Dear Neighbors, On a near daily basis we’re met with a new, haphazard policy from the Trump administration. The latest? Wide-sweeping tariffs that will upend economies all over the world - and Minnesota isn’t immune. Minnesota’s economy relies on over $20 billion in foreign imports every year. This will raise the price of daily goods, impact farmers and groceries, and lead to more expensive homes as our state grapples with a housing crisis. At the end of the day, these Trump tariffs are a tax on Minnesotans and part of his ongoing effort to sabotage Minnesota’s economy and state budget. When the federal government drops the ball, it's vital that the state of Minnesota is prepared to lead. That’s why I’m introducing legislation to create an action plan to better understand the impacts and ripple effects of the Trump tariffs that are about to slam Minnesota and our businesses from border-to-border. Minnesota needs to be ready for what’s coming, and my bill would study the economic impact of these tariffs on all families and businesses in our state. With Congressional Republicans shirking their responsibility of holding the president accountable, we’ll have to do what we can at the state level to at least help Minnesota weather this oncoming storm.
Small Business Impact Survey
As I work to pass my bill on the Trump Tariffs, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is already gathering information from affected small businesses in Minnesota. In this period of uncertainty, there may be a lag in data, so this survey is a way for our local business owners to communicate directly with the department now. The survey takes less than five minutes to complete. By collaborating with Minnesota's locally owned small businesses, our state can proactively plan for Minnesota's future needs.
Federal Cuts to MDH
It’s not just tariffs that are going to hit our state hard, as the Minnesota Department of Health announced last week that the Trump administration is unilaterally rescinding $226 million in federal grants related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The cuts amount to about 25% of MDH’s current budget, blowing a massive hole in their funding as we work to craft a balanced budget in the state legislature. The recent federal funding cuts raise serious concerns about healthcare access for all Minnesotans and may exacerbate existing medical care disparities across our state. Kare11 recently covered these cuts, and how they are likely to result in the layoffs of around 200 employees. In addition to some of the folks at MDH, hundreds of federal employees are also grappling with unemployment, having either already been laid off or facing an uncertain future with rampant federal cuts. |