In April of 2024, Bill Maher, comedian and political commentator, said, “They say in politics, liberals are the gas pedal and conservatives are the brakes. And I’m generally with the gas pedal, but not if we’re driving off a cliff.”
In Minnesota, the Democrat trifecta of 2023-24 has “driven us off a cliff” when it comes to social policies. Rep. Carly Kotyza-Witthuhn (DFL-49B) is the author of the PRO Act. This bill makes abortion legal through the ninth month without restrictions. Most Americans consider this extreme, even if they are pro-choice.
Democrat legislators voted for, and the governor signed into law, a bill to allow children from any state, regardless of age, the ability to seek and receive transgender treatments that can cause sterilization, bone loss, loss of sexual function and interference with brain development, all without parental permission. Again, this is extreme.
In addition to social policies, we are “driving off a cliff” with regard to our fiscal policies. The Democrat-controlled state Legislature spent the $17.5 billion surplus and added an additional $10 billion in new taxes. This is not sustainable. The Legislature passed new taxes and fees which affect Minnesotans at all income levels – an increase in vehicle registration taxes, an increase in the motor vehicle sales tax, tying the gas tax to inflation, a .75% metro sales tax, and a retail delivery fee are a few of the ways all Minnesotans will see more money leaving their wallets.
New taxes and mandates also hurt Minnesota businesses. Minnesota now has the highest corporate tax rate in the nation. According to the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, “Minnesota has diverged from the national trend of reducing taxes and reducing regulatory burdens. Instead, lawmakers have increased costs precipitously for employers and employees. This puts the state at a competitive disadvantage as our economic growth and investment are lagging.”
Eden Prairie residents, it’s time for a change. Stop the fiscal irresponsibility and the social extremes – support Stacy Bettison for 49A and Wendi Russo for 49B. Let’s “take the wheel” and get our state back on track.
Kristi Jackson, Eden Prairie
Editor’s note: Kristi Jackson is the campaign chair for the Staci Bettison for House campaign.
Comments
We offer several ways for our readers to provide feedback. Your comments are welcome on our social media posts (Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn). We also encourage Letters to the Editor; submission guidelines can be found on our Contact Us page. If you believe this story has an error or you would like to get in touch with the author, please connect with us.