Talking Points – 2024 – Minnesota Senate Republicans

Recent Topics

End Of Session Megabus

Main Message: Single party control has given Minnesotans one of the most appalling demonstrations of cynical politics where the ends justify the means. Democrat leaders in St. Paul were so intent on their radical agenda they jammed every item left on their partisan wish list into a single bill assembled in the backrooms of the Capitol. They are putting their partisan special interests first and sending Minnesota the bill.

Additional points

Democrats spent weeks defending a colleague arrested and charged with felony burglary just so they could ram through every item on their agenda at the last moment.
Despite good faith offers and open communication from Republican leaders, Democrats chose to instead negotiate between the far left and the socialist wings of their parties. They simply weren’t interested in representing the needs of all Minnesotans.
The bill was released in the final hour of session, without time for the public or legislators to review and debate. Democrats ignored any questions and disenfranchised Minnesotans when they shut out their elected leaders from the process.
This final bill is 1400 pages long and is stuffed with provisions raising taxes, increasing the cost of energy, threatening constitutional rights of law-abiding Minnesotans – all while making sure political appointees in government get pay increases.

EMS Emergency Aid

MAIN POINT: Our rural Emergency Medical Services providers are facing a crisis that deserves a serious response. Long overdue EMS reform is needed as indicated by the OLA Report from February 2022 to ensure that when an ambulance is called, one is going to show up. Restructuring the current EMS Regulatory Board is a necessary move to ensure that we are meeting the emergency needs of Minnesotans no matter your zip code. This bill is a product of thinking creatively and working together to find a stronger foundation accountable to the needs of the public and ensure quality access to this important emergency care. 

The challenge to EMS is entirely different in rural Minnesota than it is in the metro. With the lack of options available to these communities, local governments and their taxpayers are taking on the burden of ensuring emergency services are provided.
The bill seeks to address the staffing needs ambulance services are experiencing in rural Minnesota by making it easier to renew a lapsed certification, allowing for an ambulance driver variance, and allowing for flexibility based on the needs of the rural providers. This will allow EMS in all parts of the state to more effectively respond to calls in their communities.
Investments in innovative pilot programs seek to help adjust our EMS system and scale these programs in the future to a more flexible and responsive model while ensure the adequate level of care is provided. Not every call requires the same level of response, and incorporating a nimbler response will save money and deliver better service for Minnesotans.

Paid Leave – Updates

MAIN POINT: The Democrats’ government-run paid leave program is already ballooning in costs, creating higher taxes for Minnesotans. It isn’t even off the ground yet, and we’re running into proof its onerous requirements of employers and shaky financial foundation will lead to difficulties in delivering promised benefits to workers.

These changes to the Democrats’ giant government bureaucracy for paid leave are an acknowledgement Republicans were right last year when we questioned the viability and readiness of the language in the first place.

Despite being warned the legislation wasn’t financially sound, Democrats have now come back with an increase in the base taxes on Minnesotans to fund the program. It will cost nearly $735 million more than expected, and that will be paid for by both employers and employees. Every Minnesota worker and every Minnesota employer will pay for this program.

In the future, the tax rate will be a moving target for employers and can increase without legislative approval or review. It’s costly for employers and difficult for them to stick to a budget for business growth when they have to account for unpredictable tax increases.

Since the requirement to participate in the program impacts all schools, counties, and cities, those entities may have to increase local property taxes so they can absorb their employer costs.

Firearm Transfers to Ineligible Persons and Trigger activators

Main Message: There is bipartisan agreement to get tougher on “straw purchases,” but this bill goes beyond commonsense legislation and would take away constitutional rights from law abiding citizens. This partisan legislation on a controversial issue fails to respect the concerns and way of life for too many Minnesotans.

Republicans proposed and support tougher penalties for those who purchase guns for those ineligible to own a gun. We should aim to find common ground when we can on such divisive issues, but Democrats were unwilling to work across the aisle to make this a bill we could support.
This legislation goes too far by taking away constitutional rights of law-abiding Minnesotans, including potentially members of law enforcement when they are off duty, who have done nothing wrong.
With no “grandfathering” clause, this legislation would make people who own some of the most popular guns on the market criminals overnight if they fail to make expensive modifications or sell their firearms.
In the hands of the wrong person, any gun is dangerous. Rather than focus on guns, we should enforce the laws we have on the books and demand accountability from the judicial system to keep bad actors away from firearms.
Gustafson Amendment: This simply makes fewer guns illegal and bans in Minnesota a legal product available for purchase. Rather than addressing the real issues if public safety, Democrats are making law-abiding gun owners criminals overnight.
CC removed the amendment to increase the penalty for using a gun from a straw purchase to harm a peace officer.

MN Human Rights Act Amendments

Main Message: This legislation would restore Minnesota’s long history of respecting religious freedom. It guarantees protections to religious organizations so they can operate consistently with their faith traditions.

Minnesota has a long history of respecting the freedom of religious organizations to operate in ways that are consistent with their faith and traditions. The original language in the Minnesota Human Rights Act recognized the need to grant exemptions for faith organizations to practice their faith with the full freedom of religion guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution.
Changes passed last year to the Minnesota Human Rights Act created a gap in those protections. As a result, religious organizations are now facing accusations of discrimination for operating consistent with their faith beliefs.
Today, we are repairing the damage from last year and embracing the values of religious freedom, autonomy, and diversity of thought. This correction that respects all religious institutions and their ability to make decisions consistent with the values and beliefs of their religion. It’s an issue that unites people of many faiths, and we shouldn’t turn our backs on their needs.

Cannabis Corrections Bill

Updated for CCR (May 18, 2024)

Main Message: The rush by Democrats to legalize cannabis last year continues to create challenges for Minnesotans. The complex and biased licensure process, failure to prioritize safety – especially for children, and lack of local control are still problems that exist, and this bill doesn’t take any steps to repair them.

Additional Points:

Instead of repairing the problems in last year’s cannabis legalization bill, today the Senate simply piles on more complications, makes it less fair for Minnesotans, and doesn’t take any steps to address safety issues.

Licensure Process

The Democrats’ cannabis licensure structure weaves a complex classification system that favor select groups, including those with a criminal past. To complicate the system, they now want to use a lottery to award only select constituencies the coveted early licenses.
Licenses for the sale of an intoxicating substance with stringent requirements for potency and safety should be awarded on the merit of the applicant. Licensure structures are supposed to be about consumer safety and regulatory compliance, not a lottery.
It’s especially wrong to bias the system towards those with a track record of breaking the law. Republicans attempted to restrict licenses from those who have committed serious crimes, including crimes of violence, and Democrats shot down those efforts.

Public Safety

Last year’s legislation legalized possessing a product that is not widely available for sale across the state, except on select tribal lands. Further, it created loopholes for possession for minors and failed to prohibit consumption and possession in school zones.
Republicans offered amendments to address these shortcomings and align penalties for minor consumption.
Since legalization, we’ve seen numerous car accidents with the driver cited for cannabis intoxication. Olmsted County Sheriff Kevin Torgerson reported that in the months following cannabis legalization, the number of DWI offenses not associated with alcohol use more than doubled. We should be doing more to educate Minnesotans about the risks of cannabis use and provide resources to law enforcement to keep our roads safe.

Local Control

Local communities continue to have little role in the availability of cannabis in their communities. Every community has different approaches, and this bill doesn’t give them enough control over the safety and priorities of their own communities.

Commerce Provisions:

Main Message: This increases costs for consumers, takes steps backwards on cannabis awareness and safety, and creates a new burdensome business license for copper sales with no guarantees the regulation will impact theft.  This controversial legislation adds excessive burdens for businesses and fails to deliver on consumer safety and protection.   

