.   
  • We don’t have reliable roadside tests for driving under the influence of cannabis and we don’t have clear standards ready to ensure safe driving conditions.   
  • What we do know is that increased cannabis use is associated with an increase in traffic deaths.  
  • According to the National Institutes of Health, traffic deaths involving marijuana impaired drivers increased 138% and for all drivers 29% since marijuana was legalized in Colorado 
  • The Governors Highway Safety Association has noted increases in impaired driving cases in Washington state since legalization, and increases in fatal crashes in both Colorado and Washington.   
  • There are courses for local law enforcement to become trained in drug impairment, but this bill doesn’t fund any training for local police officers and sheriffs’ deputies.   

Local Control  

  • Under this bill, local communities would not be able to deny cannabis licenses and have limited ability to regulate the number and location of facilities selling cannabis.  
  • We should give local elected officials the power to limit access to cannabis as they best see fit for their constituents.   
  • When there are public safety calls or complaints about misuse of cannabis – such as using in a public park or near a school, they will go to our local law enforcement agencies. They aren’t empowered with training or supported with financial resources, and they will be overwhelmed with public safety calls.   
  • On top of not giving local officials the financial resources they need to respond to the increased calls, we also restrict them from levying a local cannabis excise tax. They could find a dramatic increase in staffing needs directly as a result of legalization, and they would not be able to charge a tax to those who are creating the need in the first place.  

Protection for Kids:  

  • We protect kids from the harmful influences of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. We restrict where the products can be sold to limit exposure. We do education and prevention programs so kids don’t take up harmful habits when their brains are still developing.  
  • This bill doesn’t do nearly enough to ensure impressionable kids aren’t set on a path to develop potentially harmful habits.   
  • According to the National Institutes of Health, people who begin using marijuana before the age of 18 are 4-7 times more likely to develop marijuana use disorder as adults.  
  • We’ve seen in Colorado stunning challenges of accidental overdose or exposure, especially due to edibles, which are likely to be designed to taste like treats.  
  • According to Kaiser Health News, incidences of exposures to marijuana among kids under five nearly tripled in 2021.   

Substance Abuse Concerns   

  • We know from states which have legalized recreational marijuana, they’ve seen increases in overdoses and addiction. This bill doesn’t provide adequate support to prevent substance abuse or assist with addiction treatment.   
  • According to a study from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, cannabis use disorder increased after legalization in states that legalized cannabis use. Cannabis Use Disorder was increased at a 25% higher rate in cannabis legalization states vs non-legalization states.  
  • In particular, this bill legalizes the possession of 5 pounds of cannabis (2 purchased pounds of personal possession, up to 5 pounds of home grown).  That amount is beyond simple personal use and is of an amount that could easily contribute to overdoses, especially accidental overdoses.  
  • This bill creates an opening for any person to give away cannabis to legal recipients. A person selling up to 2 ounces of flower only receives a petty misdemeanor. The ease of distribution of cannabis will inherently increase likelihood for use by vulnerable populations and addiction and substance abuse more broadly.  

 Closing:  

  • This bill simply isn’t ready. We haven’t seen the work done to ensure safety in our communities, support for local communities, protection for kids, or support for those struggling with addiction issues.    

SF/HF 3 Democracy for the People Act

Press Release

Main Message: Minnesota has a long tradition of passing election law changes with bipartisan support and this bill fails that simple test. It doesn’t represent consensus agreement on how our elections should operate. It’s a highly charged and partisan piece of legislation that chills free speech, reduces confidence in our electoral system, and imposes burdensome requirements on local elections officials.  

  • It has been a position of governors from three parties that election law changes only happen with the consensus and bipartisan support of major parties. This tradition has served our state well and helped ensure the administration of elections is done in an even-handed and non-partisan way. Democrats have abandoned this tradition and instead are ramming through controversial proposals that would serve to weaken public confidence in our elections as accessible, fair, and secure. 
  • Minnesota voters deserve better than having highly controversial legislation changing how we conduct elections rammed through without bipartisan support. 
  • This highly partisan legislation was put together by a DC-based interest group. It isn’t written with all Minnesota voters in mind. It’s written to benefit one side of the aisle. It’s the kind of legislation that led previous governors to require bipartisan support for any election legislation.  

Abortion Refuge

(Release of Health Records Limitation for Abortion)

MAIN MESSAGE: This divisive legislation pushes Minnesota towards extensive litigation over constitutional issues with other states.   

Additional Points: 

  • Since the Dobbs ruling, states are having the tough conversations about pregnancy, abortion, and the care and rights of unborn child. It’s a highly controversial issue nationwide, and each state is finding its own footing on what consensus abortion legislation should be in each state’s case. 
  • We don’t need to elevate and engage in deep fights about abortion with other states – we should be focused on our own conversations and our own needs here in Minnesota. 
  • The choice to extend the laws of Minnesota beyond our own borders is likely unconstitutional and just puts Minnesota taxpayers on the hook for the political points being scored by Democrats with this heated topic.  

 

Conversion Therapy

MAIN POINT: Vulnerable adults and children deserve protection from harmful practices, but this bill doesn’t deliver. There are serious concerns this bill would make it harder for young people who want to have conversations with trusted adults in their lives. This goes beyond regulating a specific action and instead could lead to lawsuits regarding the first amendment.  

  • We all agree children and vulnerable adults should be protected from mistreatment and egregious therapy practices, but this proposal goes beyond that.  
  • Conversion therapy is not a common practice and isn’t covered by any insurance provider in this state. Unfortunately, this bill’s vague language and expansive definitions could chill conversations with counselors for children who want to have wide-ranging conversations.  
  • Putting regulated counselors in a spot where they are limited from having the kind of dynamic conversations a child needs means a child will get inadequate support from their counselors.  This is especially bad for minors and vulnerable adults because those initial conversations are sometimes the most important ones a young person could have as they go through their own personal journeys.  

Transgender Refuge

MAIN MESSAGE: This is divisive legislation on social issues Minnesotans have not been able to come to any sort of broad consensus on. It raises serious constitutional questions and encourages non-Minnesotans to pursue permanent physical changes to the bodies of minor children even if they don’t have custody of those children.  

Additional Points: 

  • This is divisive legislation that inserts the state of Minnesota into the private family matters of people from other states. We shouldn’t be using these families and children to score political points. 
  • Transgender care for minors is a complex issue without widespread consensus in the public. It’s particularly concerning to many Minnesotans to see minor children undergo physical treatments that could have a lifelong impact on their body’s development.  
  • Aside from the language in this bill about transgender care itself, this bill puts Minnesota squarely in the middle of family custody disputes. If two non-Minnesotan parents disagree about the medical treatment of their child, we are saying the non-custodial parent can come to Minnesota for treatment, and Minnesota will temporarily change that custody order but with potentially permanent results for the child. This is likely unconstitutional, and the last place the state of Minnesota should be is in the middle of family disputes of non-Minnesotans.  

Budget Bill: Conference Committee Report

Environment and Energy Conference Committee Report

ENERGY PORTION:  

Main Message: The Democrat Energy bill will lead to higher costs for consumers and less access to reliable energy.  Instead of helping people afford the energy they need in their daily lives, we are sending financial incentives to wealthy people who can already afford to buy their electric vehicles.    

Additional Points:  

  • Minnesotans need real solutions to the challenges of our energy economy that don’t ignore the costs they are expected to pay.    
  • We shouldn’t be passing ridiculous mandates that will directly lead to higher utility bills for Minnesotans when they have faced successive years of inflation and out-of-control energy bills.    
  • We should be working together to enhance Minnesota’s role in a clean energy economy and that includes developing the critical natural resources right here in our backyard. We can do it safely, with the highest worker standards in the world, and with respect for the lands surrounding us.    
  • Republicans have offered solutions that give us affordable, reliable and always on energy for Minnesotans. There is a better way.     

ENVIRONMENT PORTION    

Main Message: Minnesotans have a long and proud tradition of protecting and caring for the outdoors. We have extensive natural resources that contribute to our economy both for development, agriculture, and for personal enjoyment and tourism. Unfortunately, this bill fails to find the middle ground that both protects our natural resources and responsibly supports the natural resource development economy across the state.    

