Legislative Update
Hello friends,
We have returned to the Capitol following the Easter break and are now fully engaged in the final stretch of the legislative session. During my time in district last week, I took the time to meet with the superintendent from every school in our district. Their message was clear: our schools need funding flexibility and can't operate under the weight of the plethora of unfunded mandates that were passed down last session. I appreciate the time that these school leaders took last week to meet with me and share valuable insight. At the Capitol, budget negotiations remain ongoing in several committees, while others have concluded their work and begun advancing their omnibus bills to the House floor for formal introduction and debate. As we approach the end of session, the pace will continue to accelerate, and our focus remains on delivering a balanced and responsible budget for Minnesotans.
Updates from the Capitol
Yesterday afternoon, we passed the agriculture omnibus bill, which I voted in favor of. The bill includes provisions to provide critical funding for the Board of Animal Health to help prevent future livestock disease outbreaks. It also eliminates unnecessary spending and avoids any fee increases. With the fiscal cliff that we are approaching due to the DFL trifecta's $18 billion spending spree, $10 billion increase in taxes, and 40% growth in government spending, we need fiscal responsibility in our bills this session.
Today, we will hear both the public safety/judiciary and legacy omnibus bills. The public safety bill takes meaningful steps to hold criminals accountable, support our law enforcement officers, and stand with crime victims. With public safety becoming an increasing concern across Minnesota, this bill addresses some of the most urgent needs to help restore peace of mind in communities across the state.
The legacy omnibus bill makes targeted investments in clean water, habitat protection, parks, and the arts. It also includes important transparency measures that reduce wasteful spending and limit earmarks, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used responsibly and effectively.
I look forward to supporting these bills as we work to get Minnesota on the right track forward.
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