Cuts to the cannabis funding to provide education to youth and pregnant or breast-feeding women are the exact wrong direction we should be going as the state prepares for a massive increase in cannabis use and availability. The drug carries significant risks, especially to youth and pregnant mothers, and this will contribute to more challenges in the future for cannabis use.  
The copper sales licensure requirements are unlikely to impact theft of copper, and instead will make it harder for Minnesotans to recycle copper. It will inevitably put more copper in the waste stream instead of into the recycling stream where it should be.

OLD:

Additional Points:

Instead of repairing the problems in last year’s cannabis legalization bill, today the Senate simply piles on more complications, makes it less fair for Minnesotans, and doesn’t take any steps to address safety issues.

Licensure Process

The Democrats; cannabis licensure structure weaves a complex classification system that favor select groups, including those with a criminal past. To complicate the system, they now want to use a lottery to award only select constituencies the coveted early licenses.
Licenses for the sale of an intoxicating substance with stringent requirements for potency and safety should be awarded on the merit of the applicant. Licensure structures are supposed to be about consumer safety and regulatory compliance, not a lottery.
It’s especially wrong to bias the system towards those with a track record of breaking the law. Republicans attempted to restrict licenses from those who have committed serious crimes, including crimes of violence, and Democrats shot down those efforts.

Public Safety

Last year’s legislation legalized possessing a product that is not widely available for sale across the state, except on select tribal lands. Further, it created loopholes for possession for minors and failed to prohibit consumption and possession in school zones.
Republicans offered amendments to address these shortcomings and align penalties for minor consumption.
Since legalization, we’ve seen numerous car accidents with the driver cited for cannabis intoxication. Olmsted County Sheriff Kevin Torgerson reported that in the months following cannabis legalization, the number of DWI offenses not associated with alcohol use more than doubled. We should be doing more to educate Minnesotans about the risks of cannabis use, and providing resources to law enforcement to keep our roads safe.

Local Control

Local communities continue to have little role in the availability of cannabis in their communities. Every community has different approaches, and this bill doesn’t offer enough to give them control over the safety and priorities of their own communities.

MN Energy Infrastructure Permitting Act

Main Message: This is long overdue acknowledgement that Minnesota’s permitting and regulatory process for major projects is cumbersome and harms development. While this bill makes critical changes to improve development of electric energy sector, these same regulatory changes should be spread to other development projects across the board.

Expediting permitting for large projects is a laudable and worthwhile effort. The Minnesota Chamber research on Minnesota’s regulatory process shows we are losing investment and jobs in Minnesota to a cumbersome process.
Permitting and review are important parts of any new project, but too often we see the process used to slow and impede projects for political reasons.
If it’s important to improve and simplify the process for the electric energy sector, it’s important to improve the process for other regulated projects like natural resource development, nuclear energy, and agriculture projects.

Tenant Law Package

Main Message: There was room for bipartisan updates to Minnesota’s tenant law, but this bill just goes too far. Several provisions reduce private property rights for housing providers and will discourage the development of additional rental properties. With Minnesota’s high housing costs, we need to be doing more to increase the supply of housing options in Minnesota and this legislation fails to deliver.

Republicans offered amendments to address problems with this bill, including an amendment that would have allowed the provisions with bipartisan consensus to advance. Democrats chose the path that risks future development of rental properties, which will take Minnesota backwards in our efforts to increase the availability of affordable housing.
This bill will give the border crisis a home in Minnesota with protections to illegal immigrants that make housing less affordable and even hard to find for Minnesotans.
This bill creates mandates on housing providers to allow non-tenants into their property, without giving clear options to ensure those accessing the property are not a risk to the safety of the tenants. Republicans offered an amendment to allow housing providers to deny requests for private information of tenants and to deny those with violent criminal backgrounds access to the property to organize tenant organizations. These are commonsense measures that respect privacy and safety for those who live in rental properties.

Human Rights Act Modification – Protecting Religious Freedom

Main Message: Minnesota’s long history of respecting religious freedom and independence is under threat from single party control. We have a simple repair that would guarantee protections to religious organizations so they can operate consistently with their faith traditions.

Minnesota has a long history of respecting the freedom of religious organizations to operate in ways that are consistent with their faith and traditions. The original language in the Minnesota Human Rights Act recognized the need to grant exemptions for faith organizations to practice their faith with the full freedom of religion guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution.
Unfortunately, single party control has put religious organizations at risk. When additional categories were added to the Minnesota Human Rights Act, the exemptions for religious organizations were willfully ignored. As a result, religious organizations are now facing potential accusations of discrimination for operating consistent with their faith beliefs.
We could repair this oversight today by simply adding to the list of exemptions that exist for other protected classes. It would embrace the values of religious freedom, autonomy, and diversity of thought. It’s a simple correction that respects all religious institutions and their ability to make decisions consistent with the values and beliefs of their religion. It’s an issue that unites people of many faiths, and we shouldn’t turn our backs on their needs.

Straw Purchasing and Transfer Penalties

Watch the Press Conference

Main Message: The loss of three members of law enforcement to a violent offender with a gun he wasn’t supposed to have is a powerful reminder Minnesota’s laws on straw purchasing of weapons are far too lenient. A person who helps an ineligible person obtain a firearm is committing a serious crime, and it’s time the penalties reflect it.

We received a stark reminder of how serious of an issue it is when violent offenders who have lost their right to own a weapon get their hands on them through straw purchases. A person with a long record, who had even appealed their revocation to the right to a weapon and lost it, was apparently able to obtain weapons by persuading his girlfriend to buy them for him. He used those weapons to murder two police officers and a firefighter, while also injuring another police officer, before killing himself. All with weapons he wasn’t supposed to have based on a thorough review from the courts.
People should have a clear understanding of the consequences, and we should have state laws that match the seriousness of the violation. Prosecutors have said in the past they don’t enforce state statutes on straw purchasing because the penalties are too lenient, and this bill would repair that failing in our laws.
With so much dividing Minnesotans, when we have an opportunity to find some common ground we should take it. We should all agree straw purchasing is wrong, and we should work together to keep weapons out of the hands of dangerous individuals.

2024 Omnibus Bills

Agriculture, Commerce and Energy Omnibus Bill

Agriculture section: 

Main Message: The investments in the agriculture section of this bill will improve soil health, provide support for private wells in Southeast Minnesota deal with water quality issues, and invest in future agriculture jobs. It’s unfortunate this bipartisan legislation has been paired with such highly controversial bills on unrelated subjects.   

Commerce section: 

Cuts to the cannabis funding to provide education to youth and pregnant or breast-feeding women are the exact wrong direction we should be going as the state prepares for a massive increase in cannabis use and availability. The drug carries significant risks, especially to youth and pregnant mothers, and this will contribute to more challenges in the future for cannabis use.
The copper sales licensure requirements are unlikely to impact theft of copper, and instead will make it harder for Minnesotans to recycle copper. It will inevitably put more copper in the waste stream instead of into the recycling stream where it should be.

Energy section 

Main Message:   Our priority for energy should be reliable, affordable, and “always on” energy sources. Unfortunately, this legislation drains the RDA account to fund narrow interests and projects of questionable value. We should be prioritizing reliable and affordable energy sources of benefit to the maximum number of Minnesotans. 

Republicans offered their alternative energy plan to this bill, the A+ Energy Plan, which would prioritize reliable and affordable energy sources. Included in the provision is:
Allow nuclear construction in the state; 
Affordable renewable natural gas to continue to reduce emissions;
Always On natural gas and coal for reliability and affordability; 
Authorize hydroelectric power to count as a renewable energy; 
All-of-the-Above strategy to mix solar, wind, hydroelectric, hydrogen, and biomass with our current energy sources.