Additional points:  

  • This bill spends huge amounts an enormous amount of public money and then makes it harder for taxpayers across the state to live in concert with our natural resources. Working with and developing our natural resources for farming, mining, timber, and recreation is a way of life, and this bill manages to negatively impact all of them.    
  • Granting greater powers to regulate environmental issues to bureaucrats will hinder Minnesotans in their interactions with the outdoors, whether we are talking about enjoyment of our public lands, the development of our natural resource and the jobs associated with them, and how we live in our own communities.  

 

Housing Conference Committee Report

Press Release

MAIN POINT: We have a nearly $18 billion surplus and Democrats are passing a $744 million tax hike on every Minnesotan shopping in the metro area. This bill won’t do enough to solve the supply problems in Minnesota housing, and it won’t help make housing more affordable whether someone is renting or purchasing. This is a huge missed opportunity to invest in the housing needs of Minnesotans. 

  • The Metro Regional Sales Tax increase in this bill will cost Minnesotans $744 million over four years. Every Minnesotan no matter their income will be paying more when they buy needed items for their family, making life more expensive for them when they are already taxed too much. 
  • This bill fails to make big enough moves to increase the supply of housing. By investing in band-aid approaches to help people pay for rent, we aren’t investing in programs that will increase supply and reduce costs for all Minnesotans who struggle to pay for housing across the state.  
  • Giving money to non-profits and helping people with down-payments when we don’t have enough housing units is short-sighted and we will be back here again next year with the same problems. Republicans advocated for structural changes that get at the root causes of our housing shortage and Democrats are instead tossing taxpayer money at the problem instead of fixing it. 

Human Services (Hoffman) Conference Committee Report

MAIN POINT: This bill represents an investment in some of Minnesota’s most vulnerable communities. It provides significant resources for disability and long-term care services but doesn’t adequately support Minnesota seniors. We are especially disappointed to see the Democrats fail to aggressively support nursing homes across the state, which have been closing down due to significant pressures driven by decisions made at the state level.    

Additional Points: 

  • Unfortunately, we are still not addressing the severe workforce shortage issues for nursing homes. Without adequate staffing, nursing homes have been forced to turn away seniors in need of care and some nursing homes have even had to shut down. Without a major change in direction, they will continue to shut down, they will continue to struggle with finding enough employees, and the residents will struggle to get the kind of care they deserve and need in their golden years. 

According to Leading Age: 

  • In October 2022, more than 11,000 seniors were turned away from nursing homes because they couldn’t provide enough staff to ensure quality and safe care.  
  • There are more than 20% of staffing positions open, leaving the care facilities that are open shorthanded and overworked. This can lead to diminished care for seniors in need – seniors who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. 
  • There are more than 50,000 Minnesotans expected to turn 80 in the next 5 years – and many of them will require the kind of care that happens in nursing homes.  
  • In Minnesota alone, there have been the equivalent of 45 nursing home closures. When nursing homes close, patients at hospitals who are ready to transition to nursing home care are forced to stay in hospitals where pay higher rates for their care. When patients are forced to stay in hospitals longer than necessary, it puts them at higher risk for infections. 
  • The “solution” offered by the Democrats is band-aid – a loan program that will not address the low wages and high costs that facilities are facing year-after-year. It is literally a matter of life or death for care facilities to have available beds, and this bill is moving us in the wrong direction.  

Jobs and Labor Conference Committee Report

JOBS BILL
 MAIN POINT: Single party control has been devastating to anyone trying to create jobs in Minnesota. Democrats in charge are passing burdensome mandates, higher taxes, and are discouraging the kind of entrepreneurship that gave us Medtronic, 3M, and Target. While this jobs bill recognizes the need to support job creation, passing out money to unaccountable non-profits and a slick branding campaign to appeal to businesses isn’t enough to make up for a fundamentally bad business climate.  

  • Minnesotans expect government to help make their lives easier, not harder.  We should be encouraging the type of business climate that fosters the kinds of job opportunities they need to raise a family and retire in Minnesota should be at the top of the list.    
  • Democrats in charge are passing burdensome mandates, higher taxes, and are discouraging the kind of entrepreneurship that gave us Medtronic, 3M, and Target.   
  • With a worsening business climate due to Democrat policies, we’ll see population shift to states more friendly in climate, taxation, and entrepreneurship.  

LABOR BILL  

MAIN POINT: The labor provisions in this bill increase red tape, gives authority to non-government entities, and will lead to higher costs for consumers and taxpayers across the board. We shouldn’t be passing a labor bill that reduces quality jobs for Minnesotans, we should be investing in efforts that improve working opportunities for Minnesotans.  

  • Minnesota has a robust set of laws for employee protections and safety across the board, and we don’t need to add heavy fines, onerous mandates, or unworkable regulations. These changes will simply cost taxpayers more money and make it harder for employers to provide good jobs for Minnesotans.   

Commerce Conference Committee Report

MAIN POINT: This bill is well intentioned but amounts to false advertising: It will fail to deliver on its promises to lower costs for consumers and will instead raise costs across the board through fees and mandates.  We offered several sensible amendments to improve the bill and provide real cost savings and protections for Minnesotans, but Democrats voted every one of them down. Democrats opposed these reasonable changes because they are setting up Minnesota for a future with government-run and government-rationed health care delivery.  

  • INCREASING FEES: This bill requires several fee increases that will lead to higher costs for consumers when they buy insurance. 
  • REINSURANCE: Reinsurance is a proven program to lower health insurance costs for consumers. This bill risks the stability of this program and will lead to higher costs in the future for consumers. 
  • COVERAGE MANDATES: The Democrats’ bill exempted several public health programs from their mandates because they said the mandates would be expensive for the state to execute. What they are really saying is Minnesotans on private plans should be forced to accept the costs of higher of the mandates but low-income Minnesotans on public plans aren’t worth the cost of those mandates.  
  • PRESCRIPTION DRUG AFFORDABILITY BOARD: Democrats included provisions for a “Prescription Drug Affordability Board” which is one of the most extreme cases offered of false advertising. While it suggests it will help Minnesotans afford their prescriptions, what it will really do is limit access to life-saving drugs, lead to higher costs, and limit the development of future prescription medications.
  • PRICE GOUGING: Legislation to ban price gouging is well-intended but fails to deliver on value to consumers. Instead, this bill would increase the powers of the governor, lead to more lawsuits, and will do nothing to help consumers. 
  • Economists have studied price gouging restrictions and have consistently found restrictions fail to deliver the protections promised. Instead, they encourage hoarding by consumers and discourage producers from solving challenges with the supply chain.  
  • Unfortunately, with the way this legislation is drafted, we can be sure the state will be sued over constitutional concerns. This will cost taxpayers more money without the gain of controlling prices or improving supplies. 

Public Safety Conference Committee Report

MAIN POINT: The Democrats’ single party government has proven it isn’t interested in keeping Minnesotans safe. Despite campaign promises of taking public safety seriously, Democrats are forwarding legislation to go easy on violent criminals, fails to support law enforcement, and attacks law-abiding citizens pursuing their constitutional rights.  

CRIME 

  • This bill will make thousands of criminals convicted of serious and even violent crimes eligible for early release. This includes thousands who will be eligible for administrative release early and changes how mature juveniles who were tried and convicted as adults may be sentenced.  
  • The changes to how juveniles tried as adults are sentenced would be retroactive and make more than 90 people eligible for release  five to ten years early (in many cases after only 15 years) including individuals convicted of the ax murder of relatives; the rape of a girl with mental and physical disabilities; the beating and stabbing with a screwdriver of a victim while the victim was being raped; and the stabbing and slitting the throat of a homeless individual.  
  • This bill fails to protect children by removing a provision added to clarify pedophilia is not a protected class under the Minnesota Human Rights Act.  

FAILS TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT: 

  • On top of not providing substantial support for law enforcement, Democrats are planning to funnel millions of dollars to community non-profits under the guise of crime prevention. Our state resources should be directed to improved support for law enforcement training, recruitment, and retention and not community organizers. 
  • The Democrat negotiated bill eliminated new funding for first responder mental health, body cameras for law enforcement, and school safety center personnel. Democrats actively took steps to eliminate support for law enforcement to craft this final package.

