In my last Capitol Update, I shared news about Minnesota's projected $6 billion Democrat deficit. That is why Senate Republicans announced our “Cut the Waste” proposal. We found at least $600 million in wasteful or unnecessary spending in the state budget, and we believe that these funds could be better used to support essential services.

However, in response to the most recent budget forecast, Governor Walz has announced a budget proposal that includes cuts in funding to Minnesotan students, persons with disabilities, and the elderly.

Once again, Governor Walz has missed the mark in his budget and has chosen to target the most vulnerable of Minnesotans without addressing waste, fraud, and abuse. In response to the Governor's proposals, I have continued to work diligently to promote policies that put Minnesotans First.

Last week, WCCO covered a meeting of the Legislative Audit Commission, in which we discussed the numerous delays and increased costs associated with our state’s light rail projects.

The Met Council has blown the budget on all three of their light rail projects, and it seems like they don't even care. Minnesotans work hard for their money, and they deserve transparency, accountability, and results — not runaway costs from an agency that is not accountable to anyone.

Early last week, news broke that the Minnesota Senate President, Bobby Joe Champion, was advocating for taxpayer funding to a nonprofit, 21 Days of Peace, led by a community leader whom he had previously represented as an attorney. According to reports from the Minnesota Reformer, we have now come to learn that President Champion has engaged in similar conduct on at least two other occasions and has also received campaign contributions from the leaders of these organizations.

As legislators, we must hold ourselves to a higher ethical standard. While I am not a signatory on the complaint against President Champion, I am deeply troubled by the facts of the complaint and condemn President Champion's actions.

While it is likely that this issue will not be resolved by the Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct, formerly chaired by President Champion, I believe that it is long overdue for the legislature to strengthen transparency and reform how nonprofit funding decisions are made.