Tenant-Landlord Omnibus (As of May 15, 2024)

The policy changes for housing providers risks future development of rental properties, which will take Minnesota backwards in our efforts to increase the availability of affordable housing. It will also make it harder for small landlords to operate and will likely lead to providers leaving the rental market.
This bill will give the border crisis a home in Minnesota with protections to illegal immigrants that make housing less affordable and even hard to find for Minnesotans.
This bill creates mandates on housing providers to allow non-tenants into their property, without giving clear options to ensure those accessing the property are not a risk to the safety of the tenants.
There was an opportunity for bipartisan consensus on updates to Minnesota’s tenant laws, but unfortunately Democrats chose a highly partisan approach to pass a controversial tenant law counter to our shared goals of increasing supply of available housing.

Transportation, Housing, and Labor – CCR

Transportation section:   

Main Message: One year after raising transportation taxes by $4 billion, we have even more controversial legislation that doesn’t prioritize safe roads and bridges across the state. It will increase costs for Minnesotans by including expensive provisions for transit construction, costly railroad mandates with costs passed onto consumers, and unproven and expensive green energy initiatives.   

The speed and right light camera pilot program violate personal privacy, encourage government overreach, and penalize the vehicle not the driver. With questions about its constitutionality, we are spending money on technology facing legal scrutiny instead of spending it on safer roads. 
Spending dedicated highway funds on private parking lots pulls money away from highway improvements across the state and violates the constitutional requirement that gas tax funds only be used for roads.
The greenhouse gas emissions requirements will limit road expansion to ensure drivers have a safe and reliable commute and increase costs for projects that are authorized.

Housing section:  

Main Message: Instead of confronting the challenges that contribute to a housing shortage, this legislation takes out high-interest loans to build select types of housing. It doesn’t foster home ownership, new residential construction, and doesn’t make it more affordable for Minnesotans to find housing where they need it.   

Housing Infrastructure Bonds are among the most expensive bonds the state undertakes, with higher interest rates and high debt service costs. They are an expensive way to expand the housing stock and are not the most efficient or affordable way to reverse our housing shortage issues.

Labor section:   

Main Message: One-size fits all policies ignores the distinct needs of different types of employers and employees and won’t help increase employment or make Minnesota a competitive place to grow a business. Most concerning in this legislation is the changes to broadband licenses, which would threaten all broadband projects and increase their costs.

Provisions that limit who can work on broadband construction through licensures restrictions could effectively shut down pending broadband projects.  With hundreds of millions of investments ongoing into broadband across the state to help Minnesotans have better access to the internet, these changes run the risk of slowing or stopping broadband development.
New requirements on housing construction will lead to higher costs for construction projects and reduce the number of available units produced.  When we already have a shortage of affordable housing, this moves us backwards.  
Complicated changes to the worker classification regulations are confusing, inconsistent with federal law, and carry severe penalties even for good faith mistakes. It doesn’t protect workers when you shut down an entire business for honest mistakes instead of providing room for corrective action.
Legislatively changing the collective bargaining process at Minnesota’s public colleges and universities undermines the union process and will likely lead to higher costs and higher tuition at for students.

Judiciary and Public Safety Finance Omnibus

MAIN POINT: This legislation fails to prioritize community safety, doesn’t adequately support law enforcement, and spends taxpayer dollars on unproven, unaccountable non-profits. We should invest in proven strategies to improve public safety, including support for law enforcement and more to support victims of crime across the state.

Law enforcement continues to testify to challenges facing their industry, with nearly unanimous concern about the recruitment and retention of officers at the top of the list. Harsh political rhetoric demonizing police officers and threats to their physical safety have contributed to staffing challenges at law enforcement agencies across the state. This bill does little to improve the challenges facing law enforcement and they deserve better.
This bill includes significant spending with non-profits and subgrants to non-profits instead of investing in proven strategies to improve community safety. These groups aren’t as accountable to the public and many lack a track record of accomplishment.
Republicans offered several amendments to improve the bill including:

Prioritizing spending on court operations, Department of Corrections operating budget for staff expenses, and more for crime victim services. A properly managed court system and providing financial support for the professionals who run our correctional facilities is critical to ensuring our judiciary system delivers justice for victims. Providing additional financial support for crime victims services will help those who are victims of crimes to recover from difficult and challenging events in their lives.
An improvement to Minnesota’s current order for protection statute to allow for custodians of minors to be provided appropriate notices when their parents are parties to an order for protection. It provides an increased layer of protection for minor children caught in the path of domestic abuse of a parent. (Lang SF4120)
Providing for increased protections for judicial officers by restricting the sharing of their private personal information such as their home addresses. It’s unfortunate but judges and their families have been injured and killed by those unhappy with the outcomes of criminal cases. This is a small but important measure to ensure those overseeing our system of justice are free from retribution. (Limmer SF4200)
Swatting – or calling in a fake emergency – is a serious and dangerous crime that puts both the victim of the swatting incident and the police officers responding at risk. There have been incidents of swatting at the homes of political figures nationwide and this change would make it a felony to call in a false emergency call with the intent of creating an overwhelming response. (Limmer SF3815)

Commerce Policy Bill

Main Message: While not perfect, this legislation includes many provisions to help consumers with challenges they face in their daily lives. With protections benefitting seniors, delaying expensive changes to Medigap plans, and simplifying survivorship issues, the good sections in this bill outweigh the troublesome concerns.

We can appreciate the way this bill came together – stakeholder feedback was incorporated, there were attempts to find common ground, and the end product included legislation supported by both parties.
Republicans offered several amendments to strengthen the bill, including language to protect online ticket purchases and make protections for virtual currency kiosk users work better. These amendments would do more to accomplish goals of protecting consumers and reducing costs they pay.
Several sections of this bill go too far or need more work so they would be able to deliver for Minnesotans. The efforts to make it easier for people to get out of contracts have some merit but this bill’s language will make it hard for businesses to comply, leaving both businesses and consumers without the benefits promised.

Education Finance Omnibus Bill

Updated for CCR (May 17, 2024)

May 17, 2024  

Main Message: Last year’s education budget expanded the control state bureaucrats have over local education decisions. The mandates since led to budget shortfalls across the state and pulled teachers away from their students to comply with requirements. Instead of zeroing in on literacy and math proficiency, this bill adds to the administrative burden for schools and fails to prioritize student safety and academic success.   

EDUCATION PROVISIONS:

Academic success 

Reports show fewer than half of Minnesota students are at grade level with math or reading, we are failing to prepare our children for the future. Schools are unable to zero in on what their students need under the burden of mandates from St. Paul. 
Mandate relief:  
School districts across the state are facing budget shortfalls because mandates from St. Paul are drawing dollars away from students. Republicans offered an alternative approach to simply give schools one-time state aid tied directly to student enrollment so schools can adjust to the needs they face, but Democrats rejected those ideas.

School safety

We’ve unfortunately heard countless stories from teachers and students about the challenges they have in keeping a safe learning environment in their schools. We’ve asked for hearings on school safety, so we can be sure we are providing school with the tools they need to keep their students safe. Without a safe environment, teachers and students won’t be able to focus on the coursework in front of them.  
Republicans offered solutions, including more funds for student safety aid and increased transparency for incidents at schools. Democrats chose to fund other priorities instead.

OLD:

Main Message: Last year’s education budget expanded the control state bureaucrats have over local education decisions. The mandates have since led to budget shortfalls across the state and pulled teachers away from their students to comply with requirements. Instead of zeroing in on literacy and math proficiency, this bill adds to the administrative burden for schools.  

