Dear Friends,
This week, I’ve been on another bonding tour learning about projects that that will support communities in southeast Minnesota. With all the fall colors in full force, it has been a great time to explore more of our beautiful state!
Like many of you, I have been distraught and heartbroken as events have unfolded in the Holy Land. I continue to pray for peace and a swift end to this horrific conflict. Perhaps most disappointing is watching the truly awful reactions we have seen not only from political leaders, but also from universities and protestors across our state and country.
Over the weekend, protestors took to the streets of Minneapolis where they flew the Hamas flag and mobbed an elderly man who found himself driving through the demonstration. It is abhorrent that the flag of a terrorist organization would be proudly waved in the United States of America. I stand with Israel and will continue to pray for the safety of Jewish communities across our state and world.
Another Budget Surplus!
Last week, Minnesota Management and Budget announced that they are now predicting another $2.4 billion surplus. Naturally, Democrat leaders were quick to dream up ways to spend your hard-earned tax dollars instead of returning the surplus to you in the form of permanent, meaningful tax relief. Last session, Democrats blew through Minnesota’s record $17.5 billion surplus, increased the state budget by 40% and raised taxes by $10 billion.
If our state has another surplus, the only option should be tax relief. Democrats ran in 2022 on full elimination of the tax on Social Security and $2,000 rebate checks. A $260 rebate check was far from their campaign promise. Prices continue to rise under Bidenomics, and Democrats in Minnesota continue to add to that with all their new taxes. Families deserve permanent, meaningful tax relief that will support their family budgets.
New Social Studies Standards
Recently,I signed onto a letter urging Governor Walz to direct the Commissioner of Education to retract the notice of intent to adopt the new social studies standard over “harmful and hateful” language currently included in the proposed standards. Given the unrest in the Middle East, there are some troubling references in the proposed standards to “settler colonialism” and “anti-colonialism” that share similarities to the anti-Semitic language that is being used by the Democratic Socialists, including the Twin Cities DSA.
Hate has no place in our world, and it definitely does not have a place in our schools or academic standards. We cannot condone any language that could be viewed as violent or anti-Semitic in our children’s education. I hope the Governor will reconsider these controversial proposed social studies standards.