To the Editor, I am deeply grateful to the voters of District 1A for the incredible honor of serving as your state representative over the past four years. I am fully committed to representing the common-sense values of northwest Minnesota in the state legislature. This means prioritizing a responsible budget that addresses the needs of our rural communities and small towns, while also recognizing the immense financial pressures facing families due to rising costs of gas, groceries, and electricity. It means actually funding education in our school classrooms, flexible funding without mandates from state-level bureaucrats. In the last budget cycle, the budget for the Minnesota Department of Education was increased by over 20%, and the agency boasted about 'staffing up' at the state level. At the same time, our rural school districts were left struggling to balance budgets, pass operating referendums, and make drastic cuts. Last year, Democrats spent the entire $18 billion surplus, increased taxes and fees on Minnesotans by $10 billion, and then spent that as well, increasing government by nearly 40%. During the 2024 session, they decided to further increase taxes and spending, pushing through nearly a billion dollars in tax increases and starting construction on a $730 million State Office Building. Minnesota urgently needs balance in the legislature. House Republicans are prepared to take the lead on creating safe communities, finding childcare and housing solutions, and reining in the Democrats’ spending spree. I will continue to emphasize the need for substantial and meaningful tax relief for working-class Minnesotans, prioritize family budgets, and help to create a businessfriendly environment in Minnesota. As a member of the Ag, Environment and Property Tax committees, I have had the opportunity to relay the concerns and issues relevant to folks in northwest Minnesota. Thank you for your support these past four years. I would appreciate your support to continue that work.
Rep. John Burkel State Representative – District 1A