Academic success:

Reports show fewer than half of Minnesota students are at grade level with math or reading, we are failing to prepare our children for the future. Schools are unable to zero in on what their students need under the burden of mandates from St. Paul.

Mandate relief:

School districts across the state have been facing budget shortfalls because bureaucratic mandates from St. Paul are drawing dollars away from the classroom and away from students. Republicans offered an alternative approach to simply give schools one-time state aid tied directly to student enrollment so schools can adjust to the needs they face.
With all the strings attached to the money from St. Paul, Republicans offered amendments to allow school districts more flexibility to move money to areas of greatest need for their students.

School safety:

We’ve unfortunately heard countless stories from teachers and students about the challenges they have in keeping a safe learning environment in their schools. We’ve asked for hearings on school safety, so we can be sure we are providing school with the tools they need to keep their students safe. Without a safe environment, teachers and students won’t be able to focus on the coursework in front of them.
Republicans offered an amendment to increase transparency on issues related to school safety. If we can’t discuss the challenges, we certainly can’t address them.
We also offered an amendment to increase the school safety aid so schools can invest in counselors, school resource officers, and physical security enhancements.

Education Policy Bill – CCR update (May 13, 2024)

Main Message: Minnesota schools have been incredibly clear about what they need to deliver quality education for Minnesota students – fewer mandates and more flexibility to do what’s need in their classrooms. With declining proficiency and graduation rates, this bill just piles on mandates that distract from academic success and fails to ensure the needs of students come first.

May 13, 2024 CCR update:

Data from student testing consistently shows fewer than half of Minnesota students are at grade level with math or reading. At a time when we should be laser focused on helping our students thrive academically, this bill presses forward with a litany of burdensome mandates unrelated to academic performance.
School districts across the state have been facing budget shortfalls because bureaucratic mandates from St. Paul are drawing dollars away from the classroom and away from students. Instead of providing relief from last year’s mandates, Democrats are now adding more than a dozen new mandates onto schools.   
Republicans pressed for more flexibility for funding and fewer mandates to allow local school districts to focus on what the students in their districts need most. Democrats rejected these proposals and are instead giving more control to bureaucrats in St. Paul over local schools.

Original:

Academic success
- Just last week, we got the latest report showing graduation rates are slipping for Minnesota students. Combined with reporting showing fewer than half of Minnesota students are at grade level with math or reading, we are failing to prepare our children for the future. Schools are unable to zero in on what their students need under the burden of mandates from St. Paul.
Mandate relief:
- School districts across the state have been facing budget shortfalls because bureaucratic mandates from St. Paul are drawing dollars away from the classroom and away from students. Republicans offered several amendments to give districts more flexibility to do what their students need most to succeed.
- With all the strings attached to the money from St. Paul, Republicans offered amendments to allow school districts more flexibility to move money to areas of greatest need for their students.
School safety:
- We’ve unfortunately heard countless stories from teachers and students about the challenges they have in keeping a safe learning environment in their schools. We’ve asked for hearings on school safety, so we can be sure we are providing school with the tools they need to keep their students safe. Without a safe environment, teachers and students won’t be able to focus on the coursework in front of them. Republicans offered an amendment to increase transparency on issues related to school safety. If we can’t discuss the challenges, we certainly can’t address them.

Environment Omnibus Finance

Updated for CCR (May 18, 2024)

Main Message: This over-the-top legislation fails to provide balance between environmental quality with consumer affordability. While Minnesotans frequently put effort into reducing their own waste output, this bill’s efforts to change packaging requirements for nearly every industry is onerous, costly for consumers, and possibly unconstitutional.

New restrictions on packaging materials will make Minnesota an island for commercial products and increase the costs of most purchased goods. These provisions are onerous, expensive and the state likely will end up in courts to defend the law.
Minnesota has some of the highest rates of recycling in the country, and the better approach would be more engagement with consumers and producers about recycling best practices, not restrictive and expensive regulations.
This legislation expands the power of government to go after individuals and businesses for how they make decisions about their own homes and property. Setting up an aggressive administrative posture instead of working with Minnesotans on best practices to preserve and protect our environment.

OLD:

Republicans tried to remove the packaging waste restrictions in the bill and narrowing how many industries it captures. These provisions are onerous, expensive and the state likely will end up in courts to defend the law.
Republicans also offered several amendments to support responsible wildlife management, including changes for hunting and fishing policies. Protecting our state’s outdoor heritage includes understanding the challenges at-risk animals face as well as managing the populations in appropriate ways.

Elections Policy Bill

Main Message: Single party control has delivered another elections bill that fails to deliver on Minnesota’s long tradition of bipartisan election law changes. It includes costly burdens for local municipalities, includes troubling provisions that reduce public participation, and threatens to chill free speech in elections. We should be working to increase transparency, confidence, and participation in Minnesota elections, and this bill fails on all three marks.

Many provisions in this bill create costly requirements for counties and cities conducting elections that leave a heavy burden on local government.
The changes to allow for more appointments in school boards reduces public input on elected boards for public schools.
Many of the changes surrounding campaign finance are hard to understand and enforce while also threatening to chill free speech and public engagement in our elections.

Republican Amendments:

Republicans offered an amendment to move municipal elections and school board elections to general election years. This change would reduce costs to local governments in conducting elections and bring more voter participation in municipal and school board elections.
Republicans offered an amendment to create a provisional ballot program for same-day voter registrants and challenged voters. Without provisional ballots, voter eligibility is only determined after their ballot has already been accepted. This change will ensure all voters have their registrations reviewed for accuracy before ballots are accepted.
Republicans offered several amendments to strengthen confidence in the political process by limiting fundraising during the legislation session and prohibiting organizations which receive state funds from political spending.

HHS Omnibus Bill

Updated for CCR

OLD:

Main Message: This bloated and partisan bill includes higher fees, controversial mandates, and limits personal autonomy and freedoms. It will lead to higher costs for consumers at a time when Minnesotans are struggling to keep up with their daily bills.

Additional Points:

This bill will contribute to higher costs for health insurance and care for Minnesotans with sweeping insurance mandates and burdensome requirements for provider networks. Government can’t keep adding to the costs of providing health care and leaving Minnesotans to pay the bill.
We’ve seen greater Minnesota health care providers struggle and hospitals reduce or eliminate services, and this bill is largely ignoring those concerns. Rural hospitals, emergency medical services and nursing homes are facing financial shortfalls and staffing crises, and we are doing nothing substantive to address those problems.
This bill adds several controversial mandates to insurance plans, including requirements for coverage of abortion and transgender care. These are incredibly divisive issues for Minnesotans, and we shouldn’t require all plans to provide coverage for procedures for which many Minnesotans have deeply held concerns.
Allowing childcare providers to require stringent vaccination policies for their centers will hinder the availability of childcare to people who need it, and it will create a new means of inserting other people between the parent and their child when making care decisions.

Higher Education Policy Finance Omnibus Bill

Main Message: We should be doing more to make college more affordable and accessible to potential students across the state, and unfortunately the final product we have here will likely do the opposite. With costly mandates and restrictions on how colleges connect with potential students, we are going in the wrong direction.

The one bright spot in this bill is an important repair to the “Fostering Independence” grant program that ensures foster kids have affordable access to college in Minnesota. This program, passed by the Republican majority in 2021, provides a step up to students who need it most. It provides enough funding so eligible students are able to continue to college as planned.
The rest of the bill includes a significant number of operational mandates that will lead to higher operational costs for public and private colleges and universities – costs they will inevitably pass onto students through tuition.
Restricting colleges from using criminal records when considering admission creates safety concerns and runs counter to the responsibility to provide for a safe campus environment.
Colleges across the country are facing declining enrollment, and blocking colleges from using online program management companies will hinder their ability to reach out to potential students and reverse that trend.

