Dear Neighbors,
While many of you were on “Spring Break” recently, we have been finishing up committee work in the House. Today marks what is called the 3rd deadline for bills to pass required committees hearings. I anticipate that these final committee bills will be coming to the House Floor for votes before the entire legislative body in the coming weeks.
Last year we passed a two-year state budget, fully funding all state agencies and programs. This year’s legislative session is to be a policy year, with minimal, incidental or supplemental spending.
Ridiculous Sending over Returning Surplus
However, now that all the Democrats’ omnibus bills have been made public, we can do the math and determine that Democrats are proposing to spend more than $21 for every $1 in tax cuts!
At a time when we have more than $10 billion in budget surplus and federal COVID aid, and with inflation at the highest levels we’ve seen in more than 40 years, it is unbelievable that Democrats want to grow the size and scope of government with NEW and ongoing programs and significant new spending.
This surplus belongs to you, hardworking taxpayers of Minnesota, and I am committed to giving it back through permanent and meaningful tax reductions and reform.
Fighting for Election Integrity and Our Democracy
Click the photo to watch my comments in committee about the importance of election integrity
As a member of the State Government Finance and Elections Committee, I have been fighting all session to improve the integrity of Minnesota’s election process. This includes pushing for voter ID, eliminating ballot harvesting, increasing penalties for voter fraud, and prohibiting cities from hosting 'pop-up' voting sites outside of the regular early voting locations.
Unfortunately, Democrats have refused to include any of these commonsense and widely supported election integrity measures in their State Government Finance omnibus bill.
This is another missed opportunity and something that I will continue advocate for this session and into the future. Our democracy depends on it!
NEW ISSUE --- Combatting ESG – Protecting Minnesota Industries and Consumers
This week, I introduced House File 4779 that deals with an emerging issue of social engineering via ESG or Environmental, Social and Governance scoring. This bill would prohibit the State Board of Investment from investing in certain assets that purposely exclude Minnesota-based energy or natural resources companies or Minnesota-based agricultural or livestock companies and would prohibit ESG discrimination in financial services and personal credit.
This is a new area of policy that you’ll be sure to hear more about, and I’ll expand on this troubling and discriminatory trend in later Koznick Connections.
My Easter / Passover Break
While my family was able to go on spring break without me a few weeks ago, tomorrow starts my “spring break” in the district. I’m certain to see many of you at conventions or meeting and events around the south metro.
I hope that as spring emerges, this season of renewal rightly centers us and our families with hope and that you are able to enjoy this blessed Holy Week in a meaningful way in your faith and together.
It is with Providence and together that we will bring our best days to reality.
Jon Koznick
State Representative