ATTACKS LAW ABIDING CITIZENS: 

  • Despite promises by many to protect the rights of law-abiding citizens to own a gun, Democrats are advancing several restrictions on the gun rights of people who did nothing wrong. These changes won’t stop gun violence, but letting violent criminals out of jail early will risk public safety. 
  • On top of going after law abiding citizens, this bill does not address prosecutors and judges who waive current mandatory minimum penalties for criminals who committed violent offenses with a firearm. Democrats say they care about getting tough on gun violence, but are taking a pass on the actual criminal offenses using a gun.  

MAKING IT HARDER FOR HOUSING PROVIDERS TO ENSURE SAFE HOMES: 

  • This bill makes numerous changes that make it more difficult to be a landlord in Minnesota.  The bill also makes it more difficult to evict tenants who may be involved in drug activity. 

CLOSING COMMENTS: 

  • Minnesotans deserve to feel safe in their communities, to know when they call 911 there’s someone to answer and respond, and that someone who commits a crime will face real consequences. This “Get of Jail Free” bill denies justice to crime victims, makes our state less safe, and doesn’t support the recruitment and retention of the law enforcement officers we rely on to keep our communities safe. 

State Government and Elections Conference Committee Report

State Government

Main Message: Growth in state government astronomical. Single party control has led to Democrats are growing the state government operating budget by nearly 40%. Taxpayers are getting hammered with higher costs in their daily lives, they are getting squeezed on energy bills, at the grocery story, and on gas prices. The last thing taxpayers need is for government to treat them like a bottomless piggy bank to pay for more and more bureaucrats.      

  • Minnesota government functions best when there is strong oversight, accountability for how every tax dollar is spent, and the taxpayer is centered and not special interests in our decision making. This bill erodes checks and balance, reduces transparency in government and puts special interests ahead of taxpayers.   
  • Democrats are changing state law to allow the government to take grants from wealthy organizations. These grants come with strings attached and would make power of Minnesota government available for purchase to further private agendas of wealthy individuals. It should be a bipartisan vote to say our government is not for sale.   
  • This bill includes pay raises for constitutional officers and agency heads along with the top political appointees of governors and re-sets their pay structure for the long-term.  
  • The Legislature is a co-equal branch of the government, and this bill would grant more authority to the executive branch and diminish the role of the Legislature.   

Elections

Main Message: Minnesota has a long tradition of passing election law changes with bipartisan support and this bill fails that simple test. It doesn’t represent consensus agreement on how our elections should operate. We should prioritize efforts to help our local elections officials run safe, secure, and accessible elections and this bill takes us in the opposite direction.     

Additional points:  

  • It has been a position of governors from three parties that election law changes only happen with the consensus and bipartisan support of major parties. This tradition has served our state well and helped ensure the administration of elections is done in an even-handed and non-partisan way. Democrats have abandoned this tradition and instead are ramming through controversial proposals that would serve to weaken public confidence in our elections as accessible, fair, and secure.  
  • The inclusion of the controversial “National Popular Vote” would change how Minnesota awards its presidential elector votes in a way that seeks to circumvent both the will of Minnesota voters and the constitutional method outlined for electing presidents.  
  • One of the key campaign finance reforms both parties have historically agreed upon is the restriction on fundraising from lobbyists during session. This year, Democrats attempted to hold a fundraiser during session through a loophole. Republicans pushed through an amendment to eliminate the loophole, but Democrats stripped it from the bill behind closed doors. That kind of pay-to-play fundraising structure reduces confidence in government and is the wrong priority for Minnesota.  

  

Agriculture Finance Omnibus

Press Release

MAIN POINT: Minnesota’s agriculture industry generates more than $112 billion in annual economic impact and supports more than 431,000 jobs. While we would have prioritized the provisions differently, this bill provides significant benefit to our agriculture industry and to the needs of rural broadband.

  • We’re proud to support our agriculture industry, but we would have preferred some changes we’d like to see in this bill. There are several programs this bill fails to adequately support and we offered amendments the Democrats voted down. Among them:
    • Cottage foods expansion: This is a limited program with wide benefit. Small producers of foods have to be careful to keep their sales at a low level or they trigger registration, licensing and fee requirements. With rising inflation, the level in statute no longer makes sense. Our proposal would have raised the amount of sales one could make before requiring additional regulation. It would help hundreds of Minnesotans make a living as smaller producers, especially new immigrants who are in the process of building a business.
    • Restoration of Wild Rice Cultivation provisions: Wild rice has a rich history in Minnesota and is recognized as our state grain. We should be supporting more producers of wild rice, not eliminating important programs to keep wild rice available to all Minnesotans. The research used to support wild rice cultivation is best done with consistent funding and this would use the keep our long-standing policies in place.
    • Grain Indemnity Changes: Not every farmer wants or needs to participate in grain indemnity coverage, and this change would make the program voluntary for the farmer. It provides gives farmers the flexibility to use their resources as they see fit.

Elections Policy Omnibus

Press Release

Main Message: Minnesota has a long tradition of passing election law changes with bipartisan support and this bill fails that simple test. It doesn’t represent consensus agreement on how our elections should operate. It introduces controversial changes that undermine the role and confidence of Minnesota voters in our elections, especially with the adoption of National Popular Vote.   

  • It has been a position of governors from three parties that election law changes only happen with the consensus and bipartisan support of major parties. This tradition has served our state well and helped ensure the administration of elections is done in an even-handed and non-partisan way. Democrats have abandoned this tradition and instead are ramming through controversial proposals that would serve to weaken public confidence in our elections as accessible, fair, and secure.  
  • Minnesota voters deserve better than having highly controversial legislation changing how we conduct elections rammed through without bipartisan support.   

Education Policy Omnibus

Press Release (Joint with Finance)

Main Message: Minnesotans are united in wanting to see an education system the gives our kids the resources they need to succeed as students and thrive as adults. Republicans believe we should be putting students first with quality teachers, curriculum that works, and directs the majority of our financial investment into the classroom. This policy bill fails to put students first, makes it harder for high quality teachers to get licensed, and invites divisive political curriculum into the classroom.   

  • We have heard from many schools concerned about the volume of mandates in these bills. They extend from the classroom to the administration, and they don’t serve the needs of students.  
  • It’s especially troubling we are eliminating numerous licensure programs that help bring highly qualified teachers into the classroom. These are successful programs that benefit students, help schools with their teacher shortages, and make a real difference in diversifying our teacher pool.   
  • There are extensive curriculum mandates that bring divisive political agendas into the classroom. These mandates don’t prepare students for future success.   
  • When nearly half of all Minnesota students are not reading at grade level, we should be re-doubling our efforts to focus on literacy and the science of reading. Literacy is the building block of all learning, and we need to ensure all kids can read so they can read to learn. We offered several amendments to focus our education efforts on literacy and Democrats shot them all down.   
  • This bill also eliminates many highly rated colleges from being an option for students using PSEO programs. PSEO programs help students with the costs of college and take coursework with the rigor they are ready to tackle. We shouldn’t deny students access to these schools just because some don’t like something about their administrative organization.   

Education Finance Omnibus

Press Release (Joint with Policy)

Main Message: Minnesotans are united in wanting to see an education system the gives our kids the resources they need to succeed as students and thrive as adults. Republicans believe we should be putting students first with quality teachers, curriculum that works, and directs the majority of our financial investment into the classroom. With a huge number of mandates and the tearing down of teacher development programs, we’re driving school districts into deficits and failing to put students first.   

  • This bill represents broken promises – Democrats promised they’d “fully fund” schools but instead they are imposing a huge number of mandates onto schools that will prevent any additional investment from making it to the classroom.  
     