Human Services Finance Omnibus Bill

Updated for CCR (May 18, 2024)

Main Message: The Human Services area is traditionally where we find common ground to support Minnesotans. Unfortunately, this year it took a partisan turn and cut funding to important priorities like cannabis education, care for elderly Minnesotans in care settings, and reducing government accountability in the state-run care and treatment agency. Minnesotans deserve a balanced approach that ensures we have accountable, accessible, and affordable care and support services for the most vulnerable among us.

Additional Talking Points

It’s incredibly problematic the Direct Care and Treatment Agency CEO isn’t accountable to the Governor or Legislature. This agency will be responsible for (thousands) of employees and includes oversight of the state’s Sex Offender Program. It should be accountable to the public for results and effective decision-making.
Last year’s cannabis legislation was passed with promises of substance abuse treatment and prevention resources. This bill cuts cannabis education funds and re-allocates the money to other projects. It represents a broken promise to Minnesotans that legalized cannabis would be done responsibly.
Behind closed doors, conference leaders added money for a recreation center in Cedar-Riverside in Minneapolis. It has nothing to do with the mission of this budget and is a poor use of taxpayer resources.
This legislation fails to adequately invest or support our long-term care industry, and includes costly training requirements, sunsets a rate waiver for those in the elder waiver program. It doesn’t set Minnesota up to ensure seniors who need supportive living have access to affordable and appropriate options.

OLD:

Main Message: The Human Services bill overall represents the work of a committee that has worked in a bipartisan fashion. It contains provisions supported by members across the aisle to improve care for those in care settings and sets up the new Direct Care and Treatment Agency to be more accountable to the public.

It’s important to ensure the Direct Care and Treatment Agency is accountable for its actions to the public. Changes included in this bill make the head of the agency appointed by the governor and approved by the Senate so the public has a means to hold the leader of an agency employing thousands can be held accountable for results.
There are several changes to increase availability of workers for disability care settings, extend the financially distressed nursing home loan program, and ease requirements on small assisted living facilities. The most vulnerable among us deserve compassionate care no matter the setting they are in, and these changes will contribute to availability of quality care for them.
Unfortunately, there are several appropriations to groups with no track record of success. The Center for Excellence in Long Term Care and the Minnesota Ethnic Providers Network have each been in operation for less than 6 months. We should not be giving millions of taxpayer dollars to groups with no foundation or track record of accountability.
The 48-hour provision in the bill helps solve a major issue that has kept mentally ill and dangerous people in need of treatment in county jails instead of getting them into treatment where they belong. It allows for the immediate transfer of 10 patients awaiting transfer to a state-operated facility while maintaining the priority to get the individuals into a facility that would best suit their treatment needs. The new system will take into account the time a person has waited for treatment, the intensity of treatment, the safety of the person and the caregivers around them in their current environment, and others.
While the bill contains some benefits for our care facilities, it also adds to the burden for all assisted living facilities. It mandates new and highly specific forms of training at a time when many providers are struggling to fill the hours they have with their trained workforce. We should be doing more to expand the workforce, not put further restraints on how they operate.

VACCINE PROVISIONS — CONTAINED IN THE EDUCATION FINANCE BILL

Allowing childcare providers to require stringent vaccination policies for their centers will hinder the availability of childcare to people who need it, and it will create a new means of inserting other people between the parent and their child when making care decisions.

Jobs Omnibus Finance Bill

Updated for CCR (May 18, 2024)

Main Message: The jobs bill should be dedicated to training and development for high quality employment opportunities for Minnesotans and building a resilient and strong economy. This legislation contains too many projects representing questionable uses of taxpayer dollars and go to unaccountable non-profits.

Additional Talking Points:

Millions of taxpayer dollars continue to be sent to non-profits without a strong focus on goals, job development, or accountability for results. Money flows to organizations with the best lobbyists, not the biggest bang for the buck for taxpayers.
A better approach to grants would be for them to be competitively awarded to organizations with the track record of results and financial management practices that assure taxpayers the money they are spending is going where it belongs.

OLD:

Main Message: The jobs bill should be dedicated to training and development for high quality employment opportunities for Minnesotans and building a resilient and strong economy. While some projects within this bill align with its mission, too many projects represent questionable uses of taxpayer dollars.

Amendment Driven Talking Points:

DRINKING WATER AMENDMENT: Taxpayer dollars are limited, and we owe it to them to ensure they are prioritized and spent on items of greatest need. Eliminating appropriations to non-profits and instead steering it to the Public Facilities Authority to help communities recently identified as having impaired drinking water is a far better use of tax dollars.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS AMENDMENT: The Special Olympics in 2026 will do far more to benefit Minnesota’s economy than the Taste of Minnesota. Past Special Olympics have generated nearly $70 million in economic impact for host cities and promise to bring in thousands of visitors from around the world. It creates a network for volunteers, vendor opportunities for Minnesota businesses, and supports an international tradition of inclusion and sportsmanship.

Jobs Policy Bill

Main Message: While Minnesotans are paying $13,000 more per year than they did in 2021 due to inflation, we still have fewer jobs than we did before the pandemic. The jobs bill should be focused exclusively on expanding opportunities for Minnesotans to expand our economy and train workers for careers with growth and financial opportunity. Instead, this bill reduces accountability for tax dollars in key programs to invest in workers.

Minnesota has given more than a billion dollars to private organizations in the last year, including through the Department of Employment and Economic Development with the promise of helping Minnesota’s economy. While the lack of accountability for these dollars is troubling, this legislation reduces oversight and increases the amount of dollars spent on overhead. This is the wrong direction.
- Republicans offered amendments to repair this damage to our state’s budget and provide increased accountability for private institutions spending state dollars. Combined these amendments would have ensured more dollars spent on the Minnesotans in need and with private organizations with strong record of financial management.
In a state that still has 10,000 fewer jobs today than it did before the pandemic, we need to do more to expand the economy and create good jobs for all Minnesotans. The Jobs bill is the perfect place to work to provide training and job development for Minnesotans to have jobs that allow them to keep up with rising costs in their lives.
- Republicans offered amendments to prioritize investments that provide the highest possible returns for public dollars spent as well as to ensure job training are for jobs that provide a higher level of income and growth potential for a worker.
Minnesotans work hard for their incomes, and we owe it to them to ensure their tax dollars are carefully spent and deliver on their promises.

Jobs Policy Bill

CCR Report (May 18, 2024)

Law enforcement continues to testify to challenges facing their industry, with nearly unanimous concern about the recruitment and retention of officers at the top of the list. Harsh political rhetoric demonizing police officers and threats to their physical safety have contributed to staffing challenges at law enforcement agencies across the state. This bill does little to improve the challenges facing law enforcement and they deserve better.
This bill includes significant spending with non-profits and subgrants to non-profits instead of investing in proven strategies to improve community safety. These groups aren’t as accountable to the public and many lack a track record of accomplishment.
This legislation added the contents of an entire policy bill during conference, denying the public the opportunity to review and debate the changes. The changes adopted are highly problematic and include many provisions opposed by law enforcement including:

Softening the approach to juvenile crime – something that has become a major problem in our urban centers. Police frequently see juveniles engaging in repeat criminal behavior, and this reduces the number of tools at their disposal to address repeat offenders.
Overly prescriptive changes to communications between law enforcement and people they interact with, especially since the changes are being done with the implication police officers can’t be trusted.

