Today, Senate Republicans held a press conference to announce session priorities to get Minnesota on the Right Track. This session, Republicans will focus on helping Minnesotans afford everyday life, reducing crime, and empowering parents.
“Minnesotans deserve more from their state government,” said Senator Jason Rarick (R-Pine City). “In the upcoming session, our priorities will be focusing on helping Minnesota families, not increasing the size of government. We know families are struggling to make ends meet, and we know the main culprits are record inflation and too high taxes. Our priority will be to help them make life affordable while tackling the issues they want to be addressed without reckless government growth.”
Helping people afford their lives
The state’s projected $7.7 billion surplus will be one of the most discussed items in St. Paul. Following stubborn and record inflation from runaway congressional spending, Senate Republicans are advancing a series of tax cuts targeted at working Minnesotans, families, and seniors to help them afford their everyday life.
In the last five years, Republicans have secured billions in tax cuts, including exempting most seniors from taxes on social security and the first income rate tax cuts in 20 years.
Safe communities and law enforcement support
Another priority this year will be investments in public safety and initiatives to drive down crime. Senate Republicans plan to quickly address the urgent need to increase Minnesota’s police presence while providing additional tools and resources to fight crime and recruit and retain police officers. Republicans will also continue to be tough on crime, and address failed progressive policies that reduce or eliminate bail. They will also introduce legislation increasing penalties for repeat offenders, carjackers, and crimes involving dangerous weapons.
Empowering parents as education partners
Republicans will also focus on education and getting schools back to the basics of meeting reading and math scores. The closure of schools due to COVID has been an eye-opening experience for parents across the state. These failed policies have left too many kids behind from COVID learning loss, which Republicans will rapidly address.
Additionally, parents have raised concerns about their kids’ education coming at the cost of political activism. To that end, Republicans propose increasing transparency and accountability in school, empowering parents and allowing them to be active partners in their child’s education.
Senate Republicans have had control of the Senate since 2017 and consistently stopped harmful tax increases on working and low-income Minnesotans. They stabilized the health care market in 2017 with the very successful reinsurance program, passed record funding for students in schools. Senate Republicans also continue to reduce burdensome regulations on Main Street businesses and support economic development across the state.