Let’s get real and talk about the issues that are important to Winona County.
Priorities
My number one priority is cutting wasteful and fraudulent spending. While that sounds like a line you’ve heard before, we now have a very real opportunity to address this issue. That’s because the Democrat-controlled legislature spent our $19 billion surplus and then raised our taxes $10 billion more. That increased the budget by a whopping 38%! And with all of that spending, they still couldn’t find a way to put adequate funds towards core services like public safety and long-term care. Anyone who has ever budgeted for their family or run a business knows that kind of spending is unsustainable.
Once we cut wasteful and fraudulent spending and make sure our core services are adequately funded, we need to eliminate social security taxes and lower taxes overall. When spending is under control, that is very doable.
We also need to make sure our families and businesses are given the opportunities they need to prosper. That means eliminating the oppressive mandates placed on our businesses, our schools, and our communities.
My overarching priority is to work together with other legislators, businesses, community leaders, and citizens. Together we can make Winona County and all of Minnesota a better place to live.
Economic Development
Excessive taxes and regulations are driving people and businesses from Minnesota. We need to eliminate Social Security taxes, reduce taxes overall, and get rid of oppressive regulations so that our families, businesses, and communities can prosper.
Any grade school math student knows that in order to do this, we have to look at the bottom line. We can make it happen by eliminating unnecessary spending. As a small business owner, I deal with this every day. I may want the newest, shiniest thing, but do you need that? I want a brand-new truck. Can I afford it? No. Do I need it? No. My dented, rusty truck runs just fine.
Public Safety and First Responders
Public safety and first responders are core services that we need to adequately fund. Let’s also stop hampering our law enforcement officials so they can do what they do best: protect our community. And then we need to prosecute criminals so our state is safe for everyone.
Education
Minnesota used to have one of the best school systems in the country, but graduation rates are slipping, and fewer than half of Minnesota students are performing at grade level in math, reading, and science. In the past two years, the Legislature has heaped mandates on our local schools, negatively impacting budgets, workforce, and innovation. We need to ensure core services like education are adequately funded and then let the local schools do their job: improve the academic success of our students.
Agriculture
The family farms of Winona County are a significant revenue source for both our region and the entire state of Minnesota. Our legislature needs to work with farmers to protect the water, the soil, the ag economy, and this valuable food resource. Proposals like animal caps may sound good, but in the end they create a poorer environment and a poorer economy. And let’s work with industry and farmers to develop right-to-repair legislation that works for everyone.
Childcare
We need basic regulations to ensure the safety of our children, but our state government has gone well beyond those basic regulations. Unnecessary government restrictions increase costs and have put many childcare centers out of business. We have to cut back on government restrictions so the marketplace can provide safe and affordable childcare options. And let’s expand on what services qualify for the Minnesota Child and Dependent Care Credit to help our Minnesota families.
Housing
We need to address the housing crisis, both for affordable and market-rate housing. Excessive government regulations for new construction, remodeling, and renting are burdensome, and their costs are passed on to homeowners and renters. Let’s get the government out of the way so people can once again afford to live here.
Nursing Homes and Long-Term Care Facilities
Nursing homes and long-term care facilities are core services for our community. In 2023, Republicans proposed $120 million for core services like emergency medical services and nursing homes but in the end, the Democrat-controlled Legislature only gave $20 million. That’s not enough. We can fund core services like nursing homes and long-term care facilities—not by increasing taxes—but by cutting wasteful and fraudulent spending.
While some regulations are necessary for the safety and well-being of people in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, other mandates increase costs and prevent the best possible care. We need to thoughtfully review regulations and eliminate those not in the best interest of people living and working in these facilities. We also need to look at how and when these providers are paid, so they can continue to offer their services.