Our Issues

We are fighting for issues Minnesotans care about. Issues Governor Tim Walz and the DFL have ignored.

During the last legislative session, Governor Walz and Democrats augmented the state budget by a staggering 38 percent compared to the previous biennium, as reported by the Pioneer Press. When was the last time your budget increased by almost 40 percent in just two years?
Regrettably, the implications of this record-breaking budget extend beyond mere monetary figures; it signifies the Democrats' choice to expand government and curtail the autonomy of your family. Democrats have taken it upon themselves to dictate what's best for you and your family, without regard for your preferences.
Despite boasting a $19 billion surplus, Minnesota could have operated without resorting to additional taxes or escalated spending measures. However, Democrats opted to push forward with proposals that hiked taxes and fees by a staggering $10 billion.
Every day, families across Minnesota convene at their kitchen tables to meticulously manage their budgets and make decisions that best suit their families' needs. Why couldn't lawmakers in St. Paul do the same?

Budgets for Thee, But not for me:

Despite claims from Governor Tim Walz and the Minnesota DFL, they definitely did not pass the “largest tax cut in state history.” In fact, through new taxes and fees, Democrats passed legislation that increased taxes and fees to the tune of $10 billion. That was on top of a $19 billion surplus.
Thanks to a one percent increase in the seven-county Metro Area Sales Tax, Minnesotans were paying more for that Target run and cold brew at the Starbucks inside.
Did you think the government took too much out of your paycheck already? Well, you had to buckle up, because you were about to lose even more with a new payroll tax.
Want to buy a new car? You were paying an additional 60% for your vehicle tab fee a year thanks to Tim Walz.
Going fishing? Taking the boat out on the lake? What about a hike in your favorite state park? It just got more expensive thanks to an increase in DNR fees.
Minnesotans buying recreational marijuana were paying an extra 10% in taxes.
Love your Amazon packages? Well, you could tack on an extra $0.50 per delivery thanks to the new delivery tax.
Pumping gas already costs you… we mean in addition to Biden’s Gas Hike. We were talking about the extra $0.05 per gallon you were paying thanks to the gas tax increase.
Remember the promises of a $2,000 rebate check per married couple? Well… it turned into $520 per married couple.

Democrats campaigned on eliminating taxes on Social Security benefits. However, after solidifying their trifecta majority in the new legislative session, they broke their campaign promise and refused to collaborate with Republicans to end the double tax on Minnesota seniors.
Minnesotans aged 65 and older, living on fixed incomes and vulnerable to rising costs, were denied over $500 million annually – equating to approximately $1,253 per year for each individual. This substantial amount of money could have covered essential expenses such as prescription drugs, groceries, snow removal, lawn maintenance, and other necessities.
As one of only 11 states taxing Social Security benefits for seniors, Minnesota stands among the states leading in this undesirable category.

Democrats used Paid Family Leave as a cornerstone for their plans to grow the Government. While Paid Family Leave was an important issue welcomed by a majority of Minnesotans, there was a stark difference between encouraging industry-led programs and introducing a government-controlled bureaucracy that created a new 300-person state department and killed small businesses.
The DFL plan reduced your take-home pay with a $1 billion payroll tax and put employers in a bind, potentially losing employees for six months out of the year with a one-size-fits-all program.
One unintended consequence was forcing family-owned businesses to consider if they could continue to operate with added strains, including the loss of employees for up to 24 weeks in a tight labor market.
The best-paid family leave program left the government at the door and encouraged and incentivized job creators to lead on this issue for their companies and their employees. Instead, the DFL formed a new government bureaucracy that filled their coffers and further inserted the government into Minnesotans' everyday lives.

During the recent legislative session, Minnesota Democrats pursued an ambitious environmental agenda that left many questioning the feasibility and consequences of their proposals. Despite shared desires to preserve the Great Lakes and maintain pristine farmland, Democrats framed environmental protection as an all-or-nothing endeavor.
Their vision of a world without cars or cow emissions led to controversial measures, such as mandating the elimination of carbon-based electricity by 2040, disregarding input from industry leaders in favor of government intervention. Additionally, Democrats proposed bans on gas-powered lawnmowers and stoves, reminiscent of failed policies in California.
In California, similar initiatives resulted in summer blackouts and energy conservation pleas. Minnesota Democrats neglected to address concerns about the grid's ability to handle extreme weather conditions, such as sub-zero temperatures in January or sweltering heatwaves in July, when energy demand peaks.
In stark contrast, neighboring Iowa, led by a Republican governor, has successfully embraced both renewable energy and fossil fuels. With investments in solar, wind, and biofuels, Iowa stands as a national leader in renewable energy while maintaining a balanced energy portfolio.
Minnesota lawmakers would benefit from studying Iowa's approach to ensure that Minnesota's energy future remains reliable and sustainable.