Hello from the State Capitol,
Friday marks that date of the Minnesota Legislature’s third committee deadline, which is when committees must act favorably on major policy and finance bills.
With a historic $9 billion plus surplus, House Democrat leadership has been moving forward on bills that continue to spend your money, even though it’s not a budget year. They have been very tight lipped about how much they’re spending. Families that have been struggling to pay for everyday cost-of-living items deserve to know their plan.
I have been dismayed at the partisan spending bills that are being passed out of our House committees. They all indicate that the intent is to return little of the surplus back to the taxpayers. Instead, they are full of a myriad of costly new spending programs for our state. After totaling all of these spending bills together, we can see that House Democrats would like to spend more than $21 for every $1 in tax cuts with our mammoth budget surplus.
I greatly disagree with this. Keep in mind that we approved a budget last year. State agencies have all the money they need to function. In fact, my philosophy would be no increased spending at all if it’s going to worsen our ongoing obligations, and any one-time spending should be used for emergency issues only.
Right now, we should be focusing on meaningful and permanent tax cuts with our $9 billion budget surplus. This money belongs to the people, and the people need it. Under the Biden/Walz economy, everyone is suffering from the escalating costs of gasoline, groceries, meat, heat, and nearly everything else. People need a break with finances; they don’t need to increase their future spending obligations.
As these spending bills move forward in the Minnesota House, I will be sure to keep you updated on their progress.
Have a good weekend,
Peggy