Dear Neighbors,
The legislature has returned from its Easter/Passover break as we prepare for what’s sure to be a busy final month of the 2022 legislative session. I hope you had a blessed holiday spent with family, friends, and loved ones.
This week, the House Ways and Means Committee has been holding hearings on the House Democrat majority’s supplemental budget bills. In all, House Democrats are proposing to raise government spending by more than $7 billion this year—even though state government was fully funded last year.
In fact, House Democrats are proposing $21 in new government spending for every $1 in tax cuts.
This is unacceptable and emblematic of Democrats out of touch priorities.
Minnesota has a $9.3 billion surplus — the largest surplus in state history. It's a no-brainer that Minnesotans are being overtaxed and that's why I am pushing for permanent and meaningful tax relief so that you and your family keep more of your hard-earned money.
Additionally, the House Democrat budget proposal does not include any fixes to the state’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust fund issue. Because of this, employers across Minnesota are paying higher taxes at a time when the state has more than $9 billion in budget surplus.
All of us are feeling the impacts of inflation on our budgets. Everywhere you go, you're seeing it with higher grocery prices, gas prices, home heating/energy bills, and more. Nevertheless, Democrats are still pushing policies that would make people's lives more expensive including tax hikes that hit every employer in Minnesota, a new payroll tax that takes money out of your paycheck, energy regulations that drive up gas and home heating prices, and more.
Public Safety Update
Before the start of session, House Democrats highlighted proposals including stronger penalties for carjacking, house arrest for youth auto theft offenders, and grant programs aimed at recruiting police officers. While those proposals received significant media coverage Democrats have refused to include any of these proposals in their public safety omnibus bill and have not allowed the bills to move on their own either.
Safety and security are top of mind for Minnesotans. It is unconscionable that House Democrats refuse to move any of these bills through the legislative process.
Instead, their solution is to give money to violence-interrupters to replace law enforcement officers and grow state government bureaucracy by tens of millions of dollars and dozens of new staffers in an office building in St. Paul.
Staying in Touch
I encourage you to reach out to me with any thoughts, questions, or concerns you may have on issues related to state government. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-6746 or via email at rep.sondra.erickson@house.mn.
Have a good day,
Sondra