It was a beautiful morning last week on Memorial Day as our community remembered those who sacrificed everything in service to our great country!  

Thank you Center of the American Experiment and Mike Amery for inviting me to participate on the panel Tuesday evening last week in Duluth to discuss the significant cost of housing challenges in MN!

Dear friends and neighbors,

We’ve had two gorgeous weekends in row as summer is full force! I hope you’ve had the opportunity to get the backyard BBQ going. Many open houses have also been taking place. Congratulations to all the new graduates as they take their next steps in life’s journey!

Illegals demand FREE HEALTHCARE as a human right be paid by hardworking Minnesotans. Democrats agree and are stonewalling the state budget as a result.

Why it matters: State agencies that have not been fully funded by July 1, 2025 will shut down. Negotiations have been taking place since the regular session of the legislature adjourned on May 19. In a total failure of transparency, the overwhelming majority of these negotiations have taken place in secret, behind closed doors. As agreements on budget areas are being reached they are being posted here. The public and most legislators will only have the opportunity to review these bills after they have been decided.

Several sticking points remain. As final budget agreements are announced, watch for these provisions:

• After months of refusal, Democrats agreed to our demand to eliminate free healthcare for illegal immigrant adults, and the governor agreed to sign it. This provision is traveling as its own bill. Watch carefully when special session happens to make sure they do not break their word.
• Democrats and Gov. Walz have suggested shifting huge costs on to counties to fix the $6 billion deficit they created, which would cause local property taxes to increase
• Democrats likewise demanded to end education aid for nonpublic schools, create a European-style socialist housing program, and more.
• Democrats have refused to provide any mandate relief for schools who saw their budgets driven into the red by a tidal wave of expensive unfunded mandates in 2023.

Democrats have continued to push for tax increases and changes to aids and credits, like local government aid and county program aid – that will drive up property taxes

Next steps: A special session is expected soon to complete the work on a new state budget as required by the Constitution. At the same time, with less than a month to go, layoff notices to state employees have been sent out as a precaution.

Isn’t forcing girls to share locker rooms with boys, forceful attacks on police, forcing businesses to close their doors and go out to business, forcing vaccinations, and forcing citizens to pay the skyrocketing cost of healthcare of illegal immigrants not already mean enough for Tim Walz? Yikes that Gov. Walz is urging Democrats to get even meaner.

Background: The Minnesota Legislature recently passed the 2025 Omnibus Pension and Retirement Bill (SF 2884 / HF 1889), aiming to enhance retirement benefits for public employees, including teachers and first responders. While the bill introduces several improvements, it also includes provisions that raise concerns about long-term sustainability and equity. 

Why it Matters: I have been strongly outspoken in my efforts to correct the broken Teachers Retirement Association (TRA) to help teachers and I was excited when I learned a TRA bill was coming to the Senate Floor. However, upon reading the details of the bill, I became concerned regarding the continued underfunding of the TRA. The legislation allocated only $20 million annually to the TRA, falling short of the $37 million required to meet the TRA’s obligations. The $17 million annual deficit threatens the financial stability of the TRA and could lead to reduced benefits for future retirees or increased contributions from current teachers.

During the Senate proceedings, Sen. Jordan Rasmusson proposed an amendment to fully fund the TRA at the necessary $37 million per year. I supported this amendment, advocating for a solution that truly honors our commitment to educators. Unfortunately, the amendment was defeated along party lines, leaving the underfunding issue unresolved.

Additionally, the same pension bill introduced changes to duty disability benefits for first responders that raise serious concerns. Specifically, the bill requires first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to undergo up to 32 weeks of treatment before applying for disability benefits. While the intention is to encourage recovery and return to work, this provision may inadvertently delay access to necessary support for those suffering from severe psychological trauma.

Furthermore, the legislation imposes a cap on health insurance coverage for duty-disabled first responders, limiting it to 60 months. This change could leave our public safety personnel vulnerable, especially those with long-term disabilities resulting from their service. The bill also mandates periodic reapplication for disability benefits, adding bureaucratic hurdles for individuals already coping with significant health challenges.

Next Steps: Moving forward, I remain committed to advocating for policies that fully fund our retirement systems and provide comprehensive support for our educators and first responders. I will continue to work with my colleagues to develop solutions that address these critical issues and uphold our obligations to those who serve our communities. 

The average age of first-time home buyers is now 38 years old. The dream of home ownership continues to grow more distant for many.

Young people must choose wisely to avoid wasting tens-of-thousands in student loan debt on degrees with little-to-zero value.

Capitol Address

95 University Avenue W.
Minnesota Senate Bldg. 2413
St. Paul, MN 55155

651-296-5655

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