In an op-ed for the Pioneer Press, NFIB State Director John Reynolds warns that state lawmakers’ $20 billion spending spree has undermined Minnesota’s economic footing and made the state a less attractive option for the next generation of workers.

In the op-ed, Reynolds writes:

“Democrats balked at the idea of using some of the record surplus to reduce our state’s high income tax rates, arguing that cutting even lower-income tax brackets might – gasp – benefit higher earners to some degree. Then they handed out tens of millions in subsidies to buy electric cars and electric bicycles regardless of your income level.”

He continues:

“As Minnesota’s population growth slows and our workforce shortage deepens, our status as a high-tax state and the budget instability wrought by this year’s spending spree will increasingly harm our economic future. We don’t have to accept this trend as fate, but we need to face reality to change course.”

CLICK HERE to read the full op-ed. Excerpts are below.

The DFL’s $20 Billion Spending Spree Put Minnesota on Thin Ice

Pioneer Press
By: John Reynolds
December 28, 2023

As with a lot of lakes this time of year, the news Minnesota budget officials released earlier this month seemed good on the surface. At first glance, it looks like a sheet of ice solid enough to drill the first fishing hole of the season. But the moment you test it out, a crack makes its way across the lake. […]

When you check to see if it’s solid, however, you discover we’re actually on very thin ice because our state is headed toward a deficit beginning in 18 months.

The rotten ice is a result of Minnesota Democrats’ $20 billion spending spree during the 2023 legislative session. Thanks to single-party control of state government, we went from a record-setting budget surplus toward a potential $2.3 billion deficit in just five months.

We should be thankful the Legislature doesn’t meet year-round.

Unfortunately, the projected budget hole is just the first sign of longer-term problems made worse earlier this year. Democrats piled on tax and fee hikes that everyone will feel. Higher taxes when you buy a car, fill your gas tank, renew your tabs, make purchases online or buy anything taxable in the metro area. […]

The appetite for permanent new spending was insatiable.

Democrats balked at the idea of using some of the record surplus to reduce our state’s high income tax rates, arguing that cutting even lower-income tax brackets might – gasp – benefit higher earners to some degree. Then they handed out tens of millions in subsidies to buy electric cars and electric bicycles regardless of your income level. […]

All of this – reckless spending, red tape, higher taxes – will ultimately worsen our state’s biggest problem. We simply don’t have enough people to sustain the robust economic growth needed to keep spending money like it grows on trees.

Minnesota’s population growth is nearly non-existent, and there’s a chronic labor shortage. This started over a decade ago, but the trend has worsened since 2020. […]

Where are people going? Largely to states that let them keep more of what they earn.

As Minnesota’s population growth slows and our workforce shortage deepens, our status as a high-tax state and the budget instability wrought by this year’s spending spree will increasingly harm our economic future.

We don’t have to accept this trend as fate, but we need to face reality to change course.

Minnesotans need to decide what sort of state they want in 10 years: one that is contracting and saddled with an unsustainable budget or one that is growing and prosperous.

We’re on thin ice. Let’s make sure we don’t fall though.