Dear Friends,

This week marks the beginning of Hanukkah. I join our Jewish friends and neighbors in praying for peace and hope during this Festival of Lights. May we all celebrate the joy and love of this important holiday.?

New Budget Forecast Released?

A new state budget forecast?was released this week showing a $2.4 billion surplus heading into next session, but a looming $2.3 billion deficit beginning in 2025.

Republicans warned last session that spending a $17.5 billion surplus to grow government by 40% would lead to a future budget deficit. The news of a projected $2.3 billion deficit in 2025 is no surprise when Democrats went on a spending spree rather than return a historic surplus to hardworking Minnesotans in the form of permanent, meaningful tax relief.

Instead, Minnesota families got $10 billion in new taxes when their budgets are being stretched thin by higher prices for gas, groceries, and energy bills. A recent study has even revealed that Minnesotans are spending nearly $13,000 more a year in 2023 just to maintain their standard of living from 2021. Democrats campaigned on $2,000 rebate checks for all Minnesotans, but after their spending spree those rebates were significantly reduced to only $260. It was also announced this week that those rebates would be taxed by the IRS because the Majority missed a federal deadline when they waited until the end of session to pass it. That small relief will be even smaller after Minnesotans pay their federal taxes.

This forecast shows what happens when Minnesota has unchecked, one-party control of state government. Government?s budget has grown 40%, but family budgets are under more pressure than ever. We need to restore balance at the Capitol so we can support Minnesotans and their family budgets.