Labor Policy Bill- Updated for CCR (May 13, 2024)

Main Message: One-size fits all policies ignores the distinct needs of different types of employers and employees and won’t help increase employment or make Minnesota a competitive place to grow a business. We should be doing more to help Minnesotans afford the high cost of living, and harming job growth takes us in the wrong direction.

This bill does little to increase employment, make life more affordable, or make Minnesota a competitive place to grow a business.
In a state that still has 10,000 fewer jobs today than it did before the pandemic, we need to do more to expand the economy and create good jobs for all Minnesotans. Instead, this bill makes it harder and more costly for employers to hire, manage, and develop their workforce.
Expanding Minnesota’s minimum wage laws to more employers is an expensive change for employers and will likely contribute to fewer jobs available. Minimum wage increases have a poor track record of delivering for workers – in fact, the Minneapolis Fed found that both Minneapolis and St Paul actually lost jobs and workers earned fewer hours after they instituted aggressive minimum wage increases in their respective cities. The promises are high, but the results fail to deliver for Minnesotans.

Tax Omnibus Bill

MAIN MESSAGE: Last year Democrats raised taxes by nearly $10 billion and blew through the entire $19 billion surplus. After emptying the pocketbooks of every Minnesotan, this year’s tax bill is a mostly a collection of tax breaks for local projects and doesn’t deliver meaningful permanent tax relief to the average Minnesotan.

Transportation, Housing, and Labor Omnibus Bill

Transportation section:  

The speed and right light camera pilot program violate personal privacy, encourage government overreach, and penalize the vehicle not the driver. With questions about its constitutionality, we are spending money on technology facing legal scrutiny instead of spending it on safer roads.
The new requirements for zero-emissions buses by 2030 is an expensive mandate that will cost taxpayers more for technology that is known to struggle in Minnesota’s harsh winter weather. It’s another costly effort that diverts from efforts to improve safety and movability on our roads.
The continued push to move towards Clean Transportation Standards keeps Minnesota on track to not only raise its gas tax with inflation but add a stealth tax on all fuels that could cost as much as 39-45 cents more per gallon by 2030. It’s another unaffordable tax for Minnesotans.

Housing section: 

Housing Infrastructure Bonds are among the most expensive bonds the state undertakes, with higher interest rates and high debt service costs. They are an expensive way to expand the housing stock and are not the most efficient or affordable way to reverse our housing shortage issues.

Labor section:  

New requirements to include prevailing wage for low-income housing construction will lead to higher costs for construction projects and reduce the number of available units produced. When we already have a shortage of affordable housing, this moves us backwards.
Legislatively changing the collective bargaining process at Minnesota’s public colleges and universities undermines the union process and will likely lead to higher costs and higher tuition at for students.
Efforts to restrict who can work on broadband construction through licensures restrictions could effectively shut down pending broadband projects. With millions of investments ongoing into broadband across the state to help Minnesotans have better access to the internet, these changes run the risk of slowing or stopping broadband development.

Education Forecast Adjustment

(With Rarick Mandates Amendment)

Main Message: Minnesota schools have been strained by too many burdensome mandates passed by Democrats in St. Paul. The funding they did receive was heavily restricted, and the mandates had aggressive timelines and carried more cost than schools were provided. This has left districts facing shortfalls and looking at budget cuts or local property tax increases. We can repair this damage today and give schools the opportunity to do what their local district needs most for the success of students.

Last year’s education bill included so many mandates that schools across the state are facing budget shortfalls and challenges with enacting the changes. These pressures pull dollars away from students and deny districts the flexibility they need to prioritize the specific concerns in their districts.
This amendment is simple, it would free up school districts to adopt new mandates on a more relaxed timeline and it would give them greater flexibility in using restricted funds as their district needs demand. They’d be required to make their decisions in a public setting so they can receive the kind of local feedback cut out from the top-down mandates they got from St. Paul.
Education groups representing local school boards, administrators, principals, and both rural and metro school districts have raised concerns about the incredible difficulty the mandates have created for their districts. They are pleading for the ability to operate their districts as their communities need. Students deserve education decisions that put their needs before bureaucratic mandates.

Public Vote on New Flag & Seal

Watch the Press Conference

Main Message: This bill is a chance for Minnesotans to have their voices heard on the redesign of Minnesota’s flag and seal – two symbols meant to represent what brings us together and makes our state unique. The public deserve the opportunity to participate in the development of the state symbols.

The flag and emblem for the state should have a connection to our history, who we are, and what unites us as a state. Instead, the commission limited testimony and emphasized the voices of design experts over Minnesotans.
Minnesotans deserve to vote on who and what represents them. The legislation creating the flag commission denied Minnesotans and their elected leaders the opportunity to have a say in the new flag and emblem designs.
While Minnesotans were left on the side during discussions, they will be paying for this change. Cities, counties, even the state will have to change out their use of the old symbols and flags to meet the requirements of the law, and it will cost taxpayers more money for every single purchase.
- “Hennepin County Sheriff DaWanna Witt estimated it would cost at least $500,000 for the Hennepin County Sheriff’s office to change out seals on vehicles, uniforms and badges.” ( KSTP, January 2, 2024)
- “Fillmore County Sheriff’s office estimated it would cost them $25,000-35,000 to replace the flag and seal with uniforms, badges and squad cars.” (KIMT, February 6, 2024)
- “In Benton County, officials estimate it would cost the county about $50,000 to replace seals on county vehicles and sheriff’s office badges and about $700 to replace current flags.” (Star Tribune, March 5, 2024)
- “Through different levels of conversation, the police chief even stated that it would cost us about $15,000 in order to change out our seals just within the Police Department,” said (Faribault) Mayor Kevin Voracek.” (KEYC, January 22, 2024)
- “Replacing state flags and seals in Dakota County will cost up to $170,000 when the new symbols go into effect, according to county spokesperson Mary Beth Schubert. Most of that cost is for the sheriff’s department, which expects to spend $140,000 to $150,000. Facilities officials expect to spend about $20,000.” (Pioneer Press, February 4, 2024)
- “Officials here haven’t done a full tally of how much it’ll cost the county to replace its symbols. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office logo has the state seal at its center, and updating things like signage and badges would cost about $50,000 if it all had to happen at once, according to county spokesperson Dana Kazel.” (Pioneer Press, February 4, 2024)
- “In Houston County, the sheriff’s department expected it would cost about $32,000 to replace squad car decals and badges that incorporate the old state seal.” (Pioneer Press, February 4, 2024)

