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Dear Neighbor,
Another week of the 2024 session is almost in the books and, when we return to the Capitol on Monday, we will be entering the final six weeks before our May 20 date to adjourn. Committees are wrapping up the bulk of their work and we will begin spending more time on the House floor voting on bills the majority brings up for votes.
Here is a look at the latest from the Capitol:
More state spending
It was not even one year ago when Democrats in St. Paul spent the $18 billion surplus and raised taxes by $10 billion to increase state spending by 40 percent.
Now they propose spending even more of our tax dollars this year ? even with a shortfall looming in the next two-year cycle. Democrat legislators and the governor recently announced they have reached an agreement to spend at least $512.5 million more in 2024-25.
The proposed budget from Democrats in full control of the Capitol is irresponsible and unaffordable. Democrats already went on a reckless spending spree last year. Instead of getting spending under control they want to increase spending at an even more unsustainable pace.
Emergency services shorted
Unfortunately, even with all this new spending, neither legislative Democrats nor the governor are fully funding the critical needs of our emergency medical services across the state. The new proposal provides $16 million for rural EMS ? far short of what is needed. Providers are struggling under the current ?fee-for-service? model, which has left rural areas of the state with decreasing access to ambulances and other EMS options.
This speaks volumes about the mismanagement of taxpayer funds we?ve seen at the Capitol under the current one-party control. We need more balance in St. Paul because Minnesotans deserve better from legislators than to keep suffering tax increases from the majority to pay for pet projects while core public services are shortchanged. If they must spend more money, let?s at least put it toward public safety, which is a core service of our government and should be supported as such.
Local visitors
 Thanks to representatives of the Women?s Rural Advocacy Program for meeting with me to discuss issues. WRAP supports victims of sexual assault, human trafficking/exploitation and domestic violence in rural Southwest Minnesota.?
Let?s fix rideshare issue
Uber and Lyft to say they will leave at least parts of our state on May 1 because the Minneapolis City Council approved drastic fee increases for rideshares and even overrode a mayoral veto of the proposal. That override caused Uber to announce it would cease service in the entire metro area, while Lyft said it would stop serving Minneapolis.
While this may not seem like a crucial issue back here in our home district, there is a larger component to it that does impact even those of us in Greater Minnesota. That?s because the Minnesota Legislature could step in and fix the problem before Minneapolis radicals recklessly chase businesses out of our state, catering to metro-centric activists instead of doing what is right for our state.
Here?s the question: Will House Democrats continue sitting on their hands, watching their friends run businesses out of town at the expense of drivers trying to make a living and people who rely on rideshares to get to school, go to work or even visit the doctor? Or, is there a group of more level-headed House Democrats with enough courage to push back against their radical friends and work with Republicans on a common-sense solution?
We?ll see what happens. Have a good weekend and please stay in touch.
Sincerely,
Chris
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