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Dear Neighbor,
The pace of the legislative session continues to pick up with committee deadlines and the release of budget targets. Here’s a quick update.
Budget targets released
This week, the Minnesota House has announced an agreement on a framework for the upcoming two-year budget cycle. These budget targets represent a compromise between Democrats and Republicans in the Minnesota House. That includes the biggest priority of the legislative session — enacting a balanced two-year state budget.
DFL and Republican co-chairs will use their targets to guide their work as they draft their budgets. Budget bills will be on the House floor later this month, and we’re looking forward to working with Governor Walz and the Senate on a final budget agreement.
You can learn more about the budget targets here and watch our event to discuss them in more detail here.
Protect Medicaid, Not Millionaires
While President Trump and Congressional Republicans look to subsidize tax cuts for the wealthy by reducing federal funding for Medicaid, DFL legislators introduced legislation that would raise taxes on millionaires at the level necessary to offset any cuts to this crucial program. Medicaid is the largest single source of health insurance in Minnesota, serving senior citizens, children, families, and people with disabilities.
A report from Congress’s Joint Economic Committee found that if Republicans in Congress pass their proposed budget and cut Medicaid, Minnesota could see 89,000 rural residents lose their health coverage, 130,000 children lose their health insurance, more than 1 in 6 seniors lose their nursing home care and, in total, nearly 400,000 people cut off from their health insurance. If the GOP votes to protect millionaires and billionaires and allows these callous cuts to go through, it will have a direct and immediate negative effect on Minnesotans.
Small Business Tariff Impact Survey
Amid additional federal tariffs taking effect this week, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is gathering information from affected small businesses in Minnesota.
In this period of uncertainty, there may be a lag in data, so this survey is a way for Minnesota business owners to communicate directly with the department now. The survey takes less than five minutes to complete. By collaborating with Minnesota's locally owned small businesses, we can proactively plan for the state's future needs.
DFLers are also introducing legislation to study the impact of the Trump tariffs on the affordability of basic goods and broader economic challenges for Minnesota businesses, consumers, and our economy as a whole.
Minnesota’s economy relies on over $20 billion in foreign imports every year, with areas of significant potential impact being agriculture, manufacturing, and retail.
Meetings with constituents and advocacy groups
Thank you to everyone who continues to come to the Capitol to participate in the legislative process! It’s great to meet with folks and hear directly about the issues that matter most to you.
 With AFSCME constituents on AFSCME Day on the Hill
 Talking to fire chiefs at firefighters at Fire Service Day at the Capitol
As always, please contact me anytime with your input. You can reach me at 651-296-4280 or [email protected]. You can also keep up with what’s happening at the Capitol by liking my legislative Facebook page. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Melissa Hortman
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