Walz says huge budget surplus means it’s time for investments, Republicans say give it back to taxpayers

Governor Tim Walz says with a 17.6-billion-dollar state budget surplus, now is the time to lower costs for families and update Minnesota’s aging infrastructure with the help of federal dollars — and very important…

“Now’s the time to make sure that those classrooms are funded with the things that they need to do to make our kids the best-qualified workforce in the world.”

Fellow Democrats in the Minnesota House are also talking about paid family medical leave, early care and learning programs, plus housing initiatives.  But incoming House Republican Minority Leader Lisa Demuth from Cold Spring contends the huge budget surplus confirms Minnesotans are being overtaxed:

..”money that could be kept within Minnesota families to help with high grocery prices and with high energy bills, that money needs to go back to Minnesotans.”