Friends and neighbors,
On Thursday morning, state leaders announced a budget deal that will hopefully get us to an orderly end to the 2025 legislative session. The agreement was reached by House Republicans and Democrats, Senate Democrats, and Governor Walz. Senate Republicans took part in discussions, but we were not part of the final handshake, did not sign off on the agreement and have not committed one way or another to backing the plan.
There are some good things and some bad things in the agreement, and a lot of work still left to be done over the next few days. Stay tuned for more.
On Wednesday, Senate Democrats passed a Health and Human Services budget bill that continues taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants, even as our state faces a $6 billion deficit. With the budget agreement that was announced on Thursday, the Senate Democrat HHS budget proposal will not become law. An updated bill will be written in the coming hours and days. But it is important to note what their true position is.
When this program began in January, it was expected to enroll just under 6,000 individuals in the first year. But only four months in, enrollment has already exploded to more than 20,000 people. Projected costs have more than tripled, now topping $600 million.
Meanwhile, California (hardly a model of fiscal responsibility) just announced plans to pause new enrollment in a similar illegal immigrant healthcare program due to soaring costs.
If even California liberals realize this is unsustainable, why can’t Minnesota Democrats?
Senate Republicans offered multiple amendments to stop this spending and instead invest in real priorities that help Minnesota families, like mental health services, early learning scholarships, and support for childcare providers. Democrats voted against all of them.
It’s clear where their priorities lie: expanding state benefits for those here illegally, while asking hardworking Minnesotans to pay more and get less. That’s wrong. With a massive deficit on the horizon, we should be protecting programs that support our citizens, not programs for illegal immigrants.
If you have any questions or feedback, I would love to hear them! Please reach out any time.
It is an honor to serve you,