Dear [email protected],

With summer in full swing, I wanted to take a moment to update you on the latest from the Capitol. Minnesota currently has the most politically divided legislature in the nation — with 100 Republicans and 101 Democrats. Despite our differences, we came together to balance the state budget and focus on delivering results for Minnesotans.

During the one-day special session on Monday, June 9, the legislature passed several bills to fund the Minnesota government. One of the bills that passed with bipartisan support removed all illegal alien adults from being able to enroll in MNsure, Minnesota’s public health insurance marketplace. When this policy was first passed in 2023, the state estimated that 5,000 families of illegal aliens would enroll in MNsure. From January 1 to April 20, approximately 20,000 families were enrolled. This was fiscally unsustainable for budgetary reasons as well as burdensome on an already overtaxed populous. The repeal of adult enrollees was necessary to right our state’s budget as well as discourage illegal immigration into our state.

Another highlight from the recent session are the increases in fees in nearly every area of our state budget. A new “granny tax” will increase fees on nursing homes by another $137 million over the next four years. Fees on operating grain bins will affect our farmers; Department of Natural Resource fees will affect hunters, fishers, and families trying to visit state parks; business filing fees with the Secretary of State’s office will make growing new businesses more difficult; court filing fees make justice more expensive. As Minnesota boasts the title of being the 7th-highest tax burdened state in the nation, these fees are another hardship on our state’s prosperity.

In 2023 the Legislature increased the sales tax in the seven Metropolitan counties. This tax was supposed to be dedicated to transportation, with a 50/50 split between the Met Council and the Counties. In the closed-door meetings between regular session and special session, there was an attempt to change the split to a 75/25, heavy to the Met Council. Luckily for Anoka County, this proposal ended up in the trash bin. What did not make it to the trash bin is an earmark for a specific project — a walking bridge over the Rum River. After this is paid, there is almost nothing left of the counties’ share of the 1% dedicated tax.

Following this special session, on June 14, a deranged man shot my colleague Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, and tragically murdered my former colleague, Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. I am grateful that the Hoffmans are recovering, and I extend my gratitude to all of Minnesota’s law enforcement officers who aided in the largest manhunt in our state’s history. While the capture of the assassin cannot bring back the Hortmans or undo the immeasurable pain he caused so many, my wife and I continue to pray for all those affected.

As we prepare to celebrate the 249th anniversary of declaring our independence from the British Empire, let us reflect on the tremendous blessings we share. For nearly a quarter of a millennium, people from across the world have fled tyranny in hopes that they might share in America’s bounty of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. On this Independence Day, I invite you to spend a moment rereading the Declaration of Independence including the list of Grievances against his Majesty.

Despite the divisions of our government, Minnesota continues to be a great place to live. This is only possible thanks to generations of patriots who have struggled against tyranny and oppression. A special thank you to those defending our great state and our wonderful republic.

Choose Freedom,

Calvin Bahr

Minnesota Senate, District 31

Capitol Address

95 University Avenue W.
Minnesota Senate Bldg. 2415
St. Paul, MN 55155

651-296-3219

Unsubscribe from future updates