Dear Neighbors,
It was a busy week in St. Paul as we debated and voted on several of the DFL majority’s omnibus finance and policy bills.
These massive budget bills included out-of-control spending, tax increases, and burdensome regulations that will harm Minnesotans and slow the state’s recovery from the pandemic. The bills and the priorities revealed therein, prove yet again that the DFL is simply out of touch with working-class people.
Thankfully, most of the more egregious policy provisions and excessive spending likely have little chance of becoming law thanks to the Senate Republican Majority.
The bills contained numerous problematic policies, including raising billions in taxes and fees in both the Tax and Transportation Omnibus bills, anti-law enforcement policies, and changes that would allow violent criminals to go free in the Public Safety Omnibus, and raising fees on farmers in the Agriculture Omnibus bill.
At a time when the state has a $4 billion budget surplus, it makes no sense whatsoever to raise taxes.
We also tried to add pro 2nd Amendment provisions to the Public Safety bill and attempted to amend the Environment bill to address issues with the California Cars Standards. Sadly, Democrats raised procedural points of order and blocked votes on these amendments—effectively silencing the voice of the minority party. This is unacceptable.
I will continue fighting hard to make sure these provisions don’t become law and to make sure that Minnesota can make a full and swift recovery from the pandemic.
Stay tuned as these bills will likely look much different when they return for final passage in May.
Staying in Touch
That’s all for this week’s update. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me to share any thoughts, concerns, or questions you may have. I can be reached by phone at either 651-296-4929 or 701-361-1909. I can also be reached via email at rep.jeff.backer@house.mn.
Have a good day,
Jeff