Legislative Update

Friends and Neighbors,

As the third deadline approaches for budget bills next week, these proposals will clearly spend through the entire surplus and then some, with no tax relief for Minnesotans. Last biennium?s budget was just over 51 billion dollars while this biennium the proposed budget is nearly $72 billion. This is a 39% increase in government spending in just two years and the largest increase I?ve ever seen in my time at the legislature. This could have been historic tax relief for Minnesotans but instead will be a massive over-spending spree that will likely result in tough budget decisions in the near future.

One major pain point in the budget proposal is the lack of support for our nursing homes. There is excessive spending for a number of pet projects throughout these bills yet it leaves our nursing homes massively underfunded. Our care providers need support and relief to hire staff, buy necessities, and keep up with the inflation that is crushing everyone. This funding formula hasn?t been updated in over three years and is leaving these homes on the brink of closure, with some already closing and leaving their residents with nowhere to go.

To address this issue the House Republicans brought forward an urgency on the house floor to bring forward legislation to address this oversight in the budget framework. This bill would fund our nursing homes and give them the resources to hire the staff they need to provide the best possible care to our elderly and those in need. Unfortunately, our motion was voted down and these providers are left again to hang in the balance hoping for some amount of relief as the legislative session approaches the end.

What priorities do you want to see addressed in the $71.9 Billion budget, or better yet what taxes do you think we could reduce to help your household in this uncertain economy?

Legislative Update

Contact Me