Pratt

Republicans Introduce a Path Forward to Invest in Minnesotans

Senate Republicans this week introduced alternate budget targets that invest in infrastructure and provide needed tax relief to Minnesotans. Today’s proposal shifts a cash bonding target to a general obligation bond target, which frees up…

An Alternative to High-Spending Budget Targets

In February it was announced that Minnesota had a historic $17.5 billion surplus—an unprecedented number that made clear just how over-taxed Minnesotans are. A couple weeks ago, Democrats released their high-spending budget targets. While we…

Farnsworth supports path forward to tax relief, bonding bill

ST. PAUL, MN –  Yesterday Senate Republican Leaders rolled out a path forward to pass both tax relief and a bonding bill off the floor, along with funding for addressing Minnesotan’s most pressing needs in long-term care and…

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…