Friends and neighbors –
This week, we learned the state has a $19 billion surplus, or $17.5 billion after the Democrats’ added a new inflation calculation to the forecast. No matter what figure you prefer, the fact is the surplus is mind-blowingly large. Minnesota is taking far too much from taxpayers.
As you know, I believe the surplus should go back to the taxpayers who built it.
On the campaign trail, Gov. Walz claimed to agree. He said he supported using half the surplus on relief. In my view, that isn’t enough but at least it is a start. Some Democrats endorsed his idea.
This week, I asked them to honor their word. I attempted to bring up a bill of mine, Senate File 1499, for a vote. That bill would provide half the surplus to taxpayers in the form of rebate checks. It’s even named after Gov. Walz, in case he wants the credit.
The bill provides joint filers with $4,400 check and single filers with a $2,200 check. The rebates would be one-time, and not subject to state income taxes. It reads, in part:
The legislature finds the following: Given the size of the state budget surplus after the November 2022 forecast, the people of Minnesota have been significantly overtaxed. The people of Minnesota deserve their money back. The purpose of this act is to return money to the hardworking taxpayers of Minnesota. This action would be especially welcome as Minnesotans face the highest rates of inflation in decades. In June 2022, Governor Tim Walz proposed giving half of the projected surplus back to Minnesotans in the form of checks for each tax filer. This legislation would return half of the state’s budget surplus to the people of Minnesota.
Everywhere I go I hear the same thing: give back the surplus. A $17.5 billion surplus calls for significant relief for working Minnesotans, especially as prices for essentials such as gasoline, groceries, and energy continue to rise. People are still feeling squeezed. Government never should have taken this much from taxpayers; now we have a duty to give it back.
Teaching students the basics of personal finance
Personal finance is a critical skill for students to learn if they want to succeed in the future. Unfortunately, too many students graduate high school without knowing the basics.
This week, the Education Policy Committee heard a bill from my Republican colleague, Senator Rich Draheim, requiring Minnesota high school students to complete an online personal finance course before they graduate. This course would teach them important skills like budgeting, debt management, taxes, and understanding paychecks. We need to make sure our students are prepared to make smart financial decisions, which will benefit both them and our communities.
It’s important for students to learn about personal finance so they can be successful in the future. This bill will help give students the tools they need to make smart decisions about their money. This isn’t just good for students – it’s good for our communities and our state as a whole.
Contact me
Your feedback, ideas, and concerns are what allow me to serve you to the best of my ability. Please share your thoughts with me any time at sen.bill.lieske@senate.mn or 651-296-5101.
I would also love it if you follow my new, official Facebook page here: https://www.fb.com/SenatorLieske.
It is a privilege to serve you!