Dear John,

I hope you are having an enjoyable July 4th with your family and friends. I’m proud to be an American – even when we have so much work to do to improve our nation – and to represent the Second District of our incredible state in the House of Representatives. It’s my love for the people of Minnesota that motivates me to do this work every day. 
  
This week, I had planned to be home in Minnesota meeting with constituents and touring small businesses. And most probably sipping beer on the deck, to be honest. However, House Republicans called us back to DC to vote on their catastrophic budget bill. I’ll show up any and every day of the week to fight for Minnesotans.  
  
The final budget bill will kick 17 million Americans off their healthcare. It will put in jeopardy food assistance to 42 million Americans.  
  
And the nutrition assistance cost shifts in the bill made big news in Minnesota this week - for all the wrong reasons. On Tuesday, the Star Tribune broke the news that the bill could force Minnesota counties to raise property taxes because the unfunded mandate in the bill in 10 states (including ours) will force our counties to pay the cost instead. Yep, counties will have to raise your property taxes or cut county services to pick up these costs. You can read The Star Tribune’s article on how this bill will raise taxes for Minnesotans here. 
  
This bill is bad. It’s just bad. It leaves behind the most vulnerable in our nation while giving most of the benefits to billionaires. It really is objectively a terrible bill. Even some Republicans are saying so. 
  
On Tuesday, in my role as ranking member of the House Committee on Agriculture, I testified before the House Rules Committee for five hours about the ways this bill will harm the American people. It’s a betrayal. And I voted no.  
  
You can watch my testimony in front of the House Rules committee here.  
  
But to summarize - the bill takes food assistance away from seniors, veterans, children, people with disabilities and families that rely on it – and will impact over 270,000 households in my district alone. And at the same time, it will add $4 trillion – if you include interest costs - to our national debt.  
  
I know many families are already struggling with high costs. This bill gives 68 cents a day to families making $55k per year and less. That’s all. And the cost shift will raise your property taxes. So basically- it’s going to cost many of you money! 
  
There’s simply no way I can support a bill that will make life more expensive and more difficult for Minnesotans – and do nothing to help the middle class - just to line the pockets of the wealthiest few. Not now, not ever.  
  
Again, I hope you all are having a safe and enjoyable Independence Day. I’ll keep working to do right by and fight for the people of Minnesota, today and every day. 

Until next time,
 

Angie Craig

Member of Congress