  • Many schools have told us the mandates in the bills moving through the capitol will cost us more than they are receiving in this education bill. We should be giving these schools more flexibility with their dollars so they can meet the needs of the students in their districts.  
  • It’s especially disappointing to see the steps away from high quality teachers in the classroom. We are eliminating the requirement for teachers to demonstrate subject matter expertise before they are in the classroom. Our kids deserve quality teachers who know the subject they are hired to teach.   
  • We tried to offer numerous improvements to this bill to make put students first by  
  • Directing more resources to the local school districts formula funding. 
  • More support for schools to reduce the education cross-subsidy.  
  • More money for the Safe Schools Aid program.   
  • Support for the literacy initiatives that use the science of reading.  
  • Commonsense policies to ensure students are using age-appropriate materials in schools and school libraries.  

 

Energy & Environment Finance Omnibus

Press Release

ENERGY PORTION: 

Main Message: The Democrat Energy bill will lead to higher costs for consumers and less access to reliable energy.  Instead of helping people afford the energy they need in their daily lives, we are sending financial incentives to wealthy people who can already afford to buy their electric vehicles.   

Additional Points: 

  • Minnesotans need real solutions to the challenges of our energy economy that don’t ignore the costs they are expected to pay.   
  • We shouldn’t be passing ridiculous mandates that will directly lead to higher utility bills for Minnesotans when they have faced successive years of inflation and out-of-control energy bills.   
  • We should be working together to enhance Minnesota’s role in a clean energy economy and that includes developing the critical natural resources right here in our backyard. We can do it safely, with the highest worker standards in the world, and with respect for the lands surrounding us.   
  • Republicans have offered solutions that give us affordable, reliable and always on energy for Minnesotans. There is a better way.  

ENVIRONMENT PORTION 

Main Message: Minnesotans have a long and proud tradition of protecting and caring for the outdoors. We have extensive natural resources that contribute to our economy both for development, agriculture, and for personal enjoyment and tourism. Unfortunately, this bill fails to find the middle ground that both protects our natural resources and responsibly supports the natural resource development economy across the state.    

Additional points: 

  • This bill spends huge amounts of taxpayer dollars and then makes it harder for taxpayers across the state to live in concert with our natural resources. Working with and developing our natural resources for farming, mining, timber, and recreation is a way of life, and this bill manages to negatively impact all of them.   
  • Granting greater powers to regulate environmental issues to bureaucrats will hinder Minnesotans in their interactions with the outdoors, whether we are talking about enjoyment of our public lands, the development of our natural resource and the jobs associated with them, and how we live in our own communities. 

Housing Finance Omnibus

Press Release

MAIN POINT: Minnesota is facing a huge shortfall in the creation of new housing units – both rental and owner-occupied. With an enormous investment, we are continuing to put band-aids on the problems and failing to take meaningful action to expand the supply of housing across the state. Further, we are not taking our responsibilities seriously to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent appropriately without waste or abuse.   

  • Minnesota will not truly be able to address the high costs of housing unless it takes steps to encourage the development of new units. We simply are not building enough houses to keep up with the needs of the population.  
     
  • This bill doesn’t encourage private development, and just throws money at expensive government driven projects that don’t even scratch the surface of our need.   
  • We are especially concerned at the volume of dollars being distributed without proper accountability and oversight measures. Taxpayers work hard to earn their money, and we should respect their time and effort when we are spending the dollars they pay in taxes.  

Higher Ed Finance Omnibus

Press Release

Main Message: Minnesota has a robust higher education system with 2-and 4-year college options available for students across the state. Unfortunately, this bill doesn’t work to make our institutions more affordable for all students or more responsive to interests and needs of college applicants. As a result, we are doing nothing to stop the declining enrollment across the systems and are failing to update the programs for the needs of today.  

Additional Points:

  • The University of Minnesota system has dropped over the last decade from about 44,000 to 41,000. The Minnesota State system has dropped 25% at the colleges and 17% at the universities. These trends are disturbing, problematic, and this bill is doing nothing to fix the underlying problems.
  • The money in this bill is spread thin across programs and isn’t targeted to making college more affordable to all Minnesota college students. We offered several sensible proposals to prevent tuition hikes, provide more support for students who need it, and ensures we are supporting programs that will lead to good jobs in the future.

Human Services Finance Omnibus

Press Release

MAIN POINT: This bill represents an investment in some of Minnesota’s most vulnerable communities. It provides significant resources for disability and long-term care services, and while offered several reasonable proposals to improve the bill, the end result is a still more good than bad for Minnesotans. We are especially disappointed to see the Democrats fail to aggressively support nursing homes across the state, which have been closing down due to significant pressures driven by decisions made at the state level.   

Additional Points:

  • There are a lot of very good pieces of this bill, including significant increases in support for elderly and disability services. It’s needed and appreciated movement in the right direction.
  • Unfortunately, we are still not addressing the severe workforce shortage issues for nursing homes. Without adequate staffing, nursing homes have been forced to turn away seniors in need of care and some nursing homes have even had to shut down. Without a major change in direction, they will continue to shut down, they will continue to struggle with finding enough employees, and the residents will struggle to get the kind of care they deserve and need in their golden years.
    • According to Leading Age:
      • In October 2022, more than 11,000 seniors were turned away from nursing homes because they couldn’t provide enough staff to ensure quality and safe care.
      • There are more than 20% of staffing positions open, leaving the care facilities that are open shorthanded and overworked. This can lead to diminished care for seniors in need – seniors who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
      • There are more than 50,000 Minnesotans expected to turn 80 in the next 5 years – and many of them will require the kind of care that happens in nursing homes.
    • In Minnesota alone, there have been the equivalent of 45 nursing home closures. When nursing homes close, patients at hospitals who are ready to transition to nursing home care are forced to stay in hospitals where pay higher rates for their care.

Jobs and Labor Omnibus

Press Release

JOBS BILL

MAIN POINT: Single party control has been devastating to anyone trying to create jobs in Minnesota. Democrats in charge are passing burdensome mandates, higher taxes, and are discouraging the kind of entrepreneurship that gave us Medtronic, 3M, and Target. While this jobs bill recognizes the need to support job creation, passing out money to unaccountable non-profits and a slick branding campaign to appeal to businesses isn’t enough to make up for a fundamentally bad business climate. 

  • Minnesotans expect government to help make their lives easier and providing the type of business climate that fosters the kinds of job opportunities they need to raise a family and retire in Minnesota should be at the top of the list.
  • Democrats in charge are passing burdensome mandates, higher taxes, and are discouraging the kind of entrepreneurship that gave us Medtronic, 3M, and Target.
  • With a worsening business climate due to Democrat policies, we’ll see population shift to states more friendly in climate, taxation, and entrepreneurship.

LABOR BILL 

MAIN POINT: The labor provisions in this bill increase red tape, gives authority to non-government entities, and will lead to higher costs for consumers and taxpayers across the board. We shouldn’t be passing a labor bill that reduces quality jobs for Minnesotans, we should be investing in efforts that improve working opportunities for Minnesotans.  

  • Minnesota has a robust set of laws for employee protections and safety across the board, and we don’t need to add heavy fines, onerous mandates, or unworkable regulations. These changes will simply cost taxpayers more money and make it harder for employers to provide good jobs for Minnesotans.

Judiciary & Public Safety Omnibus – “Get Out of Jail Free” bill

Press Release

MAIN POINT: The Democrat majority is risking the safety of all Minnesotans with this soft on crime bill. This bill amounts to a “Get Out Of Jail Free” card for thousands of convicted criminals, fails to close gaps in the law to keep our communities safe, and doesn’t deliver justice to victims of crime.

  • This bill will make thousands of criminals convicted of serious and even violent crimes eligible for early release. This includes thousands who will be eligible for administrative release early and changes how mature juveniles who were tried and convicted as adults may be sentenced.
  • The changes to how juveniles tried as adults are sentenced would be retroactive and make more than 90 people eligible for release after serving only 15 years, including individuals convicted of the ax murder of relatives; the rape of a girl with mental and physical disabilities; the beating and stabbing with a screwdriver of a victim while the victim was being raped; and the stabbing and slitting the throat of a homeless individual.
  • On top of not providing substantial support for law enforcement, Democrats are planning to funnel $91 million to community non-profits under the guise of crime prevention. Our state resources should be directed to improved support for law enforcement training, recruitment, and retention and not community organizers.
  • Minnesotans deserve to feel safe in their communities, to know when they call 911 there’s someone to answer and respond, and that someone who commits a crime will face real consequences. This “Get of Jail Free” bill denies justice to crime victims, makes our state less safe, and doesn’t support the recruitment and retention of the law enforcement officers we rely on to keep our communities safe.

