Hello Friends,
First off, I want to wish all our Shakopee families a happy spring break! I hope you have time to recharge and to get outside and enjoy the wonderful parks and trails our city and region has to offer.
This session, my colleagues and I are bringing forward legislation to address one of the most basic concerns I hear from our neighbors in Shakopee: affordability.
Far too many Minnesotans feel the American Dream is slipping away and struggle every day to get by. Meanwhile, the wealthy are doing better than ever, thanks to a federal government that cares more about rich donors than the average person.
The status quo is broken, and we are paying the price. That’s why I’m supporting proposals this year that put people over profits, and power back in the hands of Minnesotans.
Lowering Grocery Costs
Shakopee residents are paying more than ever at the grocery store, and while federal policies like tariffs play a role, there are steps we can take in Minnesota to lower costs.
We’re introducing bills to ban surveillance pricing, stopping companies from using your data and AI to set personal prices based on what they know you’re willing to pay. That means you could be paying more for ordering the same items, at the same time, than your neighbor. It’s wrong, and DFLers are working to end it.
Another bill I co-authored would tackle consolidation and monopolization in our meat industry. Big corporations like Walmart and Costco are trying to squeeze out competition so they can set the prices they want.
In committee, the bill was supported by local small grocers, meatpacking workers, and family farmers, because they know that consolidation hurts small businesses, it hurts workers, and it hurts consumers. We’re working to level the playing field, and I’ll continue advocating for the bill to pass this year.
Housing Affordability
On housing, we’re working to ban private equity firms from buying up housing stock as part of their billion-dollar investment portfolios. Another bill I’m supporting would create a Manufactured Housing Bill of Rights, which would help ease the strain of high housing costs for many residents right here in Shakopee.
Our manufactured housing communities are some of the last truly affordable housing in the state. It’s critical that we stand up for these communities and residents.
This bill does a few important things; it limits unreasonable lot rent increases by capping them at three percent, it creates a true opportunity for residents to purchase their park, and it strengthens enforcement of laws already in place. You can read more about the need for this bill in this commentary.
Those are just a few examples of bills we’re putting forward this year to level the playing field and build a Shakopee and a Minnesota where everyone can get ahead. We’re also authoring bills to reform our health care system, address rising child care costs, and lower the cost of energy. You can find our full agenda here.
Reply to this email or call me at 651-297-5003 with any questions, comments, or ideas you have for Shakopee and Minnesota.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Brad Tabke, State Representative | Rep.Brad.Tabke@house.mn.gov
Tenzin Tsangyang, Legislative Assistant | Tenzin.Tsangyang@house.mn.gov