News – Page 335 – Minnesota Senate Republicans

May 12, 2015

Senator Matt Schmit’s Support for Gas Tax Increase Holding Up Budget Deal

Senate Republican Leader David Hann called on Senator Matt Schmit (DFL – Red Wing) to end his support for a 56% increase in the gas tax in order to break the deadlocked budget negotiations at…

May 5, 2015

VIDEO: Democrat tax bill doesn’t deliver

Despite having a $2 billion surplus in the state budget, the Democrat-led Senate failed to deliver any substantial tax relief this week in their tax bill. The bill contains minimal cuts for a select few,…

April 28, 2015

Democrats increase transportation taxes on drivers and consumers

Senate Democrats just don’t listen. Recent polls show the majority of Minnesotans oppose a new gas tax, and 75% of Minnesotans approve of the Republican plan to put more money toward roads and bridges without raising…

April 24, 2015

Senate Democrats threaten to hold transportation funding hostage

In a stunning reversal, Democrat Majority Leader Tom Bakk told the Pioneer Press that Senate Democrats may not be willing to pass transportation funding and tax cuts this year. Bakk’s comments could be taken as a threat to hold popular…

April 20, 2015

VIDEO: Senate Democrats Double-Down on Funding for Controversial $90 Million Senate Office Building

Initial payments were approved today to fund the controversial $90 million Senate office building after a heated debate in which every Democrat doubled down to fund the building and not a single Republican voted for…

April 10, 2015

Senator Jeff Hayden Faces New Ethics Complaint

Senate leaders filed additional ethics charges against embattled Senator Jeff Hayden today including a charge he lied to the Subcommittee on Ethics. The new charges allege Hayden lied to the Subcommittee about his knowledge of…

April 9, 2015

Republicans introduce income tax cut: “It’s time for family surpluses.”

Republicans today proposed cutting income tax rates by half a percentage point for all Minnesota taxpayers. The across-the-board rate reduction joins other Republican tax initiatives including exempting Social Security and veteran’s pensions from state income…

April 8, 2015

Senate Republicans put Rothman on notice regarding his upcoming confirmation

Senate Republican members of the Senate Commerce committee sent a letter to Commissioner of Commerce Mike Rothman outlining the questions he will be asked at his upcoming confirmation hearing. Topics range from inaccurate claims regarding MNsure premium increases…

March 24, 2015

House Republican budget targets reflect Minnesotans’ priorities

In support of the the recently announced House Republican budget targets, Senate Republican Leader David Hann released this statement: “The budget targets released by House Republicans today respect and honor the hard work of Minnesota…

March 23, 2015

Republicans unveil $7 billion transportation plan for roads & bridges without raising gas tax

Will repair or replace 15,500 lane miles and 330 bridges without a tax increase On Monday, House Speaker Kurt Daudt (R-Crown), Senate Republican Leader David Hann (R-Eden Prairie), House Majority Leader Joyce Peppin (R-Rogers), House…

March 17, 2015

After three years, $200 million, and thousands of lives disrupted, Governor Dayton finally admits MNsure is a bust

Republicans reject governor’s plan to ignore MNsure problems for another year. (St. Paul, MN…) Republican leader David Hann (Eden Prairie) released the following statement in response to Governor Dayton’s letter proposing the creation of a…

March 13, 2015

FAQ: Everything you need to know about the Minneapolis school district proposal

Senate Republican Leader David Hann (R-Eden Prairie) recently introduced a bill to split the Minneapolis School District into six smaller districts. The new districts would be free from many of the state educational mandates that sometimes…

March 12, 2015

Analysis: 100% of teacher layoff policies favor seniority over teaching ability

An analysis by Senate Republicans found that 100% of Minnesota teacher contracts examined use seniority as the primary factor in teacher layoff decisions. These findings debunk recent claims by Governor Dayton, the Department of Education,…

March 5, 2015

Senate Republicans announce K-12 reform: “Your School, Your Needs” Part II

Focus is on closing achievement gap, strengthening teachers, empowering parents Minnesota Senate Republicans announced the second part of their “Your School, Your Needs” K-12 reform plan today focusing on policy changes that will close the achievement…

March 2, 2015

“Fireworks Freedom” bill repeals fireworks ban

By: Senator Torrey Westrom Perhaps the most widely known fact about me is that I am blind. It happened because of a farm accident when I was a young boy. At first losing my sight…

February 25, 2015

VIDEO: “Toddler Tax Credit” is a tax cut for families

Senate Republicans unveiled yet another tax cut plan to help return the state surplus to hardworking taxpayers. Minnesota families endure one of the highest costs of childcare in the nation, and even those parents fortunate enough…

February 24, 2015

Senate Republican education proposal focuses on “Your School, Your Needs”

An innovative Senate Republican education proposal would provide a burst of funding directly to Minnesota classrooms while relieving districts of costly, burdensome state mandates that have long tied the hands of school boards, principals, and teachers:…

February 19, 2015

Statement of Senate Republican Leader David Hann on Commissioner Salaries and the Deficiency Bill

Senator David Hann reacted to reported changes in the deficiency bill that will temporarily roll back salaries for Gov. Dayton’s commissioners until July 1, 2015, and return oversight of commissioner salaries to the legislature in the…

February 18, 2015

VIDEO: Senator Michelle Benson takes MNsure executives to task over MNsure audit

The Office of the Legislative Auditor released their findings on MNsure with this introductory paragraph: We concluded that MNsure’s failures outweighed its achievements in its first year of operations. There were widespread problems with MNsure’s online enrollment…

February 17, 2015

Legislative Auditor releases scathing MNsure audit

In a scathing MNsure audit summarized below, the Office of the Legislative Auditor blasted the health exchange for its failures: We concluded that MNsure’s failures outweighed its achievements in its first year of operations. There were widespread problems…