Friends and neighbors,
The 2025 regular legislative session came to a disappointing conclusion at midnight on May 20. The Constitution requires us to write a new state budget this year. Unfortunately, despite my hope and optimism, we were unable to finish our work.
The reality is that we were working from behind all year, because House Democrats refused to show up to work for the first three weeks. It was a choice they made to prevent House Republicans from governing with a majority. It was a deeply cynical move; as elected officials, we have a duty to show up and work whether we are in the majority or the minority. They refused that duty for three weeks. Other challenges, such as complex negotiations, certainly contributed to the special session, but their absence is a big reason why we couldn’t finish on time.
When we get to special session we will have a lot on our plate. Nine budget bills still must be completed, plus a possible tax bill, a possible bonding bill, and a few policy bills. Those bills contain a mix of good ideas and concerning ideas, but we don’t know what the final agreements will look like at this point.
There are a few key items I am particularly concerned about:
First, are we protecting vulnerable Minnesotans? Gov. Tim Walz and Senate Democrats both recommended cuts to nursing homes and disability services in their budget proposals. These cuts would have a significant impact on our most vulnerable, including millions of dollars in cuts to facilities right here in Dodge and Olmsted Counties.
Second, are we shifting costs on to local governments that will raise property taxes? Again, Gov. Walz and Senate Democrats both proposed shifting costs to local governments in order to balance the $6 billion deficit around the corner. This is the wrong approach. Those cuts will simply lead to either additional cuts to key locally delivered services or local property tax hikes. We should budget responsibly, not pass the buck.
Third, are we putting Minnesotans first? When Democrats had one-party control for two years, they spent the entire $18 billion surplus, increased government spending by 40%, and raised taxes by another $10 billion. It left us facing a $6 billion deficit. It was a budget that put state spending and special interests first, not Minnesota families. This time we should put Minnesotans first.
We did manage to complete work on some good, bipartisan budget areas before the regular session ended.
- The human services policy bill protects taxpayer dollars from fraud and abuse by penalizing illegal kickbacks in the Child Care Assistance Program, aligning enforcement with state theft laws, and prohibiting duplicative billing practices in Department of Human Services programs. The bill also establishes regulations for safety and service in long-term care and hospital facilities, streamlines paperwork and admin for mental health and substance use treatment providers, and maintains oversight of the Minnesota Sex Offender Program.
- The agriculture budget includes incentives for Dodge and Olmsted County farmers who use biofertilizers to cut nitrogen use, as well as an evaluation of Olmsted County’s groundwater and soil initiatives, like cover crops and pasture programs. The bill also expands funding for livestock and crop depredation caused by wolves and elk, increases AGRI support for Farm to School programs, tightens oversight of food assistance programs, and includes cottage food reforms to help small home-based food producers.
- The pensions bill contains cost of living increases for law enforcement and fire, reduces early retirement penalties for Tier II teachers, and creates a work group to review and improve probation officer retirement proposals.
- Finally, the veterans bill provides funding for operations and the state’s veterans’ homes, veteran suicide prevention, home-delivered meals for Greater Minnesota veterans, and education benefits for surviving family.
As we prepare for the upcoming special session, my commitment is to finish the job you sent us here to do — and finish it in a timely fashion. It is disappointing the delay caused by the House Democrats’ absence early in the session has brought us to this point, but I am optimistic that we will be able to deliver a great budget for Minnesota. Compromise will be key, but we must put Minnesotans first.
If you have any questions, please reach out any time.
Sincerely,