Friends and neighbors, 

The 2023 Minnesota legislative session was in many ways the toughest session out of eleven that I have experienced.  Whether the legalization of late-term abortions or loss of parental rights.  Whether a historic defunding of our E-12 education system or loss of managerial control of our schools.  Whether the legalization of marijuana or the release from jail of thousands of criminals who have not done their time.  Whether it is a 40% increase in the state budget or an imposition of over $9 billion of new taxes and fees after spending a $19 billion surplus – $17.5 billion after accounting changes. Whether the granting of millions of dollars to the supporters of the governor and his party or taking away millions of dollars from our charities due to the changes in charitable gambling rules.  Overall, it was a tough session.  

Some will talk about the historic funding given to our schools. They will not talk about the mandates that will eat up that money plus more.  Our superintendents have done the math – something which education people at the state level seem incapable of doing – and the results are not good.  The inclusion of part-time workers under unemployment insurance will cost the districts half of the first-year increase of 4% on the formula alone and the paid worker leave and other mandates will eventually eat up the rest.  What choices will our schools have?  The choices will be between raising taxes or cutting programs or probably both.

Additional money going to counties and cities will be spent by the many new mandates passed by the state.  The state proved adept at taking money out of one pocket while putting it in another.  More of the spending should have gone to returning surplus monies to the taxpayers who created the surplus and more should have been spent on fixing our roads rather than building new train tracks.

Are there any good things?  Yes.  With cooperation and assistance from Senate Tax Chair, Ann Rest, I was able to get a $14 million dollar assistance package for the City of Windom due to the closing of the HyLife plant and the loss of 1000 employees.    

The Republicans held out on a bonding bill until the other side went along with providing $300 million for our nursing homes.  All they wanted to do was provide loans for distressed homes which is like throwing an anchor to a drowning swimmer.  We insisted money be included for all homes as well as $200 million for additional bonding projects in Republican districts and we were successful.  In Senate District 21, bonding money was achieved for the City of Tyler’s sanitary sewer; the Lewis and Clark Rural Water system; Red Rock Rural Water System; Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water System; the Casey Jones Trail and Murray Co. CSAH 13.

There are needs which yet remain unmet not only in our communities but in the state.  Whether there will be a bonding bill next year remains to be seen.  With the level of spending this year, a deficit potential is likely.  I encourage the schools, counties, cities and citizens of SD 21 to remain in communication with my office and we will prepare for next year to fight once more for Southwestern Minnesota!

I want to hear from you, my constituents, on issues that are important to you. Please feel free to reach out to my office with any concerns or ideas you may have. You can contact my office at sen.bill.weber@senate.mn or 651-296-5650.

Sincerely,

Bill Weber