Dear Neighbor,
The Minnesota Legislature adjourned Monday and a lot of Minnesotans are looking at what happened in St. Paul the last two years and thinking, “I didn’t sign up for this.”
Between the excessive spending, unnecessary tax increases and extreme policy, it’s hard to know just where to start rehashing all that went on the last two sessions, but here we go:
Taxes/spending
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 of taking advantage of this great opportunity, the surplus was spent and taxes actually were increased by $10 billion to pay for 40-percent more state spending.
When the 2024 session began, the majority party was 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 more money from Minnesotans. Along the way, Minnesota taxpayers were put on the hook for a $730 million State Office Building remodel despite more reasonably priced alternatives being proposed.
Fixing bad laws
We spent part of the 2024 session successfully resolving significant problems created by bills enacted 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.
Ambulance/nursing home funding
Legislation Republicans championed to provide an additional $30 million for Emergency Ambulance Service Aid also received legislative approval this year. This is in addition to the $300 million in additional nursing home funding we successfully negotiated last year.
Extreme policy
Several highly controversial, partisan policy measures were enacted with one party in control the last two years. This includes enacting a state-funded speech registry that could undermine First Amendment and passing three anti-Second Amendment bills. In addition, a provision ended electronic pull tabs as we knew them, dealing a major blow to local charitable organizations. Thank goodness legislation allowing assisted suicide did not pass.
More balance needed
One-party control has been trouble for Minnesota, and we need more balance at the Capitol. This was on full display the last night of this session, when the majority passed a 1,431-page bill (above) without its contents even available to House members to review before a vote took place. It makes you wonder how we got here, and the answer is that a very narrow majority has treated this biennium like a sweeping mandate at the expense of most Minnesotans.
A win for religious freedom!
Religious freedom was another high-profile issue this session after religious protections against discrimination claims were eliminated last year after being in our state for decades. A variation of Republican legislation was enacted into law this session re-establishing protections for religious entities.
I’m so proud of the way we stood up and fought for religious freedom this session. Not only did we restore protections that were eliminated last year, but we also had a hand in making sure a highly concerning ERA bill that would have trampled on our rights numerous ways did not pass into law.
Back home
I look forward to spending more time back in District 14A now that our work is finished at the Capitol for the year. It will be good to receive input from the people I represent as they have time to ponder all that happened in the last two sessions under one party control.
Don’t hesitate to contact my office at any time this session to share your thoughts, concerns or ideas. You can call me at 651-296-6316, or email me at rep.bernie.perryman@house.mn.gov. Your continued support is appreciated beyond words, and I am proud, humbled and blessed to serve you. Hope to see you around soon!
