Dear Neighbor,
The 93rd Legislature adjourned yesterday, bringing the 2024 session to a close. Here’s a look at how things shook out at the Capitol:
Local victories
Legislation I worked on to save the CARE Carlton facility for women after the governor proposed closing it received legislative approval late in the session. Language I authored to study the reopening of the General C.C. Andrews Tree Nursery near Willow River also recently was sent to the governor for enactment.
These are two big local victories I’m proud to have gotten to the governor’s desk to sign into law. It’s unfortunate the majority’s time mismanagement prevented a bonding bill from coming to the floor this year. It would have been nice to have built on the $17.5 million for the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District, $10 million for the Carlton County female offender and judicial and $5 million for Cloquet water infrastructure we successfully achieved last year.
Reckless spending, unnecessary taxes
With the record $18 billion surplus last year, Minnesotans deserved meaningful tax cuts at a time when in?ation and rising costs of living have family budgets stretched thin. Instead, Democrats went on a spending spree, increasing the budget by 40% – the largest budget increase in Minnesota history – and raising taxes by $10 billion in the process.
When the 2024 session began, they were right back at it, raising the cost of a new worker leave program by half a billion dollars before it even begins, and many other unpopular and unnecessary tax and fee increases that take money out of the pockets of Minnesota families.
Along the way, Democrats officially put Minnesota taxpayers on the hook for a $730 million State Office Building remodel despite Republicans proposing more reasonably priced alternatives.
Fix-it bills
Republicans spent part of the 2024 session successfully resolving significant problems Democrats created in 2023. Most notably, this includes a fix to the tax bill, getting school resource officers back in all the buildings they had been serving, and correcting a net-operating loss issue.
Nursing homes and ambulances
Legislation Republicans championed to provide an additional $30 million for Emergency Ambulance Service Aid also received legislative approval late in the 2024 session. Last year, Republicans successfully negotiated an additional $300 million for nursing homes.
Controversial bills
Democrats enacted several highly controversial, partisan policy measures with one party in control the last two years. This includes adopting some of the world’s most extreme abortion policy, enacting a state-funded speech registry that could undermine First Amendment rights, eroding our Second Amendment rights, declaring Minnesota a sanctuary state for transgender healthcare – for children. In addition, a Democrat provision ended electronic pull tabs as we knew them, dealing a major blow to local charitable organizations.
More balance needed in St. Paul
It may be the understatement of the year to say we need more balance in St. Paul because one-party control under Democrats is bad for Minnesota. So many extreme laws were passed into law the last two years, but at least we were able to stop some along the way, from a very controversial ERA bill to proposals that even further undermine our Second Amendment rights. I’m proud of the work we did to stop those from becoming law.
Victory for religious freedom
Religious freedom was another high-profile issue this session after Democrats last year eliminated religious protections against discrimination claims that had been in our state for decades. A variation of Republican legislation was enacted into law this session re-establishing protections for religious entities. Thankfully, we stopped a radical Equal Rights Amendment bill from passing that would have undermined religious liberties and caused great concern over other inequalities that would have resulted.
Broken promises
A number of things that did not happen this biennium were the result of Democrats failing to deliver on promises they made to Minnesotans. In particular, this includes voting against bills that would ensure our of?cers have the resources they need, reneging on delivering full Social Security tax relief, failing to provide $2,000 rebate checks.
Thanks for the support
I can’t thank District 11A residents enough for the overwhelming support they’ve shown me the last two years. Now that the 2024 session has ended, I look forward to spending more time this interim back home, discussing important issues with people in our local communities.
As always, your input is welcome so please stay in touch.
Sincerely,
Jeff