Dear Neighbors, 

As many of you know, we are officially heading into a Special Session at the Capitol. But before we can take final votes on the remaining bills, we must first convene conference committees with the Senate to fix differences between House and Senate versions of the legislation. These committee meetings are essential to producing final bills that can be voted on by both chambers. 

Unfortunately, this Special Session has become necessary due to prolonged inaction by some of my legislative colleagues across the aisle, who failed to show up for 23 days, while continuing to receive a taxpayer-funded paycheck. Minnesotans expect and deserve better. 

As a member of the Tax Committee, I have remained committed to fiscal responsibility—lowering taxes, avoiding new burdens on hardworking Minnesota families, and pushing for smart, sustainable economic policy. However, negotiations in the Taxes Conference Committee have stalled. In a surprising move, House Democrats even voted against their own tax bill, signaling a lack of coordination and seriousness at the negotiating table. 

Rather than working in good faith to deliver results, there has been more political games and less productive dialogue. It's deeply disappointing to see efforts derailed by those more interested in conflict than compromise especially when every additional day of Special Session means more per diem payments for legislators, which again are funded by taxpayers. 

I remain committed to doing the job I was elected to do—showing up, negotiating in good faith, and fighting for policies that benefit our communities. Minnesotans deserve a government that works for them, not one that delays, divides, and deflects.