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Legislative Update

*Minnesota?s Misplaced Priorities: A Call for Realignment*

With last year?s historic surplus of $17.5 billion and an increase in government spending by nearly 40%, Minnesota is at a crossroads. Despite the influx of $10 billion in new taxes and fees, the governor and legislative majorities are forging ahead on their ?spending spree. But is spending the real obstacle preventing solutions to many of the state?s issues? I believe the answer is a resounding no. The real issue lies in the misalignment of priorities in Saint Paul with the actual needs of our state.

As we face a projected 1.5 billion dollar deficit, this year?s supplemental budget bills could play a pivotal role in either alleviating or exacerbating a future budget shortfall. Initially, the governor proposed a supplemental budget of $226 million. However, the House majority chairs have escalated this figure to over half a billion dollars in the construction of their omnibus bills. Unfortunately, many of the genuine problems Minnesotans grapple with are barely addressed in the expanding supplemental budget. Instead, the approach seems to be to appease every department with a smattering of additional funding. This scattered strategy is particularly glaring in the areas of public safety and transportation.

Last week, we passed the public safety policy bill with bipartisan support, addressing several concerns of the public safety community. However, one pressing issue that numerous police departments have raised is the need to invest in higher-grade armor and equipment, which was explicitly disallowed in last year?s funding. The bill authors have chosen to prioritize feel-good policy over the actual protection of our police and peace officers. Despite House Republicans introducing several bills and amendments to rectify this bureaucratic red tape, we have been voted down every time.

Roads and bridges, an essential responsibility of government, are in a state of disrepair. A significant number of bridges are categorized as ?poor? by MNDOT, and numerous roads are under-maintained. These are critical infrastructures that Minnesotans rely on daily for commuting to work, taking their children to school, and the transportation of essential goods. Despite having a dedicated auto parts sales tax and an inflator on the gas tax, the money in the transportation budget is being diverted elsewhere. The Southwest Light Rail project, now multiple times over budget and facing numerous setbacks, is a prime example of this mis prioritization, costing Minnesota taxpayers millions for a system that is not complete.

As the final set of supplemental budget bills reaches the house floor, I firmly believe that our state budget should prioritize the core functions of government and the financial situation we will leave the future leaders of our state if spending continues unrestrained. We must be fiscally responsible stewards of everyone?s tax dollars and focus on priorities that benefit all of Minnesota. This is the path to a prosperous and sustainable future for our state.






Please Contact Me

Please continue to reach out if I can be of any assistance to you. You can reach me by phone at 651-296-7065 or by email at [email protected].?

Have a great weekend!?

Brian











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/RepBrianPfarr





351 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55155
ph: 651.296.7065







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