Every year when I drive up to St. Paul for the new legislative session, I’m reminded of what a privilege it is to represent the people of Dakota, Goodhue, Rice, and Scott Counties in the Senate. Being your voice at the capitol is an honor I do not take lightly. While the work requires time away from my family – a sacrifice no one takes lightly — it’s also commitment I’m proud to make because of the trust you’ve placed in me.
Here is where things stand as session begins:
In the Senate, the tragic passing of Senator Kari Dziedzic leaves us tied at 33-33, with the felony burglary trial of Democrat Senator Nicole Mitchell still hanging over our head. As long as the Senate is tied 33-33, power will be shared equally between Republicans and Democrats. There will be co-chairs of all committees, committee membership will be even, there will be co-presiding officers, and Republican Leader Mark Johnson and Democrat Leader Erin Murphy are on equal footing.
Will Senator Mitchell continue to vote on bills while her felony trial is ongoing? She did last year, casting many deciding votes and calling into question the legitimacy and integrity of the Senate.
There is still a lot of bitterness left over from the ugly, chaotic end of the 2024 session. You will remember that in the final minutes of session, Democrats unveiled a colossal 1,400-page bill in the final hours and forced it into law without debate. Neither the public nor legislators had time to review it. It was the culmination of two years of hyper-partisan Democrat one-party rule in which the voices of half of Minnesotans were completely shut out of the process.
The House has even bigger challenges. While Republicans hold a slim 67-66 majority House Democrats have promised to skip work to block Republicans from governing. They even held a possibly illegal, possibly invalid, and definitely secret swearing-in ceremony so they can collect paychecks during their obstructionism. Political analyst Blois Olson said it perfectly: “Between the end of last Session, and the start of this one, the D in DFL could stand for ‘dysfunction’.” This is not how a functioning democracy works, and Minnesotans deserve better.
Despite these obstacles, my priority is clear: building a responsible state budget. Over the past two years, Democrats spent recklessly, increasing state spending by an unsustainable 40%, burning through a $19 billion surplus, and raising taxes by $10 billion. Minnesota now faces a looming $5 billion budget deficit. My focus this session is to craft a budget that reins in spending, avoids new taxes, and protects Minnesotans from further economic strain. It is time to put Minnesotans first.
Minnesotans have already endured enough. Families are struggling under the weight of higher taxes, schools are grappling with heavy mandates that have pushed budgets into the red, and inflation continues to erode any financial gains workers may have made. The last two years saw Democrats prioritizing political allies and special interests. This year, we need to prioritize you – the hardworking people of Minnesota.
Your feedback is critical to this. To represent you effectively, I need to hear from you. Please reach out with any questions, concerns, or ideas.
Email: sen.bill.lieske@mnsenate.gov
Phone: 651-296-5019
For updates on what’s happening at the Capitol, I encourage you to sign up for my email newsletter. You can do so by sending an email to my office. Staying informed is one of the best ways to ensure your voice is heard.
It is a privilege to serve you.