This week, Governor Walz and Lt. Governor Flanagan introduced their Budget for One Minnesota, which would make historic investments in education, health care, and community prosperity across the state. Minnesotans made it loud and clear during this last election that we want quality health care at a price we can afford, and world-class schools for our kids, and this budget delivers.
Unfortunately, Republicans aren’t so keen on listening to what Minnesotans want. Here’s what they did this week.
Standing in the way of accessible, secure elections
Minnesota is proud to be a state with consistently high voter turnout, but Republicans want to make it harder for Minnesotans to make their voices heard. Many Minnesotans cite a lack of transportation as their primary reason for not voting. A bill introduced by Rep. Raymond Dehn would help by providing free rides to the polls on Election Day, but every Republican in committee voted against it.
Meanwhile, Republicans in the Senate are continuing to hold up allowing the state to access federal funds for election security. What do they have to lose from more Minnesotans exercising their right to vote and making our elections more secure?
STILL blocking gun violence prevention measures.
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Minnesotans overwhelmingly support common-sense gun safety legislation. But Republicans are more concerned about appeasing the gun lobby than protecting our families from gun violence. Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka has said that he would prevent any new gun safety laws from passing this session. While Governor Walz and Lt. Governor Flanagan have included several items in their budget to help Minnesotans feel safer in their schools and communities, Republicans are busy introducing bills that would make Minnesotans less safe. They’re failing to listen to us. Again.
Shaming women out of accessing safe, legal abortion
Minnesotans have the right to a safe, legal abortion, and the right to choose whether it’s the best option for them. But Republicans in the House and Senate continue to introduce bills to try and scare and shame women out of making the reproductive health decisions that are best for them.
When Republicans were in charge of the Legislature, they chose to drastically underfund the things that Minnesotans care about most while giving away tax breaks to the very wealthy. Now that Governor Walz and Lt. Governor Flanagan are proposing historic investments in our communities, it’s no surprise that Republicans are standing in the way. Make sure your elected leaders know that you support a Budget for One Minnesota that invests in education, health care, and community prosperity for all Minnesotans, no matter what they look like or where they live.
