LEGISLATION HIGHLIGHTSMinnesota at a Crossroads The 2023 Legislative Session has ended with the most extreme agenda passed in history. A 50/50 state was hijacked by a radical few who don’t represent the majority of Minnesotans, and because of this the North Star State has become a shining example of what happens when you give unchecked control to liberal activists. - The Largest Tax Increase in State History: Combining all of the tax increases passed this week Democrats are raising taxes on Minnesotans by nearly $10 billion despite the state’s record breaking $17.5 billion budget surplus—including a new gas tax increase, sales tax increase, higher car tab fees, higher boat registration fee, and more.
- Growing Government: Over 40% growth in state government spending, the largest increase in decades and vastly outpacing the state’s economic growth of around 3% annually as well as thousands in new state employees.
- Increased Motor Vehicle Fees: Nearly doubling of the motor vehicle sales tax and increasing tab fees for all motorists.
- Broken Promises on Social Security Taxes: Democrats refused to fully exempt all Minnesotans from state taxes on Social Security benefits despite their campaign promises last fall to do so.
- Broken Promises on Rebate Checks: Last summer, Governor Walz promised $2,000 rebate checks, but now that Democrats spent through the entire surplus and more that number is all the way down to $260.
- Attacks on the Second Amendment: With bipartisan opposition, both Red Flag Law and Universal Background Checks were added into the Public Safety Bill.
- Killing Local Charities: Changes to E-Pull Tabs will limit their profitability, hurting the local charities they fund and our small businesses that host them.
- Speech Registry: A new database at the Department of Human Rights will keep records of reported hateful speech and disinformation as determined by the reporting person and the department.
- Mandates for Schools: Dozens of new mandates for schools will leave many school districts in worse financial shape, despite Democrat claims that they are making “historic” investments in schools.
- “Free” College at Taxpayer Expense: If a Minnesota student’s family has an adjusted gross income below $80,000, he or she receives free tuition, at a $215 million cost to taxpayers.
- Blackout Bill: Reliable carbon-based energy sources – such as coal – will be eliminated by the year 2040 and Minnesota must then rely on wind and solar, which will make our energy more unreliable, unaffordable, and dangerous during the winter months.
So what do we do about this now? As Aristotle once said, “Tolerance and apathy are the last virtues of a dying society.” So is Minnesota worth fighting for? That is the only question we ask ourselves. I say it is, that is why I ran for office. When I am committed to something I will put in the time and the effort needed. This summer, you will see me working as hard as I did last year to get elected. I will be speaking to city councils, county boards etc. Also, Senator Drazkowski and I will be having town hall meetings to give an end of session legislative review all over our district. Please watch my Facebook and Twitter pages, plus my weekly newsletters to stay current on what is happening. Come visit me somewhere soon or please reach out if there is something happening in our district: May 30th – Wabasha County BPOU Meeting, Elgin, 6:30 p.m., Blacktop Bar May 31st – Red Wing, 6:00 p.m., American Legion, 218 W. 4th St. June 1st – Liberty Tea Party – I am a guest speaker along with Senator Lucero, Senator Koran, Rep. Hudson and Rep. Engen; 6pm @ Willy McCoy’s Restaurant, Champlin, MN  June 5th – Red Wing School Board Meeting June 6th – Wabasha City Council Meeting June 11th – PARADE Goodhue Volksfest @ 1pm June 14th – Goodhue, 7:00 p.m., Holy Trinity Church, 404 2nd Ave. I am not taking time off because the goal to save Minnesota from this radical regime is too important. We shall not rest. We shall roll up our sleeves and get to work. Are you with me? To watch my video from the last night of session, click here. |