Friend,
I’ve been thinking a lot about something Ronald Reagan asked in 1980: “Are you better off than you were four years ago?” Americans answered “no” then, and Reagan was swept into the presidency and Jimmy Carter ushered out.
It’s a simple question—but a powerful one. And it’s one every Minnesotan should be asking today, as I write in my column for the Duluth News Tribune.
After seven years of Tim Walz as governor, I think most people—across party lines—would quietly admit the same thing: no, we’re not better off.
The Economy
Minnesota used to be one of the strongest and most stable economies in America. Now we’ve fallen behind.
For the first time, our GDP per person has dropped below the national average. And job growth here has been less than half the national rate.
And after a record $19 billion surplus—the largest in state history—our government managed to drive the state into a $6 billion deficit.
That doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a reflection of poor priorities and even poorer management.
Education, Safety, Fraud
Education tells a similar story.
Less than half of Minnesota students are proficient in math or reading—roughly ten points lower than when Governor Walz took office. Despite billions more in spending, our kids are learning less.
These aren’t just numbers; they represent real children falling behind, and a future workforce that won’t have the skills to compete.
Public safety isn’t doing better either. Violent crime remains far above 2018 levels.
And of course there is massive fraud in our state. The Feeding Our Future scandal—one of the largest cases of government fraud in the nation—illustrates what happens when a single-party operates without accountability or common sense.
When you spend more, you owe people more accountability. That hasn’t happened here.
I wrote about this in more detail in my column for the Duluth News Tribune.
Read the column here
The Wrong Priorities
What’s most frustrating is where the governor’s focus has been.
Free college and health care for illegal immigrants. Driver’s licenses without verification. Radical social priorities like boys in girls' sports that divide instead of unite.
Meanwhile, families are struggling to pay for groceries, feel safe in their neighborhoods, and make sure their kids are learning the basics.
We need to get back to the fundamentals: work, accountability, safe streets, good schools, and a healthy economy. These aren’t partisan goals—they’re the foundation of a strong and hopeful state.
A Path Forward
Minnesota has every reason to be great again. We have the people, the resources, and the values to lead. What we need now is focus—and leadership that measures success by outcomes, not press releases.
That’s the case I make in my new column, “Is Minnesota Better Off Than It Was Seven Years Ago?”
I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read it and share it with friends who care about where our state is headed.
Read the column here
Working with you,
Jim Schultz
President
Minnesota Private Business Council
P.S. Become a Main Street Member of the Minnesota Private Business Council today to join the growing movement to restore prosperity, safety, and common sense to our state.
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