There’s a dreariness hanging over the State Capitol this session, and it has nothing to do with the spring weather. Affordability is crushing Minnesota families. At the same time, I’m hearing constant complaints about massive fraud in state programs, big proposed cuts to health and human services, and painful cuts in special education funding. On top of all that, the threat of new taxes is hanging over every constituent.

This has been the slowest session I’ve seen in my 10 years at the Capitol. For weeks, only a handful of bills moved forward in the Senate. What worries me even more is the lack of transparency. Too many big decisions are getting buried in massive omnibus bills with almost no public scrutiny. Capitol insiders like to say the public doesn’t care about “process.” I disagree. When the process is murky, it protects the Governor and legislators and keeps taxpayers in the dark about what’s really happening with their money. Minnesotans deserve better.

As we get closer to the end of session, I have to warn my constituents about a wave of proposed tax increases. In just the last few years, state taxes have gone up by roughly $10 billion while government spending has exploded 40%. But families are still getting hit with record-high car tab fees and property taxes, largely because of unfunded mandates the state keeps pushing down on counties and cities.

This year’s tax proposals are especially aggressive. There’s a bill to raise the sales tax through a constitutional amendment, even while Governor Walz brags about a small sales tax cut that gets all the headlines. Other ideas floating around include raising car tab fees, creating a new wealth tax on anyone worth over $10 million, a social media tax, a corporate tax increase, a plastic bottle tax, and higher taxes on guns and ammunition. They’re even talking about expanding the sales tax to advertising services.

At the same time, the same administration pushing all these new taxes wants to cut $250 million from special education through a “Blue Ribbon Commission” and cut another $400 million from disability waiver funding. Last session it was a $1 billion cut in that area. My constituents are asking a very fair question, “How can we afford massive new spending and tax hikes while cutting services for our most vulnerable kids and families?”

It’s a good question, and this session has made clear the disconnect in St. Paul. Minnesotans want responsible budgeting, real accountability on fraud, and relief from the cost-of-living crisis, not more ways for government to take their hard-earned money.

It’s time for the Legislature to show some honesty and accountability. Before this session ends, we need to deliver real results instead of another round of tax increases landing on Minnesota families.