Legacy Omnibus

Press Release

MAIN POINT: We support investments in the outdoors throughout Minnesota – and there are many good projects in this bill that would help advance our shared goals of maintaining clean water, air, parks and trails. Unfortunately, the track record of Legacy Boards responsible for approving projects has been extremely disappointing and dollars are spent on questionable projects, for limited benefit, and fail to uphold the promise of the Legacy Amendment. The current structure of the Legacy Boards means those charged with distributing the funding have little oversight by the Legislature and we believe taxpayers deserve better. 

Additional Points:

  • The Legacy Amendment was passed by Minnesotans with the promise their tax dollars would be spent to preserve the outdoors, enhance our environment and support the arts. There are many good projects that would be funded by this bill, but unfortunately without any increase in accountability measures for the recipients and the boards responsible for awarding those grants, we lack confidence that Minnesotans are getting the value they deserve.
  • We believe that shoveling money to unaccountable individuals and organizations for “arts projects” is not the way keep going, and much of this funding could and should be directed towards programing that will better match the needs and sensibilities of Minnesotans.

State Government Policy Omnibus

Press Release 

MAIN POINT: Minnesota government functions best when there is strong oversight, accountability for how every tax dollar is spent, and the taxpayer is centered and not special interests in our decision making. This bill erodes checks and balance, reduces transparency in government and puts special interests ahead of taxpayers.   

  • This bill is a path to government without checks and balances that doesn’t put the needs of the taxpayer first.   
  • We offered several reasonable amendments to protect taxpayers, provide strong oversight, and keep the focus on a government that works effectively and efficiently for all Minnesotans. 
  • The Legislature is a co-equal branch of the government, and this bill would grant more authority to the executive branch and diminish the role of the legislature.   

Tax Omnibus Bill

Press Conference

Main Message: We have a nearly $17.5 billion budget surplus and Minnesotans deserve to see the majority of that back in their pockets. That should include the full elimination of the tax on Social Security income. All 33 Republicans would put up the votes today for the full elimination. The four democrats who campaigned on its elimination are breaking their promise to Minnesotans by not joining us in demanding this change.   

  • With such a large surplus, we certainly don’t need to increase any taxes on anyone. The tax increase in this bill is on questionable legal ground and is unprecedented in any state.   
  • What’s most concerning is what this tax bill will look like after negotiations with Governor Walz and the House. It’s guaranteed it will come back with higher taxes on more Minnesotans.  
  • And we shouldn’t forget about the tax increases that exist in other bills moving around the Capitol. There are upwards of $9 billion in tax increases spread across a half dozen bills because a $17.5 billion surplus wasn’t enough extra money to finance the one-party control spending spree.   

 

State Government & Elections Finance Omnibus

Press Release

State Government Section: 

 Main Message: Growth in state government astronomical. With this vote today, Democrats are growing the state government operating budget by nearly 40%. Taxpayers are getting hammered with higher costs in their daily lives, they are getting squeezed on energy bills, at the grocery story, and on gas prices. The last thing taxpayers need is for government to treat them like a bottomless piggy bank to pay for more and more bureaucrats.    

 Additional Points: 

  • This bill contains an outrageous amount of growth for the state’s operating budget. Family budgets haven’t grown by 40% over the last 4 years and they certainly aren’t going to grow by 40% over the next 4 years. We shouldn’t expect taxpayers to continue to fund government budgets when they are already struggling with rising costs in their own lives. 

We offered several common-sense amendments to provide for increased accountability for taxpayer resources and ensure we are putting enough behind efforts to reduce waste, fraud and abuse of public dollars. 

  • Democrats are changing state law to allow the government to take grants from wealthy organizations. These grants come with strings attached and would make power of Minnesota government available for purchase to further private agendas of wealthy individuals. It should be a bipartisan vote to say our government is not for sale. 

Elections:  

Main Message: Minnesota has a long tradition of passing election law changes with bipartisan support and this bill fails that simple test. It doesn’t represent consensus agreement on how our elections should operate. We should prioritize efforts to help our local elections officials run safe, secure, and accessible elections and this bill takes us in the opposite direction.    

Additional points: 

  • It has been a position of governors from three parties that election law changes only happen with the consensus and bipartisan support of major parties. This tradition has served our state well and helped ensure the administration of elections is done in an even-handed and non-partisan way. Democrats have abandoned this tradition and instead are ramming through controversial proposals that would serve to weaken public confidence in our elections as accessible, fair, and secure. 
  • We offered several amendments to strengthen voter involvement and voter confidence in elections, and Democrats voted every one of them down.  

Transportation Finance Omnibus

Press Release

Main Message: With a $17.5 billion surplus, there is no reason for our transportation bill to include more than $2.7 billion in higher taxes and fees on Minnesotans. With these higher costs, we aren’t going to get better roads and bridges or safer transit, we’re just going to be paying more.

  • It’s pretty simple – we have a massive surplus. This majority is managing to find a way to spend nearly $18 billion in surplus dollars and still raise billions of taxes on Minnesotans.
  • The tax increases in this bill would hit Minnesotans of every single income. Whether they are shopping in the metro, buying a new car, renewing their tabs or licenses, Minnesotans would pay more under this bill.
  • We should do a better job of prioritizing taxpayer dollars effectively, and that includes not wasting money on projects that have repeatedly failed like train projects no one uses.

Veteran’s Omnibus

Press Release

MAIN MESSAGE: This is a bipartisan bill that recognizes the contributions of both current military members and veterans across the state of Minnesota. It provides support during service, care for veterans struggling with homelessness and PTSD and increases funding for veterans cemeteries so they can be laid to rest with the respect they deserve.  

 Additional Points: 

  • Minnesota’s military members and veterans have sacrificed so much in service to our country. They spend months away from home, often missing important family events; they frequently come home with medical challenges caused by their service; and they take the chance they may not come home from the call of duty. They do it because they care about their country and making the world a better place, and it’s on all elected officials to honor their commitment and service. 
  • This bill provides support throughout the continuum of a service member’s life – from the recruitment bonuses when they sign up; training and equipment while they serve; support as they transition to civilian life; and support for them as they enter their golden years.  
  • We can be especially proud to have increased funding for bonuses for members who served during the post-9/11 military era. 
  • We are also providing the resources to honor the service of Minnesota’s military members through a museum dedicated to their service and a one-time appropriation to honor the service members on the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.  

Spring Break Update

MAIN POINT: The one-party control of the state by the Democrats has not been good for Minnesota. They have pursued divisive political legislation, pushed to increase taxes by billions of dollars, are doing nothing to make our communities safer and are completely failing to return the nearly $18 billion surplus to taxpayers.  

SPENDING THE SURPLUS: As we work through the individual budget bills across the Legislature, one thing is abundantly clear: Democrats have plans to spend nearly the entire surplus. State spending is projected to increase by 33 percent and sets up taxpayers for painful cuts and aggressive tax increases in future budgets.

TAX HIKES INSTEAD OF TAX RELIEF: Despite political promises to deliver tax relief, Democrats have proposed billions of dollars of tax increases, and we haven’t even seen the full tax bill yet. At this point, any tax breaks will pale in comparison to the tax increases Minnesotans will be paying across the board.

Among the tax increases we know about so far:

  • $2.083 billion Metro Regional Sales Tax increase over 4 years for transportation.
  • $721.3 million over 4 years to create a new tax on deliveries – including retail, medicine, and grocery deliveries.
  • $231.76 million increase in the Motor Vehicle Sales Tax.
  • $787.8 million Increase for buying your car tabs over the next 4 years.
  • $2.9 billion paid family and medical leave tax on all employers and employees
  • $744.3 million for another Metro Regional Sales Tax increase for housing. (currently only in the House bill)

RAISING COSTS FOR MINNESOTANS: In addition to directly taxing Minnesotans, most budget bills will raise costs for Minnesotans. Democrats authorize higher costs for energy, have onerous requirements that will cost more to do business, and excessive mandates that will lead to higher property taxes.

