On Tuesday, Governor Walz announced his biennial budget for 2021-2022. After the year that Minnesota has had, there was optimism to work together to create a stronger, more unified state for our constituents without shifting the financial burden to them. Raising taxes is not a priority for Minnesota.

“The Governor seems to have lost touch with most Minnesotans,” Senator Gene Dornink (R-Hayfield) said following the Governor’s announcement. “All of us have had to live within our household budgets and make sacrifices during the tough times brought on by COVID. Republicans and Democrats need to first use this time to work together to eliminate wasteful spending and unproductive programs before we even think about hardworking Minnesotans to pay more in taxes.”

Minnesota is entering 2021 with a $1.8 billion budget deficit. While the Senate has been urging state agencies to tighten its belt by cutting 5% from their budgets to protect Minnesotans, Governor Walz seems to be more interested in having the taxpayer foot the bill while he increases spending by 10%.

This budget is not good for the average Minnesotan, and especially not for those who have been out of work, lost their businesses, or have struggled to pay bills. This budget is good for Minnesota bureaucrats and no one else. Minnesota’s priority should be the people over anything else.