Hello from the State Capitol,
On June 9, Governor Walz called state lawmakers into a special session in order to complete the outstanding budget work that remained after the regular legislative session concluded in mid-May.
During the day, we approved numerous finance proposals that will fund specific areas within state government over the next two years, including K-12 Education, health, and transportation.
We also approved language that addresses a significant taxpayer-funded giveaway: free health insurance for illegal immigrants.
In 2023, an all-Democrat led legislature and Governor Walz approved a law allowing illegal immigrants to receive free MinnesotaCare coverage. MinnesotaCare is a health coverage program for low-income individuals and families who do not have access to employee-sponsored health insurance and do not qualify for Medical Assistance (MA).
Their estimates projected 7,700 applicants to apply for the program over four years at a cost of $196 million. Less than two years in, the Minnesota Department of Health found more than 17,000 have already signed up. This means Minnesota’s taxpayers are spending more than $550 million to provide free health insurance to people who shouldn’t be here in the first place, as the federal government is not providing any matching funds for this program.
A negotiated agreement between House and Senate leadership and the Governor’s Office will eliminate free health insurance for adult illegal immigrants, while continuing it for their children.
It was interesting to listen to the House Democrat outrage over this agreement, as it is clear they would rather cater to people who have illegally entered this country rather than those who are legitimate citizens of the United States. Then again, these are the same Democrats who continue to block Republican efforts to prevent biological boys from competing in girls’ athletic events, so maybe we shouldn’t be surprised by their head-scratching anger.
At the end of the day, the House approved 14 separate proposals, including a capital investment plan that includes $206 million that is dedicated for clean water projects. This session I authored 4 different bills to help our cities pay for clean water – in hopes of preventing residents from directly shouldering the bill - so I was pleased to see this inclusion.
Under this legislation, the City of Hastings will get two rounds of funding of $3 million from the Emerging Contaminants Fund and will likely get similar grant funding from the Clean Water Fund. And if the City doesn't secure enough funding through the grant programs, it would be eligible to secure a low-interest loan to pay for the remainder of the project. Residents should view this as good news that will limit further water bill increases.
With Republicans holding a co-majority in the Minnesota House, some balance was finally restored at the State Capitol. Two years ago an all Democrat-led legislature and Governor Walz wasted an $18 billion state budget surplus, raised taxes by more than $10 billion, and grew government by nearly 40%. These irresponsible decisions led to a multi-billion dollar future budget deficit projection.
Democrats proposed more than $8 billion in tax increases this session. Thanks to Republican leadership, we were able to stop all of them from harming Minnesota’s families while enacting the largest spending cut in our state’s history.