Minnesota Senate Republicans Push Back Against Governor Walz’s Budget Cuts, Defend Nursing Home Funding

Minnesota Senate Republicans are rallying against Governor Tim Walz’s budget proposal, which they claim threatens the future of nursing homes and long-term care facilities across the state. During the 2023 legislative session, Senate Republicans successfully secured $300 million in funding to help sustain nursing homes, but now, the governor’s proposed cuts are poised to strip over $218 million from facilities statewide.

Senate District 23, in particular, is facing a loss of over $14 million in essential funding over the next four years, according to new data from the Long-Term Care Imperative. These cuts, Republicans argue, would have a devastating impact on local nursing homes and the care they provide for Minnesota’s seniors.

“Governor Walz’s cuts are a direct threat to our most vulnerable residents—seniors and those in long-term care,” said Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson. “We must find responsible solutions that protect their care while also balancing the state’s budget. Seniors should not be the ones to bear the brunt of the state’s budget deficit.”

With Minnesota facing a $6 billion budget deficit, Senate Republicans are calling for spending reductions in other areas to safeguard critical services. To that end, they’ve introduced a proposal targeting wasteful spending across multiple sectors, starting with the state’s transportation budget. Senate Republicans highlighted nearly $250 million in potential savings from costly and underperforming transportation projects, including the Northstar commuter rail line and the controversial Southwest Light Rail.

Senator John Jasinski argued that Minnesota has already wasted millions on transportation projects that offer little to no return for taxpayers. “Transportation projects like Northstar and the Southwest Light Rail are proven failures,” Jasinski said. “We must stop pouring more money into these boondoggles and redirect those funds to services that our people need.”

Additionally, Senate Republicans are pushing to eliminate wasteful benefits for undocumented non-citizens, which could save up to $378 million in taxpayer dollars. Senator Jordan Rasmusson voiced strong concern over the state’s funding for non-citizens, asserting that those funds should be allocated to Minnesota residents first. “It’s time to prioritize Minnesotans over those who are not legally in the country,” Rasmusson said.

The Republican proposal also includes a series of good government reforms aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in state spending. These include mandating financial disclosures for legislators, restricting state grants to nonprofits with highly compensated officers, and implementing zero-based budgeting every decade to ensure all state spending is necessary and effective.

“These common-sense reforms will restore integrity to the budget and ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly,” said Senator Rich Draheim (R-Madison Lake). “It’s time to eliminate waste and focus on what truly matters: the people of Minnesota.”

As the debate over the state budget continues, Senate Republicans remain firm in their commitment to protect nursing homes and essential services for seniors, urging the governor to reconsider his cuts and find alternative ways to balance the budget without sacrificing care for Minnesota’s most vulnerable residents.

“Minnesota’s seniors deserve better,” said Johnson. “We’re going to fight to make sure they don’t bear the cost of this budget crisis.”

Minnesota Senate Democrats have expressed strong opposition to many recent Republican initiatives, particularly concerning budget proposals and legislative actions. They argue that the Republicans’ focus on certain spending cuts and policy definitions misaligns with the state’s priorities.​