Minnsights Blog

The Minnesota Chamber advocates for health care policies that ensure quality health care is affordable and accessible to all Minnesotans and that enhances and supports the ability of employers to provide coverage to their employees. Unfortunately, in the 2023 legislative session, lawmakers passed policies that will increase costs and jeopardize access to doctors, hospitals and treatments.

The Legislature provided significant, ongoing increases in annual funding for our transportation infrastructure this session – totaling $3.8 billion in just the next four years – roughly $1 billion per year. While the Chamber has long-advocated for increased investment in our transportation system, it’s disappointing that the Legislature chose to make these investments largely through increased taxes and fees. With a nearly $18 billion surplus at its disposal, the resources were available to make needed investments without raising taxes. Instead, Minnesotans will pay more to register, purchase and fuel up their vehicles, and they’ll pay more when they make purchases in the metro or online.

At the beginning of the 2023 session, lawmakers had a nearly $18 billion budget surplus. This historic budget position could have provided relief for job creators and fuel the growth of Minnesota’s economy. Instead, a majority of this sum was promised to spending increases. The general fund budget increased $19.3 billion for 2024/25. That’s an increase of 37% and will put the state in a structural deficit for fiscal years 2026/27.

Despite a historic nearly $18 billion budget surplus and Minnesota’s already high-tax environment, this session the legislature increased taxes by nearly $10 billion over the next four years. Although some taxes decreased mostly for lowerincome taxpayers through one-time rebates and refundable tax credits, businesses and taxpayers at all income levels will see permanent cost increases. The process of passing these historic increases lacked transparency. Many bills and provisions were not introduced or allowed public testimony and the language was not provided until the night before a final vote. Minnesota’s corporate and incomes tax rates are already in the top five highest in the nation, which adds headwinds to investment, entrepreneurship, and talent recruitment and retention – all needed for a growing economy.

This week, considering all the talk about politics, and after viewing the presidential debate, I am guessing you're expecting me to talk about politics. Well, no.