|
Dear Friends,
This week the House approved $6.1 million for the Red Oaks neighborhood water project. This relief has long been needed for that community as they have been forced to depend on bottled water for cooking and drinking. I am pleased to deliver this critical support to ensure everyone in Andover has access to clean water.
Despite our state’s $17.5 billion surplus, Democrats ended session on Monday by raising taxes by nearly $10 billion. Our new state budget will be $72 billion – a 40% increase since the last biennium. Our family budgets have not increased by 40% in the last two years, so why should government?
I am very disappointed that this session failed to provide all Minnesotans with permanent, meaningful tax relief. Democrats and Republicans both campaigned on fully eliminating the tax on social security. The final Tax bill only included a partial elimination. Governor Walz advocated for $2,000 rebate checks last fall. Only individuals making less than $75,000 will now receive a $260 rebate.
Instead, the majority pushed a host of new taxes and fees that will impact every family budget in our state. They raised the state’s gas tax by 3.5 cents (and tied it to inflation), increased license tab fees, added a 50-cent delivery fee, and added a new payroll tax that will hit job creators and workers.
Democrats also devastated our local charities, and the local bars and restaurants they partner with, by changing e-pull tabs. Our veterans organizations, youth sports, and other community groups depend on revenue from charitable gambling. The majority of Minnesotans supported maintaining e-pull tabs as-is. It is disappointing that they won’t be able to continue playing these games at their favorite bars and restaurants to support their local charities who do so much for our communities.
There is, however, some really good news to deliver. In the final hours of session, Republicans secured $300 million in critical funding to support our nursing homes. Our state is in the midst of a nursing home crisis. Fifteen nursing homes have closed since 2021. Families are waiting months and looking up to 4 hours away to find a safe place for their loved one. Ten percent of facilities have exhausted their reserves in the past six months. Another 40 percent are burning through them now. Nursing homes can’t find enough workers.
This funding will support our nursing homes and ensure they are able to keep their doors open. No senior should be forced to leave their community to receive the care they need. I am proud that our Republican team was able to deliver this funding to save our nursing homes at the end of session.
|