  • In addition to the costs for employers and employees for the Democrats’ one-size-fits-all paid leave program, every local government and school district is required to pay the employer taxes for the benefit and will have to find more money to cover the costs – likely through tax increases.
  • The Democrats want utilities to increase their electric vehicle networks and are authorizing them to pass the costs onto all ratepayers – regardless of whether they are using electric vehicles.

DIVISIVE POLITICAL AGENDA: Instead of focusing on making life easier for Minnesotans, Democrats have been pursuing divisive political issues across the board.

  • They passed an abortion bill supporting legal abortion at any time, any place, and without regard for the stage of pregnancy, care for the vulnerable, and basic respect for the sanctity of life.
  • Democrats are pursuing divisive legislation encouraging gender transition therapy for minors and inserting the state of Minnesota into the family decisions of non-Minnesotans who are considering gender transition treatments for children.
  • Democrats passed bill to allow those who are not in Minnesota legally to get a driver’s license.
  • Democrats passed legislation to give felons the right to vote as soon as they’ve left prison, regardless of whether they are still serving out their sentences through probation or parole.

NOTHING FOR SAFE COMMUNITIES: Crime has been a top concern for Minnesotans for years, and Democrats have offered nothing to help keep our streets safe and sound. Even worse – they are pursuing policies that are soft on violent criminals and leave victims of crime without the justice they deserve.

  • Democrats want to reduce default sentences for criminals across the board.
  • They don’t seriously take on the challenges with recruiting and retaining police officers across the state, leaving fewer members of law enforcement to help keep our communities safe.
  • They plan to send millions to community non-profits instead of funding crucial resources to support law enforcement or to improve police recruitment and retention.

Republican Proposals

Reading Reset

Press Release

MAIN POINT: Nearly half of Minnesota children are unable to read at grade level, and it’s time for a major reset in how our education system approaches literacy. The Reading Reset program will provide resources to schools to replace all outdated curriculum materials, train teachers, and send money to families in need of tutoring to help their child get their reading skills up to speed.  Children who can’t read fluently can’t read to learn, so it’s critical we act now to make sure all Minnesota children become strong readers.

  • We know COVID disruptions provided major challenges to students across the state, but many of our literacy problems have a deeper root: a reliance on disproven methods of teaching children to read. Now is the time to take bold action to support our kids.
  • Our Reading Reset Program has three main features:
    • Replace all outdated literacy materials in schools with proven science of reading curriculum.
    • Increase training for teachers in the science of reading.
    • Funding for families to hire tutors to get back on track.
  • Helping kids learn to read isn’t partisan – it should be the top priority for education this year.

Give It Back Tax Plan

Press Release

  • MAIN POINT: A massive government surplus when people are hurting calls for us to pass tax relief that helps everyone.  Republicans are prioritizing returning the surplus to the hardworking taxpayers who created it and lowering the tax burden permanently, so taxpayers have more money in every paycheck.

FULLY ELIMINATING THE TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME: $1.26 billion

  • It’s time to end the unfair tax on benefits Minnesotans have earned. This will provide seniors with tax relief to spend on their retirement needs.
  • For the 472,902 Minnesotans who pay this tax, the average relief is $1,277.
  • People are taxed on their Social Security Income starting at just $25,000 of their federal combined income – so Democrat claims this is a tax just for wealthy retirees is just plain wrong.

PERMANENT ONGOING INCOME TAX RELIEF: $3 billion

  • By lowering both the first and second tier tax rates by 1 percent each, we ensure all Minnesota taxpayers receive real relief that carries with them for future years.
  • Minnesotans are struggling with the high cost of record inflation that is hitting every part of their budget from the morning cup of coffee, food on their tables, energy costs to power and heat their homes, and the necessities of day-to-day life. An immediate tax cut will help them afford the needs in their life as they see fit.

PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR HOMEOWNERS

  • We are increasing the homestead market value exclusion and allowing more property owners to qualify for tax relief on their homes. With rising property valuations, this will help mitigate property tax increases for homeowners. There are additional valuation tier changes to benefit taxpayers across the state.
  • Cost: $52.5 million

ONE-TIME TAX RELIEF TO DELIVER THE ONE-TIME SURPLUS TO TAXPAYERS: $8.5 billion

  • It’s especially important to not use the one-time money to finance permanent spending plans because that will just increase the likelihood of tax increases down the road.
  • Taxpayers created this surplus, and they deserve to see it returned to them instead of it being used to finance a spending spree of government programs. ($5 billion)
  • By creating a state-based child tax credit for children under 18, we can help families who have been getting hammered with inflation while they are struggling the high costs faced during a child’s youngest years – whether for daycare, school supports, or any other needs a family may encounter. It would help all types of families and give them the greatest flexibility with their income when they need it most. ($3.5 billion)

Safe and Sound Public Safety Plan

Press Release

MAIN POINT: Minnesota is facing growing crime problems that calls for stronger action from the legislature. The public deserves policies prioritizing keeping communities safe by getting violent offenders off the street, improved training and support for law enforcement, and ensuring accountability for prosecutors and judges. Our Safe and Sound Plan addresses all steps in our criminal justice system so we can all live in safer communities.  

Getting Tough On Crime

  • Creating a new crime of carjacking with increased penalties for carjacking.  SF 2028  Limmer / HF 478 – Novotny
  • Increasing penalties for fleeing police in a motor vehicle. SF 583 – Coleman / HF 1092 – Nash
  • Addressing overdose deaths involving fentanyl-laced illegal drugs by establishing the same weight thresholds and penalties for the sale or possession of fentanyl as currently apply to heroin.  SF 2138 – Kreun HF 615 – Baker / SF 2659 – Seeberger
  • Increasing sworn officers on Metro Transit SF 2470 – Kreun / HF 2668 – Petersburg $15M
  • Rape Kit processing SF 1249 – Seeberger / HF 1279 – Edelson $10.5M (Coleman, Housley are co-authors)
  • Increased sentences for offenders with two or more prior crimes of violence convictions.  HF 216 – Hudson / SF 853 – Lucero
  • Increased penalty for transferring a firearm to an ineligible person.  HF 548 – Scott / SF 733 – Coleman
  • Ensuring follow up to remove firearms from those who have domestic abuse backgrounds and have been ordered by a judge to give them up SF 2496 – Kreun / HF 2663 Engen
  • Grants to Ramsey County Sheriff for coordinating violent crime prevention and State Patrol for air patrol. HF 261 – Engen. $3M

 

More Support For Law Enforcement

  • Recruiting more law enforcement with established programs that have bi-partisan support such as Pathways for Policing. SF 1199 – Limmer / HF 929 – Johnson. $1M
  • Strengthening college technology for officer training and Scholarship programs with higher education institutions. SF 2120 – Farnsworth / HF 2810 – Novotny $5M
  • Investing in training and body cameras for police departments across the state. SF 1198 – Limmer / HF 1078 – Johnson $15M
  • Fund law enforcement pension contribution request– Rasmusson $168M

 

Holding Prosecutors and Judges Accountable For Charging and Sentencing Decisions

 

  • Requiring reporting by County Attorneys to provide data to the legislature about felony level offenses that go uncharged.  SF 949 – Limmer / HF 534 – Scott
  • Requiring the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission to construct a website that the public may use to conduct research about judges and record the decisions they make in following the criminal sentences created by the legislature. SF 1541 – Limmer / HF 1417 – Novotny
  • Incorporating mandatory sentencing in current law for dangerous criminals who commit crimes with a firearm. SF 1059 – Limmer / HF 1417 – Novotny
  • Who posts bail is public data.  HF 1450 – Novotny / SF 1556 – Koran

Path Forward To Invest in Minnesotans (Alternate Targets)

MAIN POINT: Republicans have been consistent: we need to invest in Minnesotans through tax relief AND we need to invest in our infrastructure through a well-drafted bonding bill. There’s a path to deliver both for our state, and what we’re suggesting today represents true compromise that puts Minnesotans first.

