Dear Neighbors,
The legislature returned to St. Paul following its annual Easter/Passover break. It was great to be home last week and to spend time with family as we celebrated the holiday. The final six weeks of the legislative session are expected to be extremely busy as we debate and vote on massive omnibus budget bills.
On Wednesday, both the Higher Education and the Legacy Bills were approved by the House. Stay tuned for more information and details on omnibus bills as they make their way to the floor for votes.
A reminder that Gov. Walz and the House and Senate majorities are looking to increase spending by about 40%, bringing the state budget to an astonishing $72 billion. The last budget that was approved in 2021 was $52 billion. A $20 billion increase in just two years is unsustainable and puts the state’s future fiscal health in jeopardy.
Just two years ago, the main objective of the legislative process was to give Minnesotans the tools they needed to invest in their lives, families, and businesses. The proposals we are seeing now are the opposite. The government growth being proposed will be paid for by all taxpayers, the current surplus will be completely spent, and billions of dollars in tax increases will unfortunately be passed to pay for all of this new spending.
The role of government is to protect life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These bills are doing the opposite. At a time when all of us are feeling the impacts of soaring inflation, it is concerning that none of these bills return surplus money now or provide relief into the future.
IRRRB
This week, I chatted with Twin Cities Public Television’s long running show, “Almanac”, to discuss my new role as Chair of the IRRRB and the changing dynamics on the Iron Range.
You can watch the interview by clicking here or the photo below.
Staying in Touch
Please continue to reach out to me to share what’s on your mind. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-4936 or via email at rep.spencer.igo@house.mn.gov
Have a great day,
Spencer