Gun Owners Caucus Rally

Last year, with just a one-seat majority based on a couple hundred votes, Senate Democrats told their caucus to walk the line and vote for extreme and restrictive gun control measures. Despite the pressure from their constituents, rural Democrats put party politics ahead of personal liberties.
It is crucial to recognize that responsible gun ownership is not synonymous with criminal behavior.
- The vast majority of gun owners are law-abiding citizens who exercise their Second Amendment rights responsibly.
- Painting all gun owners with a broad brush through the implementation of red flag laws and universal background checks risks stigmatizing a significant portion of our population.
We proposed tougher sentences for straw purchases, longer prison time for repeat violent offenders, and supporting law enforcement efforts to remove guns from those who repeatedly used firearms to break the law.
- According to FBI statistics and the Violence Policy Center, of all murders committed with a gun 94% were obtained illegally. Stolen guns being the vast majority.
Rather than focusing solely on measures that restrict law-abiding citizens, we should address the root causes of gun violence. Mental health issues, societal factors, and the illegal firearm trade are complex challenges that require comprehensive solutions.
By investing in mental health resources, improving our education system, and enhancing law enforcement efforts against illegal firearms, we can make meaningful strides toward a safer society without compromising our constitutional rights.
These ideas would target the real issues of public safety: criminals. But Democrats instead moved full-speed ahead with their plans to force you into a background check and opened wide the opportunity for legal abuse with red-flag laws.
Democrats know they can’t win an election touting gun restrictions almost anywhere in greater MN. Later the election of 2022 proved to have three democrat senators promising pro-life, pro 2nd amendment districts that they would uphold and protect these ideals.
In their first session of being in office and making campaign promises to the opposite, Grant Hauschild of the Duluth area, Rob Kupec of Morehead area, and Judy Seeberger of the South metro, sealed their fate as one-term senators.
- Voting for universal background checks and red flag laws will undoubtedly prove to be sacrificial career ending votes for three of them
Make no mistake, Democrats are pushing for ever more restrictions on law-abiding gun owners. They want to go after people who follow the law for purchasing firearms, practice gun safety, and carry on the traditions of gun ownership that have been handed down from generations.
- Democrats heard a bill that would allow local cities and counties to create their own gun restrictions.
- They have another bill to reduce the mandatory minimums for gun crimes.
- And they also want to prohibit lawful firearm carry in government buildings – the very places that are supposed to be defending your right to keep and bear arms.
This is the backwards thinking of some Democrats: they want to force law abiding citizens into a patchwork of paperwork and red tape, while letting criminals get out of jail free.
But now we know their game plan:
- 1) lie to get into office
- 2) turn your back on your promise to voters and change every law as fast as possible so that the public can’t absorb what’s happening.
- 3) hope the public memory is short enough to forget by the next election.
We can’t let them do that again. We have to work together to hold them accountable for their broken promises.
Thank you for gathering here today to engage in this crucial dialogue about the Second Amendment – a cornerstone of our nation’s identity and a fundamental right that must be protected.
As we engage in these critical discussions about the Second Amendment and proposed gun control measures, let us remember the delicate balance that absolutely must be maintained between public safety and individual liberties.
I say again, the Second Amendment is not an antiquated relic but a living testament to the principles that define our nation. Any changes or additions to our laws must be approached with utmost caution, ensuring that we preserve the core values that have made our nation a beacon of freedom for centuries.
We must work collaboratively to find solutions that enhance public safety without compromising the constitutional rights that define us as a free and democratic society. By respecting due process, safeguarding individual privacy, and addressing the root causes of violence, we can chart a course that fosters a safer and more just America.

Uber/Lyft vs. Minneapolis City Council

There needs to be a middle ground for drivers, rideshare companies, and consumers. We know that the gig economy will require some regulation to ensure workers aren’t being taken advantage of.
The Minneapolis City Council can’t just ignore the economic factors and put their entire Twin Cities, or the entire state, at risk of losing a vital service.
This is a risky game of chicken right now. Rather than wait for the study to direct the path forward, they voted to move forward with a political statement, not a realistic business model.
- What is the point of the study if we’re not going to use it? The far left championing this decision by Minneapolis actually just wasted valuable time and resources from the state.
The governor was right to veto this bill last year. It was not the right direction for any city, much less the state.
We’re introducing this bill to stop Minneapolis from enacting this decision, but more importantly, to get the stakeholders to the table and find some agreements.
Nobody said law making was easy, but it certainly is worth doing right.

School Budget Repair

Watch the Press Conference

MAIN MESSAGE: Democrats mandates have broken schools’ budgets, leaving them with shortfalls in spite of the third budget in a row with historic investment in schools. We propose repairing the damage from these mandates by giving schools flexibility to use the dollars in whatever way their district needs, provided there is transparency in the process.

Additional Points:

Republicans and school officials warned Democrats their funding increases were not enough to cover the cost of their mandates last year. Democrats ignored these warnings and moved full speed ahead with more than 60 new mandates.
These mandates are well-intended, but a one-size-fits all solution is usually never a good idea for education. Every district, school, classroom, and student has unique needs.
Reports indicate more than half the $2.2 billion increase is untouchable due to the mandates, leaving schools with funding they may not need for one mandate, but could use for another program, training, supplies, staffing, or other need.
This bill repairs the damage done by these mandates and give schools the flexibility they need. It allows school boards to adopt a resolution to transfer funds tied to mandates passed from 2023 and 2024 to other locally determined needs for the next three school years.
- We passed similar transfer approvals for schools to respond to the covid pandemic in 2020.
School groups specifically asked the legislature to avoid new mandates in 2024 in a letter from March 14, 2024. It’s not just Republicans saying schools need flexibility, the professional organization representing school boards, metropolitan school districts, school administrators, school business officials, rural education association, elementary and secondary school principals all signed onto a letter saying new mandates in 2024 would negatively impact their budgets, workforce, local control, and innovation efforts.
Schools will not lose funding under these transfers, but they also can’t take away from salaries or benefits, increase state aid obligations, or result in a property tax increase.
- The bill does not allow the schools to opt-out of free meals, Unemployment Insurance changes, or sick and safe time and paid leave benefits.

Additional sources:

Tax Corrections Bill

The Main Thing: This fix is needed today because Democrats rammed through legislation without giving proper opportunity to review legislation for accuracy. This error would have cost Minnesotans more than $350 million dollars, and Republicans are eager to begin the work of repairing the damage caused by Democrat legislation.

Talking Points:

While it’s important to correct this error to the standard deduction, we are leaving behind entrepreneurs and small businesses who were promised a correction this session too. There’s no reason we can’t also make the tiny correction needed to help these struggling businesses.

Floor Amendments:

A4 – Rebate Tax Repair – Drazkowski

Minnesotans were promised a $2,000 tax rebate by Democrats, but in the end, single Minnesota tax filers only got $260 in a one-time rebate. Because Democrats failed to even pass this small rebate in the appropriate window, Minnesotans are now paying taxes on this rebate to the federal government.
This amendment would give Minnesotans who paid federal taxes on their rebate check a tax credit on their Minnesota return. We shouldn’t penalize Minnesotans for Democrats’ failure to follow federal guidance on tax relief.

A5 – Net Operating Loss Correction – Weber

When the error was discovered that would cost small businesses $14.8 million in higher taxes, all parties involved said they agreed they would fix this error. The respective tax chairs went so far as to sign a letter to the commissioners saying they would pursue legislation “at the earliest opportunity,” yet here we are today not taking that opportunity. That is simply wrong, and Minnesota deserves better.

A3 – Penalties Abatement – Weber

Require the department to waive any interest and penalties from underpayment of tax for TY 2023 or other hardships encountered by taxpayers resulting from the NOL 2023 effective date.
The penalties associated with paying the incorrect amount on “net operating losses” are entirely due to Democrats failing to have the correct language in their bill. We should not penalize the small businesses for Democrat mistakes.

2024 February Forecast

MAIN POINT: Democrat tax-and-spend policies lead to a boom-and-bust budget, despite $10 billion in tax hikes. Even with the revenues growing, the state budget continues to spend more money than is being brought in, leading to future budget deficits. Minnesotans can’t afford one-party Democrat control and their out-of-control spending habits.

Minnesota is an outlier on nearly every level of tax policy nationwide, and it was made worse by the last legislative session. Democrats raised taxes over the next four years by nearly $10 billion, and Minnesotans of every income level will be paying more as a result.
Most concerning about future budgets is they depend on Democrats in this biennium to suddenly develop fiscal restraint to come even close to being balanced. After increasing spending by 40% last session, Democrats have been hearing bills with huge costs that would put Minnesota firmly in the red for years to come.
Republicans will work to repair the damage Democrats have done to the state budget and the pocketbooks of millions of Minnesotans. We’ll hold the line on new spending and support for a modest bonding bill that doesn’t max out the credit card.

