ST. PAUL – Minnesota House Republicans have drafted a package of bills Rep. Chris Swedzinski, R-Ghent, said would make Minnesota a more affordable place to live, work, and raise a family.
Swedzinski said the bills, introduced as part of the GOP’s “Make Minnesota Affordable” initiative, focus on lowering energy costs, reducing the tax burden, and ensuring budget surpluses benefit hardworking Minnesotans.
“People have suffered enough of the record price increases, with our state’s reckless spending and unnecessary tax increases the last few years only adding to the burden,” Swedzinski said. “It’s time to support the hardworking people of this state by reducing taxes and rolling back some of the needless tax increases Democrats passed while they were spending the $18 billion surplus.”
Bills in the House Republicans’ Make Minnesota Affordable package include:
- Delivering sweeping tax reforms, repealing the controversial retail delivery fee and ending the tax on Social Security income once and for all. By requiring a comprehensive analysis of tax policies, this bill ensures a fairer system for Minnesota taxpayers, Swedzinski said. He indicates this represents a commitment to economic growth and reducing financial stress for families and seniors alike.
- Ensuring that future state budget surpluses are returned to the people of Minnesota. By proposing a constitutional amendment, this bill codifies the principle that taxpayer money belongs in the hands of those who earned it. The measure guarantees that Minnesota families, not government bureaucracy, benefit from the state’s financial successes, Swedzinski said.
- Modernizing Minnesota’s renewable energy policies by expanding the state’s definition of eligible renewable energy to include hydroelectric capacity. It also delays standards for electric utilities which Swedzinski called unrealistic, protects reliable energy sources, and ends the state’s nuclear moratorium. These reforms will help stabilize energy costs and secure a balanced energy future for Minnesota families and businesses, Swedzinski said.
“Minnesotans deserve energy policies that make sense for both the environment and their wallets,” said Swedzinski, the ranking House Republican on energy. “My measure ensures we have a balanced, all-of-the-above approach to renewable energy that prioritizes reliability and affordability.”
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