Senate Republicans Present 'Vision 2020' Agenda

Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka outlined the 2020 Senate GOP agenda at a press conference Monday, January 13. Lawmakers are scheduled to convene the legislative session Tuesday, February 11, at a time when Minnesota finds itself in a stable economic position. State officials project a budget surplus of $1.3 billion dollars, with a full budget reserve account of nearly $2.4 billion dollars, the statutory maximum.

In light of the budget surplus, Gazelka said, “We want to give some of it back.” Currently, Minnesota taxes a portion of social security income, and GOP lawmakers would like to see that income become fully exempt. “Let’s be one of those states that doesn’t tax our seniors when they’ve paid all the way through, and then now they have to pay again,” he said.

Other goals of the “Vision 2020” blueprint are a bonding bill focused on wastewater improvements, higher education building improvements, and road and bridge projects. The vision further includes measures to reduce the cost of prescription drugs, proposals to increase public safety, a plan to improve the Department of Human Services and the Clean Energy First Act, a measure that would prioritize clean energy solutions to meet the state’s future energy needs.

In response to the GOP Agenda, Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk released the following statement: “Republicans launched their 2020 agenda today with no mention of the work they’ve been doing to block progress for Minnesotans. They’ve refused time and again to even give important bills a public hearing – proposals that could increase access to affordable health care, help students succeed in school, make our communities safer, and ensure Minnesota workers have access to paid family and medical leave have been ignored by Senate Republicans.”