Friends and neighbors,

A few of you sent me this story about comments made by retiring Rep. Gene Pelowski and what I thought.

Minnesota has experienced divided government for most of the past 25 years. Since 1998, only twice has one party controlled the House, the Senate, and the governor’s office at the same time, as Democrats do currently.

In the past, frustrated Democrats have described it as gridlock. The reality is divided government creates a healthier political environment because it demands us to talk to each other, work together, and include ideas from diverse voices.

It should be challenging to pass laws. That is how you avoid mistakes. One of the reasons the 2024 session was dubbed the “fix it session” is because Democrats the prior year skipped over rigorous vetting, debate, and disagreement and instead rushed their agenda into law without listening to any constructive feedback.

Single party control allows one party to impose its extreme agenda, as we have clearly seen. Over the last two years, Minnesotans have watched Democrats blow through a $19 billion surplus to fuel a dramatic and reckless increase in government spending — 40% last budget! They have raised taxes by nearly $10 billion, adding a significant burden onto your backs, promoted divisive politics in our classrooms instead of fundamentals, and passed one of the most extreme, out-of-the-mainstream abortion agendas in the country. And they broke their promise to provide relief to Minnesota taxpayers struggling to afford their daily necessities.

It is no surprise I talk to so many people who feel like their concerns are not being heard.

Divided government ensures that the voices of all Minnesotans are represented. When the two parties share control, compromise is not just an option but a necessity. It leads to policies that truly reflect the diverse values of our state, not of one party’s extreme base.

If you have any questions, please reach out.

God Bless,