Yesterday Senate Republicans held a press conference announcing session priorities that will get Minnesota back on the Right Track. The focus this session will be on affording everyday life, reducing crime, and empowering parents. 

“Minnesotans are concerned with the direction our state is moving in, and it’s absolutely time to get our state back on the Right Track,” said Senator Karin Housley (R-Stillwater). “We have spent far too long heading in the wrong direction—it has led to crime, an increase in the cost of living, and parents being completely excluded from their children’s education. Our plan focuses on remedying these issues. We want to empower parents with viable education choices, mitigate the effects of inflation by providing much-needed tax relief, and work with law enforcement to maintain public safety. Working together, we can get Minnesota back on the Right Track.”

The state currently has a projected $7.7 billion surplus that will be one of the most discussed items in St. Paul. Following stubborn and record inflation from runaway congressional spending, the Senate Republicans plan to present a series of tax cuts targeted to working Minnesotans, families, and seniors to help them afford their everyday life. Republicans have already passed billions in tax cuts in the last five years, stopped Walz’s massive tax increases, and passed the first income rate tax cuts in 20 years. Providing meaningful tax relief will be this year’s goal. 

An uptick in crime has dominated headlines across the state, many of the crimes being attributed to progressive policies that focus on reducing or eliminating bail, which leads to criminals being released. Senate Republicans will work towards closing the loopholes that allow these releases to happen and will hold judges and prosecutors accountable.

Covid-related school closures have led to a massive learning loss that has presented numerous challenges to students and parents. This year, Senate Republicans will keep education policies simple to get schools back to the basics: improving reading and math scores and helping students recover from Covid learning loss. This will be accomplished by increasing transparency and accountability in schools, and empowering parents to be active partners in their child’s education.

Senate Republicans have had control of the Senate since 2017 and consistently stopped harmful tax increases on working and low-income Minnesotans. They stabilized the health care market in 2017 with the very successful reinsurance program and passed record funding for students in schools. Senate Republicans also continue to reduce burdensome regulations on Main Street businesses and support economic development across the state.