  • Republicans have always said we’d support a bonding bill, and this offer will increase the amount available for bonding AND provide enough money to fully eliminate the tax on Social Security income.
  • Our proposal takes the single-party control budget targets and adjusts key areas to deliver needed permanent tax relief, a strong bonding bill, and support Minnesotans struggling to find long-term care.
  • By shifting the cash bonding bill target to a general obligation bond target, we free up $1.9 billion. That will allow us to invest in several key priorities including:
    • Provide $398 million for the cash bonding bill (HF670)
    • $1.7 billion for the general obligation bonding bill, which is an increase of $200 million total. The increase would be put into the local bridges and roads bonding program. (HF670)
    • Move $1.146 billion to the tax target
      • Full elimination of the tax on Social Security Income.
      • Cannot include any tax increases
    • $1.53 billion in FY24-25 and $1.82 billion in FY26-27 in Human Services
      • Additional money must be directed to support our Long-Term Care facilities
    • $80 million increase in the agriculture budget target, which was short-changed in the single party control agreement.
  • These isn’t a full budget proposal from us, but we do represent half the state, and the people we represent deserve to be at the negotiating table.

Universal School Lunches

MAIN POINT: There are already programs to ensure children who need help with access to school lunches can do so. This bill won’t provide lunches to families who need help affording lunch, it will provide lunches to families who can afford it. There are better uses of taxpayer dollars than providing lunches to affluent families.

  • We agree on helping hungry children gain access to nutritious food, and there are already programs that do exactly that. This bill provides lunches to families who can easily afford it. We should be taking a more targeted approach to support those in need. We offered reasonable amendments to make sure those who can easily afford lunches don’t get this benefit, and Democrats blocked them.
  • The top priority for the state on education should be improving academic achievement. With nearly half of students statewide not reading at grade level, we should be prioritizing academics, not meals for families who can already afford to pay for them.
  • With a high price tag for this program, we are failing to prioritize taxpayer dollars to those with the greatest need. While there’s a surplus now, in the future there won’t be, and paying for lunches for those who can afford them will lead to harder decisions for other needed programs.

Bonding Bill

MAIN POINT: Republicans support investing in Minnesotans who are struggling right now before we mortgage $1.5 billion in taxpayer dollars. While there are many important projects worthy of investment, we should first invest in the Minnesotans who created our large surplus with significant tax relief.

  • Minnesotans have made clear they are struggling to keep up with inflation and they want to see real tax relief with the state’s record surplus. We’re halfway through session and voters still haven’t gotten their deserved tax relief.
  • There are many important projects we can and should bond for this year, and we fully support doing so. Democrats could be working with us to put together a package that would be good for all Minnesotans, but they have decided to try to push through a bill without adequate support instead.
  • It’s simply the wrong priority to borrow more taxpayer dollars before we’ve delivered relief for our constituents.

Catalytic Converter Theft 

MAIN POINT: Catalytic converter theft is a serious problem and deserves serious attention. If we want to go after crime, we need support for law enforcement, tough prosecution, and get repeat criminals off the street.   

  • Catalytic converter theft has been a growing problem as we’ve seen the value of the precious metals within them rise. We should be finding ways to come together to stop this problem, not drive legitimate commerce to other states.  
  • The purchase and sale of catalytic converters is highly regulated already and requires dealers to keep careful records and documentation for the sale of the converters. The additional burdens on those businesses contained in this law will push legitimate sales to other states.  
  • The rising crime issues across the state are a direct result of the denigration of law enforcement and unwillingness to hold criminals accountable for their actions. If we want to get to the root of rising crime, we should be supporting enforcement and prosecuting offenders to the fullest extent of the law. 

February Budget Forecast

MAIN POINT: This $17.5 billion surplus is astronomical and there is no excuse for not delivering significant tax relief this session. With a looming recession, inflation, and rising energy costs, Minnesotans deserve real relief and Senate Republicans will fight to deliver.

  • Despite the historic surplus, Democrats still are trying to raise taxes and borrow more money to pay for their agenda instead of returning the surplus to the taxpayers who created it.
  • Not only are legislative Democrats not offering significant tax relief, but they are also proposing huge tax and fee increases that would impact every Minnesotan across the state.
  • We see now with the inflation figures baked into the forecast that Democrats are more interested in simply accepting increases in the state budget being put on autopilot instead of giving real examination to every program for effectiveness and value.
  • While Democrats plan to spend the surplus on their runaway liberal agenda, Republicans will continue to fight for the Minnesotans who created the surplus and push for significant tax relief for every taxpayer in the state.

Felon Voting (Restore the Vote)

MAIN POINT: Convicted felons are people who have been found guilty of a serious enough crime to have lost rights as a punishment for those violations. Giving convicted felons access to voting before they have completed their sentence is denies justice to victims of crime.

  • Felony offenses are serious crimes by definition and those who have been found guilty are restricted from many aspects of society as part of the punishment, including prison, driving privileges, and even jobs they may engage in. The penalties serve as a measure of justice to the victims of crime.
  • Allowing felons access to voting when the sentence received isn’t completed is putting people who have judicially been denied rights about their own lives in the driver’s seat of public policy.
  • If we are concerned too many people being denied the right to vote, the solution isn’t doing away with the penalties of the crime, it’s engaging in crime prevention so there are fewer felons and fewer victims of crime.

Inflation in the Forecast

MAIN POINT: The state budget should be a neutral process that ensures all programs get looked at closely for performance, quality, and need every year.  Putting these programs on autopilot removes tough questions and leaves taxpayers on the hook at times when they can least afford it.  

  • For the majority of Minnesota’s history, the state has not automatically accounted for inflation in the budget. The practice has served the state well to ensure programs are given a hard look every year before the budgets are increased.
  • For the last year, Minnesotans under pressure from inflation have taken sharp pencils to their own budgets – making sure every expense is really worth it and serving their families well. They don’t automatically accept increases in their expenses and the state shouldn’t either.

Driver’s Licenses for All

MAIN POINT: Everyone agrees on the need for safe roads, but this bill goes far beyond the public safety needs and creates a series of problems for those who use driver’s license for commercial, election, and security purposes. We need to ensure those receiving a license can safely drive, are who they say they are, and we ensure law enforcement is able to enforce the law. 

Driver’s License For All: The All Access Pass For Those Here Illegally

  • A driver’s license is a ticket to so much more than driving safely on the road. It is used to register to vote, engage in commerce, and security purposes. It’s important for all those downstream needs that a driver’s license serves to affirm name, residence, date of birth and immigration status.  We offered reasonable amendments to make sure the license was limited in scope, and Democrats rejected all of them.  
  • At its core, a driver’s license should be able to certify a person is able to safely drive on Minnesota roads. We offered several amendments to ensure those receiving a license have demonstrated the ability to safely drive on the road, and Democrats rejected all of them. 
  • Until the REAL ID is fully enforced, a current Minnesota license is usable for access to federal facilities. That means non-citizens would be able to gain access to federal facilities using this piece of identification. We offered sensible amendments to make sure this loophole couldn’t be exploited and Democrats refused.  
  • In particular, same day registration election provisions allow for the driver’s license to be used to validate a home address and those ballots would be accepted without checking with DPS for whether that voter is eligible to vote in the first place. We offered simple fixes to ensure that wouldn’t happen and Democrats refused to work with us on it.  

Extreme: Blackout Bill

MAIN POINT: This energy bill will reduce the reliability of Minnesota’s energy grid, leading to black outs at times when our citizens need it most. Further, it will lead to higher costs for consumers who are already struggling with rising energy costs. 

  • Democrats are pushing for strict mandates to force Minnesota’s electric utilities to use “carbon-free” energy at a pace current technology does not support. Hope for cleaner energy technology isn’t a plan.
  • Without access to reliable forms of energy, Minnesota’s energy grid will not be able to keep up with demand during peak times. This isn’t just an inconvenience – the heat of summer and the cold of winter can be life-threatening without access to reliable electricity.
  • Energy experts say this blackout bill will further contribute to rising energy costs – as much as $1650 per year for Minnesota families.  It will make it harder for Minnesotans to afford basic needs in their own home. (Center of the American Experiment, p. 46)
  • The increased energy costs would also hit businesses across the state, leading to higher costs for goods produced from agriculture, mining, and retail costs. Those costs will be passed to the final price of the products, contributing to higher costs for consumers.
  • We can all support advancing technologies, including renewable technologies, as part of our energy portfolio but we can’t leave families out in the cold. We should continue to pursue an all-of-the-above energy strategy, and as these renewable technologies gain in strength, the market will include them in higher numbers.

