Legislative Update
Friends,
We are in the final days of the legislative session, with the constitutional adjournment date of May 19th coming up fast on Monday. A lot is happening quickly. Bills are being passed off the House floor one after another, including the education finance and policy bills that were debated and passed late last night.
Yesterday, there was a rally at the Capitol pushing for free health insurance for people who are in our country illegally. I want you to know I stood firmly against it. Your hard-earned tax dollars should not be used to fund benefits that many Minnesota families can’t even afford for their own kids. That’s not justice, and it’s not right. We need to focus on taking care of our citizens first.
On the budget front, lawmakers and the Governor reached an agreement late Wednesday night. It’s a step in the right direction to clean up the mess left by the last DFL-controlled session. Here’s some highlights from the deal:
We stopped the Governor’s sales tax hikes, the social media tax, the provider tax increase, and a new top income tax tier
We protected non-public school funding, a win for religious, charter, and homeschool students across our state
We froze enrollment in illegal immigrant healthcare programs and are phasing out adult coverage by 2026
We made smart investments in county technology and shut down wasteful projects like the Northern Lights Express train to Duluth
There’s still work to do. Conference committees are taking these budget targets and turning them into real bills. There may be some bumps along the way, but I’ll keep fighting to make sure your tax dollars are protected and our values are reflected in the final deal.
Demanding Transparency from our Attorney General.
After a House Fraud Committee hearing on April 28, we sent a letter demanding answers about possible links to fraudsters, questionable campaign contributions, and suspicious Capitol activity. Minnesotans deserve honesty and accountability from the top.
I’m Pushing Hard for Fraud Prevention.
My bill, House File 2, would require state agencies to report fraud immediately, not just “encourage” them to do it. We’re also working on stronger protections for whistleblowers so honest employees can safely expose wrongdoing.
Closing Days of Session
Session may wrap up Monday, or we could be heading into a special session. Either way, I’ll be right here, standing for truth, standing for you, and fighting to keep government accountable. There's much more to come and I will be sure to keep you updated as we learn more.