Legislative Update from Rep. Ben Bakeberg

Dear Friends,

This Saturday, Americans across the country will pause to honor those who have sacrificed on our behalf to protect our beautiful nation. I want to sincerely thank our Veterans who put their nation first and sacrificed so much to defend our freedom.?

There is much that we can do to show our appreciation to those men and women who put on the uniform for our country. This year, I was proud to champion a Veterans funding bill that provided our heroes with the resources they need and deserve:?

Additional funding in bonus payments to post 9/11 veterans and expanded eligibility so that more veterans could receive this financial support;
Funding for new?Veterans?homes in Bemidji, Montevideo, and Preston; and
Increased Veterans GI tuition and apprenticeship benefits so that veterans have access to more opportunities to further their careers,

If you would like additional information on any of the above items, please visit the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs website at?www.mn.gov/mdva/.

I was proud to support this bipartisan legislation, and I am even more proud to be able to call my dad, Don Bakeberg?a real-life hero who was in the Navy and served in Vietnam.?His service and legacy, along with that of thousands of other heroes that live among us or are remembered this Saturday, have blessed us with a level of prosperity and liberty that millions of people throughout history never had the opportunity to experience.??

As you go about your day on Saturday, I hope that you will also pause, say a prayer, and take time to express your gratitude for the brave men and women who have served to protect the wonderful and unique country we are blessed to call home.

May God bless all of our veterans!?

Paid Family Leave Costs Already Skyrocketing

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development recently released an?actuarial analysis?of the Paid Family Medical Leave program that passed last session.?The study showed that the tax rates will need to be even higher than projected ? at least an additional $600 million within the first three years, with the tax rate 31% higher by year two ? as House Republicans had warned when the bill passed last session.

Democrats rushed to pass their paid leave bill before knowing its true cost.?Republicans offered a voluntary paid leave plan (the MNFaMLI Plan) that would have provided employees and job creators with affordable and flexible benefit options.?This study shows that we need to fix the current paid leave program next session so we can give Minnesota?s families and job creators the flexibility they need to provide these benefits at an affordable price.

State Office Building Renovation Costs Already Another Quarter-Billion More ?

Last month, I published an op-ed in the Star Tribune railing against the ? at that time ? half a billion dollar renovation to the State Office Building that Democrats quietly pushed through at the end of the 2022 legislative session. Despite House Republicans urging them to pause the project, the state borrowed $454 million at the end of October to finance the renovations.?We learned this week that the state could pay over $275 million MORE in interest, bringing the grand total for the project up to $730 million.

Minnesotans don?t need posh offices for politicians. They need relief for their family budgets. Last session, despite a $17.5 billion surplus, Democrats raised taxes by $10 billion and grew government by nearly 40%. Our families are facing higher prices for gas, groceries, and energy bills, but Democrats refused to entertain any permanent, meaningful tax relief measures. Recent data already shows that we will have an additional $2 billion surplus next year. Minnesota has a taxing problem. We need to focus next session on permanent, meaningful tax relief to support all Minnesotans.

Paid Family Leave Costs Already Skyrocketing

State Office Building Renovation Costs Already Another Quarter-Billion More ?

Please Contact Me