Key Numbers:

The 2024-25 Biennium shows a $3.715 billion surplus.
The 2026-27 Biennium shows a $2.237 billion surplus and a structural imbalance of $1.478 billion.
The budget in 2026-27 only remains positive if there is no increase in state spending in the 2024-25 budget.

Repair Session

The Main Thing: Single party control has broken Minnesota: the state budget is faltering, schools are crushed under the weight of mandates, and Minnesotans have less money in their pocket to deal with rising costs. Democrats have pursued divisive legislation to appease their far-left base and left Minnesotans behind. Republicans will work to repair the damage from Democrat control by reining in out-of-control spending, reducing mandates that distract from student success, and securing a bonding bill focused core needs like on safer roads and clean water.

Repairing the damage to family budgets and helping Minnesotans afford their lives:

Democrats passed nearly $10 billion in tax hikes last year, in addition to spending the entire $18 billion surplus. Included in those tax hikes are sales taxes, higher license tabs, income taxes and making the gas tax increase with inflation – all things that damaged hard-working Minnesotans the most. Now we are facing broken state budgets and Minnesotans are holding the bag.

We need to rein in the out-of-control spending and stop Democrats from raising more taxes. Minnesotans simply can’t afford any more hits to their family budget after years of inflation and Democrat tax hikes.

Repairing the harm to schools and putting students first:

Democrats passed an enormous education bill last year, packed with costly and unfunded bureaucratic mandates that don’t improve student outcomes.
Schools across the state have pursued higher taxes because their budgets have been busted by layers of unfunded mandates. According to The 74, up to half of the $2.2 billion budget passed is earmarked for as many as 65 new mandates.

We should be reducing the number of mandates from the state, getting parents more involved, and investing in the proven strategies that work so students can develop the skills they need in school. We need to repair the harm done to schools, put the needs of students first when making education decisions, not what the bureaucrats in St. Paul want.
- SRO Issues:

- - School resource officers are important and valuable to efforts to keep our schools safe.  Unfortunately, the changes passed by Democrats this session led to schools across the state losing access to their school resource officers due to the lack of clarity and guidance they need to do their jobs effectively. Republicans have a bill to correct this error and Democrats should join us and get it done as soon as possible.

Investing In Minnesota To Repair Roads, Invest in Clean Water:

Bonding will be the biggest focus of the session this year. Late in session last year, Senate Republicans stood up for local nursing homes when they were largely neglected by Democrats. Senate Republicans worked to repair the nursing home issue in exchange for a bonding bill.
We passed $2.5 billion worth of bonding projects last year, and those projects are still getting started. This year we should have a more modest bonding bill focused on core needs in our communities including improving roads and bridges as well as updating wastewater treatment facilities, so Minnesotans continue to have access to clean water.
Before we agree to add more debt to the taxpayer’s credit card, it’s important for Republicans that we see progress in repairing the damage done to Minnesota’s budget, schools, and families.

North STAR State – Sanctuary State Bill

MAIN MESSAGE: Attempts to make Minnesota a “sanctuary state” – especially following recent surges of migrants here – emphasize why border security is so important to the entire country, not just border states. Refusing to uphold our immigration laws would simply be political gamesmanship to please left-wing activists. We shouldn’t make Minnesota a more enticing place to go to avoid the consequences of violating immigration law.

Additional Points:

This is simply the wrong policy. Border security is a serious issue facing this country, and we don’t need to bring the chaos at the border to Minnesota.

There are processes for migrants to pursue to come to America legally and we should encourage and welcome those who have followed the law.
Creating incentives in Minnesota for those who have come to America illegally doesn’t fix the border, it makes it worse.
It’s fundamentally unfair to Minnesotans and unfair to those who have followed the law to see it not enforced.
Red and blue state leaders across the country have been struggling with the costs of high inflows of migrants, many without legal status. They are calling for the federal government to step up because they simply lack the resources – both financial and physical – to accommodate the populations that are arriving every day.

November Forecast 2023

MAIN POINT: This short-term surplus with a looming $2.3 billion deficit is a direct result of Democrat’s out of control spending. They passed nearly $10 billion in tax hikes, and even with that, we are seeing future deficits on the horizon. Minnesotans can’t afford one-party Democrat control.

Minnesota is an outlier on nearly every level of tax policy nationwide, and it was made worse by the last legislative session. Democrats raised taxes over the next four years by nearly $10 billion, and Minnesotans of every income level will be paying more as a result.
With a looming deficit, Minnesotans can’t trust Democrats to protect their pocketbooks and rein in their out-of-control spending ways.
Inflation continues to hammer family budgets, and because of the Democrat’s spending spree they can count on future tax hike proposals from single party control.
Democrat campaign promises of significant tax relief were broken last session as they passed $10 billion in tax increases. The paltry one-time rebate checks received by Minnesotans this fall are now subject to federal taxes and pale in comparison to the higher costs they will face to finance the Democrat spending spree.

Student Resource Officer law change- Updated March 11, 2024

Main Message: School resource officers are important members of the school community and are instrumental in maintaining school safety. The changes passed by Democrats last year led to schools across the state losing access to their school resource officers. With bipartisan input and the inclusion of law enforcement, this bill will repair the damage that removed SROs from schools across the state and keep students and teachers safe.

It’s unfortunate so many schools operated for large portions of the year without their School Resource Officers due to the changes passed last year by Democrats. The loss of those SROs was a direct result of partisan legislation being pressed through without consideration from either Republicans or the law enforcement community.
This new legislation will give all School Resource Officers the clarity and support they need to do their jobs and return SROs to their schools.
We know SROs are integral parts of their school community where they build relationships with students, support faculty, and help ensure a safe environment for learning. By working across party lines and including feedback from law enforcement, we have been able to come to a positive bipartisan resolution for all.
While we might wish there wasn’t a need for police officers to be in schools or use physical restraints in limited circumstances, there is a need. We should give our SROs the tools and resources they need to do their job and trust them to do it effectively because that’s how they keep students and teachers safe.

Previous Messaging:

Main Message: School resource officers are important and valuable to efforts to keep our schools safe. Unfortunately, the changes passed by Democrats this session have led to schools across the state losing access to their school resource officers due to the lack of clarity and guidance they need to do their jobs effectively. Republicans have a bill to correct this error and Democrats should join us and get it done as soon as possible.

The changes surrounding how SROs can operate and use force in the course of their jobs were pushed throughout without feedback from law enforcement and lack the kind of clarity needed for SROs to do their jobs effectively.
Police and sheriff departments across the state have terminated their SRO arrangements as a direct result of this legislation and are calling for its repeal.
Even Democrat-endorsed Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt has pulled her officers from their school resource agreements, and expressed concern officers doing their job to keep students and teachers safe could end up facing legal repercussions.
While we might wish there wasn’t a need for police officers to be in schools or use physical restraints in limited circumstances, there is a need. We should give our SROs the tools and resources they need to do their job and trust them to do it effectively because that’s how they keep students and teachers safe.
Republicans have language that would repeal the changes so our schools can get their SROs back in their positions in the fastest possible way. If the education committee or public safety committee wants to make changes in this area, it should be done with more stakeholder input.

But isn’t there an exception for bodily harm?

A: While there is an exception, there remain questions about what types of force and, more importantly, when an officer may intervene. They may be obligated to let a situation escalate to meet the needs of this particular law, but that is in conflict to their obligations to keep the schools safe. I trust the police officers and subject matter experts who say this law creates confusion and prevents police officers from acting as the trained professionals I know them to be.