Addressing Our State’s Transportation Needs

Last week, the Senate Transportation Committee heard a number of bills that address statewide transportation needs. Included in the hearing were four of my bills. Two of those bills specifically addressed taxing electric vehicles and…

Lieske: Democrats’ plan to spend the entire surplus

Friends and neighbors, This week Democrats unveiled their budget framework for the year. Here are the highlights (or lowlights) It spends the entire surplus – $17.9 billionIt increases government spending by 30%The total general fund…

Draz: Tax relief must come before bonding

SUBJECT: Tax relief must come before bonding By Senator Steve Drazkowski Friends and Neighbors, Let’s talk about priorities. Specifically, bonding vs. tax cuts. Senate Democrats recently forced a premature vote on a partisan bonding bill…

Senator Bill Weber: Democrat budget targets shortchange Minnesotans

Senator Bill Weber (R-Luverne), Republican lead of the Senate Taxes Committee, today released a video and the following statement in response to the Democrats’ budget targets:   “We recently saw budget targets come out from the House, the Senate and the governor.…

Sen. Rarick: A Mid-Session Outlook

Earlier this year, it was announced that Minnesota had a historic $17.5 billion surplus. This number was unprecedented, and it illuminated clear issues with our state’s tax structures. Typically a month after the forecast is…

Kreun bill seeks to make metro transit safer

This week, the Senate Transportation Committee heard legislation authored by Senator Michael Kreun (R-Blaine) that seeks to make metro transit safer for those traveling in and around metro areas. The bill appropriates funding for staff…

Paid Leave Fiscal Note shows massive new payroll tax

Senator Julia Coleman (R-Waconia) today released the following statement on the fiscal note for the Democrats’ paid family and medical leave proposal:   Expanding Minnesotans’ access to paid family and medical leave is essential and a goal that we…
Howe

Howe bills support Veterans

This week, the Senate State Government committee heard two key bills authored by Senator Jeff Howe (R-Rockville). SF-2181 is a bipartisan bill that provides appropriations necessary for staffing and services for the Minnesota Military and…

Political Reindeer Games

Senate Democrats are once again playing games at the Capitol. The most recent example is the Bonding Bill debacle that took place a couple weeks back. Though I’m not surprised by their behavior, I find…

Howe supports bonding, wants tax relief first

Last week Senate Democrats failed to find bipartisan support to pass a bonding bill off the Senate floor. The bill requires a 3/5 majority vote, which is 41 votes and required 7 Republican senators to…