A+ Energy Plan press release

Extreme: PRO Act 

MAIN POINT: The “so-called” PRO Act is far beyond simply putting Roe v Wade into Minnesota Statute. It is not “safe, legal, rare” abortion –  it’s abortion at any time and any place without regard for the age of the baby, care for the vulnerable, and without basic respect for the sanctity of life.  

  • The “so-called” PRO Act has been sold as putting the legal protections of Roe v Wade into Minnesota statute, but it goes far beyond that.  It is an extreme bill that makes all abortions legal at any stage of pregnancy. 
  • Under this bill, there is no point in pregnancy  too far for an abortion. There is no mention of pregnancy term, leaving the killing of an unborn child legal at any stage in the pregnancy. 
  • The bill doesn’t include protections to provide humane treatment of babies and doesn’t prohibit even the most horrific abortion procedures. This bill would also allow babies to be aborted through sex selection or due to disability testing. 
  • This bill removes the role of parental guidance for minors seeking health care if it is categorized as “reproductive health care.” This means a minor child could be allowed to make major medical decisions including sterilization or abortion without a parent even being consulted or notified. 
  • If the provisions under this act are enacted, any reproductive “treatments” are considered a fundamental right and there’s nothing to prevent future courts from determining that means taxpayers must pay for the treatments.
  • This bill would take Minnesota far outside the international mainstream on abortion. According to Pew Research, most countries have restrictions on abortion procedures later in pregnancy.  
  • Our role as a legislature is to build commonsense, consensus agreement on how we best protect life at all stages; and continue to support women, children, and families. This bill is divisive and extreme and fails to protect and respect life.  

Walz One Extreme MN Budget

MAIN POINT: This budget is extremely expensive and extremely divisive. It expands the size of the Minnesota budget by more than 25%, sets our state on a path for massive growth in bureaucracy, includes more controversial and divisive legislation, billions of tax hikes, and will inevitably lead to higher taxes in the future.

  • Minnesotans are still struggling with rising costs and inflation in every part of their budget. While the state has been seeing inflated revenues, Minnesotans have not. This budget does nothing to provide broad-based relief to Minnesotans at all ages and across all walks of life.
  • There are massive permanent tax increases and higher fees across the budget, even in the face of a nearly $18 billion surplus
    • $1.2 billion in new taxes to finance the Paid Family and Medical Leave Fund – hitting all employers and employees
    • $349 million transportation tax – increasing the sales tax 1/8th in the 7-county metro area
    • $1.3 billion capital gains tax increase – giving Minnesota the highest capital gains tax rate in the country
    • $36.8 million gross receipts sales tax on cannabis products
  • This proposal fails to include the full Social Security income tax repeal – leaving too many Minnesotans behind in their retirement.
  • Governor Walz’s budget proposal finances divisive policy issues and major expansions to state government that have been receiving inadequate vetting from the legislative process, including repealing the Positive Alternatives Act, driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants, legalizing marijuana, and creates costly business mandates that will require more than 400 new employees to implement.

Tax Conformity – January 

MAIN POINT: The Senate Republicans passed this tax conformity last year, and this tax relief is long overdue for Minnesotans. It provides more than $100 million tax relief, especially to those hit hardest by COVID shutdowns.

Key Points:

  • This tax relief is proof that common ground can be found to make lives better for Minnesotans.
  • With one of the highest tax burdens in the country, any effort we make to simplify and reduce the taxes for Minnesotans is a step towards making our state more competitive.

Proposed Amendments:

  • Miller amendment: Eliminate the tax on Social Security Income: Social Security Income is a benefit that Americans earn through taxes paid throughout their life. They should not be expected to pay taxes on it in retirement. If we want to see retirees stay in Minnesota despite the harsh winters, we need to make it easier for them to do so.
  • Duckworth amendment: Eliminate the first income tier bracket – All taxpayers in Minnesota pay taxes through the first income tax. Our lowest tax bracket is higher than the highest tax bracket in 17 states that tax income. If we want to continue to attract new residents from other states and encourage people to stay here, we need to have a more competitive and taxpayer friendly tax climate. This would make a huge difference.

Passed with broad bipartisan support and was signed into law. 

Extended UI Benefits for Iron Ore Mining

MAIN POINT: Iron ore mining requires a skilled workforce and supports a critical national industry. Minnesota has frequently supported miners during downturns to maintain the workforce and support the communities that rely on them so there are workers available when the market shifts.
  • Minnesota has provided extended unemployment benefits to iron miners in the past on a bipartisan basis before and this bill is supported by the members of both parties of the Range delegation.
  • The 26 additional weeks of benefits will provide a bridge for these workers until the mines are able to re-open when economic conditions improve.

Senate Committee Allocations

MAIN POINT: Minnesota is a closely divided state with a closely divided legislature. The choice of the Senate DFL Majority to have the partisan balance of legislative committees so wide denies Minnesotans equal access to the legislative process.

  • The Senate is split 34-33, and the election was incredibly close across the board. Nearly half of Minnesotans voted for a Republican to represent them in the Minnesota Senate.
  • However, Senate Democrats have chosen to tell that half of Minnesotans their voices their voices matter less because they voted for a Republican.
  • Instead of bringing in voices from across the state, the Senate DFL is choosing to only listen to their political base.
  • This isn’t about partisanship, and it shouldn’t be. These committees are where ideas are vetted, where voices are heard, and where decisions about where to spend billions of dollars are made. The proposed committee memberships are small, they are heavily favored to the Democrats, and are shutting out voices just because they might disagree with the majority party.

HISTORICAL STATISTICS:

  • In 2017, under a 34-33 Senate, there were 3 committees where the vote margin was 1 vote. Under this proposed structure, there would be only 1 committee with a single vote margin.
  • In 2021, under a 34-31-2 split, there were 13 such vote differences (this only counts the one vote differences between GOP and DFL members. There were additional one vote differences involving Independents).
  • The DFL plan would limit GOP input in the three largest budget areas. In the five committees (HHS, Human Services, Education Policy, Education Finance, and Higher Education), there would be 29 DFL seats and only 18 GOP seats. 

November Forecast (12/5/2022)

MAIN POINT: This $17.6 billion surplus is astronomical and there is no excuse for not delivering significant tax relief this session. With a looming recession, inflation, and rising energy costs, Minnesotans deserve real relief and Senate Republicans will fight to deliver.

  • Minnesota is an outlier on nearly every level of tax policy nationwide, and we don’t need to raise taxes on small business employers and employees who are struggling with a weak economy.
  • It’s disappointing Governor Walz and legislative democrats still won’t commit to not proposing any new taxes on Minnesotans or Minnesota businesses. Government is funded and there is no reason to raise any taxes on anyone.

Dobbs Decision Striking Down Roe v Wade

MAIN POINT: Today is a victory for every unborn child, affirming their life has value and is worth protecting. Senate Republicans are committed to working to find consensus around common-sense protections and support for both mothers and babies.

  • The pro-life majority in the Minnesota Senate has supported policies to ensure all mothers and babies have the care they need throughout every stage of life. From extended care for pregnant mothers, expanding post-partum care, and workplace protections for pregnant and nursing mothers, we’ve supported women throughout their pregnancy and recovery.
  • We should look for consensus policies that reduce unwanted pregnancies and help mothers facing hardships.
  • Being pro-life isn’t just about pregnancy, it’s about providing for safe communities, support for loving families, and education options that give children the tools they need to thrive as adults. We will continue to support policies that deliver for families across the state.
  • Democrats who are trying to use this issue to fundraise or for political purposes are not being truthful about Minnesota laws or legal precedent.
  • Minnesota’s unique position includes a state supreme court ruling, Doe v. Gomez, which means even in Roe falls, abortion is still protected under Minnesota case law.
  • That means our role as a legislature is to build commonsense, consensus agreement on how we best protect life at all stages; and continue to support women, children, and families.