Friends and Neighbors,

With a looming $6 billion deficit, we need to get Minnesota’s finances in shape. Based on the recent budgets proposed by Governor Walz and Democrats, they believe the solution is to increase taxes and cut essential services for disabled and vulnerable Minnesotans. At the same time, they keep paying out hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to fund undocumented aliens for health care and other benefits. Yes, this is true!

Senate Republicans, however, are proposing a more common-sense solution–cut wasteful government spending and prioritize taxpayer dollars to ensure they go to “Minnesotans First” instead.

We recently announced our “Cut the Waste” proposal, which eliminates at least $600 million in fraudulent, wasteful, or unnecessary spending from our state budget. We know that there are even more areas in government where savings can be found and prioritize Minnesotans First.  Here are a few meaningful ways to start.

Cracking down on costly benefits for illegal immigrants

One of the most alarming examples of wasteful spending shoved through by the Democrats over the past two years is the hundreds of millions of dollars that Minnesota taxpayers are forced to spend on benefits for undocumented non-citizens. This comes after they drained the state’s $18 billion surplus. Democrats’ misplaced priorities strain resources meant for hardworking Minnesotans, and it diverts funding away from essential services like disability care, public safety, education, and infrastructure.

These expenses, which could cost up to $378 million, include:

• Free health care – Minnesota now provides full taxpayer-funded medical coverage to illegal immigrants, straining our state’s already overburdened health care system.
• College tuition – Taxpayer dollars are being used to subsidize higher education costs for illegal immigrants while Minnesota families struggle with tuition hikes.
• State-funded tax credits – Certain programs allow illegal immigrants to access tax credits funded by Minnesotans, despite not contributing to the system the same way legal residents do.

At a time when Minnesota families and seniors are facing rising property taxes and longer wait times for essential health services, we must consider: Why are we favoring benefits for those who are in our country illegally over the needs of law-abiding Minnesotans?

Ending wasteful spending on transportation boondoggles

One of the biggest drains on taxpayer dollars is wasteful Democrat-championed transportation projects, especially failing commuter and light rail lines. Instead of funding broken systems, Minnesota must prioritize critical infrastructure projects that truly benefit Minnesotans.

Nearly $250 million could be saved by cutting subsidies for underperforming rail projects and reassessing costly future plans such as:

• Northstar Rail – Time to shut down the Northstar commuter rail that’s losing over $11 million a year, with paltry ridership that’s below one hundred thousand riders a year.
• Northern Lights Express – A taxpayer-funded rail project to Duluth that has no financial viability.
• Southwest Light Rail – A project plagued by delays, mismanagement, and cost overruns.

Holding government accountable

In addition to these budget reductions aimed at curbing wasteful spending, Senate Republicans are advocating for a series of government accountability reforms. Our proposals would help prevent wasteful spending in the future.

The policies to hold government accountable include:

• Restrictions on grants to nonprofits with highly compensated officers – Stops taxpayer-funded grants from being awarded to nonprofits where executives receive excessive compensation.
• Vacant state office space report – Mandates regular reporting on unused state office space to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
• Sunsets for commissions and working groups – Ensures that government commissions and working groups automatically expire after two years unless reauthorized by the legislature.

These proposed savings and reforms are common-sense budgeting strategies to root out fraud and wasteful government spending. We cannot afford to continue the cycle of reckless spending and rising taxes. It’s time to put Minnesotans First by ensuring every tax dollar is used wisely.

Sincerely,

Senator Torrey Westrom