Dear Neighbor, Greetings from the House, where later today we will receive a highly anticipated economic forecast for Minnesota that will paint an updated picture of our state’s bottom line. More on that in a bit. First, some other notes: Celebrating agriculture With tens of thousands of farms and millions of acres of productive farmland in our state, the ag industry generates tens of billions of dollars annually and supports countless jobs in processing, transportation, equipment, and retail. Minnesota consistently ranks among the top states in production of corn, soybeans, sugar beets, dairy, and livestock. Ag is not only a major driver of our state’s economy, it’s a way of life for so many Minnesota families.  With that in mind, a number of ag-related events took place this week, including National Future Farmers of America Week, and annual days on the hill for Minnesota’s dairy and turkey producers. FFA plays a crucial role in keeping ag going strong in Minnesota by teaching students valuable skills in farming, leadership, and business, preparing them for careers in agriculture. I was pleased to meet with a turkey farmer from Richmond during Turkey Day on the Hill and also enjoyed the opportunity to get together with dairy farmers from our state during Dairy Day on the Hill. It was good to hear their perspectives. Beyond the numbers, agriculture sustains rural communities, preserves open space, and feeds families across the country and around the world. Strong farms mean strong local economies, making agriculture essential to the state’s long-term prosperity and stability. The average age of farmers is now in the upper 50s, and that number will likely keep rising unless more young people get started in this industry. Minnesota offers Beginning Farmer Equipment and Infrastructure Grants as one way to help new farmers access the equipment and build the infrastructure they need to succeed. These tools are critical to launching and sustaining a farm. I hope to see strong interest in this program to help retain young farmers, encourage more young people to pursue agriculture, and keep our farmland productive for generations to come. Click here for more information on these grants. Applications for this round of funding are due on March 26. Visitors It has been a busy time for meetings at the Capitol covering a wide range, including:  Dental Day on the Hill  Week 2 High School Page participants Fraud House Republicans continue working to address our state’s massive fraud problem. The best place to start is by passing legislation to create a legitimate Office of the Inspector General to strengthen oversight in state programs. A bill to establish a new OIG and provide it with necessary independence and law enforcement authority received near-unanimous approval in the Senate less than a year ago. It was blocked on a party-line vote in the House last session, and the former majority has thrown up road blocks four more times already this session, twice on the floor and twice in committee meetings. I look forward to passing a "real" OIG bill this session, one that keeps this office truly independent as opposed to creating just another OIG in the governor’s office that acts as a fox guarding the hen house. Economic forecast An updated state economic forecast is scheduled to be released later today. You may recall Management and Budget revealed a significant structural imbalance in its last full forecast, issued in December, including a $3 billion shortfall in 2028-29 that comes with one very important caveat: The future deficit balloons to $5.4 billion if the current $2.5 billion surplus is spent. As I said in December, we’re still seeing the negative effects of one-party control in the last biennium that spent the $18 billion surplus, raised taxes by $10 billion and increased state spending by 40 percent. Without House Republicans fighting for spending cuts last session, the deficit would have been much worse. We may take a closer look at this subject once the new details are released. Stay tuned for more as these and other issues play out in St. Paul. As always, your input is welcome. Sincerely, Lisa |