Dear Neighbors, We received word last week that Minnesota’s already historic budget surplus, has grown to nearly $9.3 billion—up from the $7.75 billion surplus projected in December. This is the largest budget surplus on record and proves conclusively that Minnesota government is overtaxing the hardworking people of our state. Many Minnesotans are struggling with the impacts of the Biden/Walz economy that has resulted in massive inflation and soaring energy prices. This reality makes it even more unacceptable that state government is sitting on more than $9 billion of taxpayers’ dollars. Moving forward, I am committed to providing meaningful, permeant tax relief for Minnesotans. There are a lot of ways we could do this. One approach would be eliminating state taxes on Social Security. Eliminating state taxes from social security would help our seniors, especially those on fixed incomes. Others have suggested cutting income taxes across the board. No matter the approach, it’s clear that Minnesotans are overtaxed, and you deserve your money back. Additionally, the budget surplus means that we should not delay repaying the state’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) trust fund. Legislation to refill the depleted UI account needs to be on the Governor’s desk by March 14th, otherwise, businesses across Minnesota will be facing significant tax increases. After being forced to close their doors because of Governor Walz’s heavy-handed pandemic restrictions, businesses cannot afford to be strapped with a massive, new tax. We have the resources to do the right thing, refill this account, and stop businesses from being punished. I will do everything I can to get it done. Anyone paying attention to the news knows that there’s been an explosion of violent crime in the Twin Cities as crime rates have surged astronomically over the past 24 months. To stem the growing tide of crime, House Republicans unveiled a package of proposals to make sure that Minnesotans are safe and secure in their homes and neighborhoods. Our proposal focuses on three key areas; crime prevention and accountability for criminals; police recruitment and retention and holding the criminal justice system accountable. Some key components of the package include stronger sentences for repeat offenders, requiring prosecutors to file charges for felonies when probable cause is present, electronic home monitoring when no bail is set for defendants accused of violent crimes, and establishing carjacking as a criminal offense. There are many more policies included in our proposal, and I look forward to advocating for this package as it continues to move through the legislature. While some of my colleagues in the DFL push defund the police and minimize the work of our brave men and women in law enforcement, I will always stand with them and remain steadfast in my support. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. It would be great to chat with you. I can be reached at 651-296-4333 or via email at rep.josh.heintzeman@house.mn. Have a great day, Josh |