ST. PAUL – Minnesota House Republicans have drafted a package of bills Rep. Scott Van Binsbergen, R-Montevideo, said would make Minnesota a more affordable place to live, work, and raise a family.
Van Binsbergen said the bills, authored as part of the GOP’s “Make Minnesota Affordable” initiative, focus on lowering energy costs, reducing the tax burden, and ensuring budget surpluses benefit hardworking Minnesotans.
“It’s tough to live and do business in Minnesota, with all the rules, regulations and taxes that are in place,” Van Binsbergen said. “Then people saw the state had an $18 billion surplus in the last biennium and are asking where all that money went. Unfortunately, the answer is the Democrat trifecta put it toward increasing the state budget by almost 40 percent.
“That’s why it is so important to have House Republicans restoring balance at the Capitol. We’re working to make Minnesota affordable and more enticing to young families and workers. The future is bright in rural Minnesota, and the approach we’re taking with these bills gives us even more reason for hope.”
Bills in the House Republicans’ Make Minnesota Affordable package include:
- Modernizing Minnesota’s renewable energy policies by expanding the state’s definition of eligible renewable energy to include hydroelectric capacity. It also delays standards for electric utilities which Van Binsbergen called unrealistic, protects reliable energy sources, and ends the state’s nuclear moratorium. These reforms will help stabilize energy costs and secure a balanced energy future for Minnesota families and businesses, Van Binsbergen said.
- Delivering sweeping tax reforms, repealing the controversial retail delivery fee and ends the tax on Social Security income once and for all. By requiring a comprehensive analysis of tax policies, this bill ensures a fairer system for Minnesota taxpayers, Van Binsbergen said. He indicated this represents a commitment to economic growth and reducing financial stress for families and seniors alike.
- Ensuring future state budget surpluses are returned to the people of Minnesota. By proposing a constitutional amendment, this bill codifies the principle that taxpayer money belongs in the hands of those who earned it. The measure guarantees that Minnesota families, not government bureaucracy, benefit from the state’s financial successes, Van Binsbergen said.
“We face enough challenges living and working in Minnesota,” Van Binsbergen said. “The last thing we need is for our own state government to unnecessarily put even more obstacles in the way. These bills will help make Minnesota more affordable to the benefit of rural residents and people throughout our state.”
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