What has the DFL done for you?!?
No more billion-dollar fraud scandals, billions in tax increases, and record Inflation! All this amid tax surpluses and budget increases in amounts of $Billions of your hard-earned money!
Our DFL representation has done much for many, but what have they done to improve the fiscal stability and quality of life for this District? Personal agendas that focus on fraud, illegal immigration, increased spending, undesirable education outcomes, and that shrink our paychecks are not acceptable. I don’t believe their personal agendas reflect your needs, wants, and desires!
The DFL has neglected our district while focusing their attention on legislation that increased our tax burden. Much of what the DFL has passed is not long-term sustainable, and they don’t care. “Free” is their operative word, regardless of individual affordability – if you think I’m kidding look at the school lunch program for all, as only one example!!! Households with huge annual incomes do not need free lunches when we have to cut budgets to feed our families!
Let's bring common sense back to our state legislature. My pledge to you is to ensure that we spend the taxpayer's money wisely and efficiently.
One example is education spending. Despite funding level increases touted as historic last session, school districts have to deal with over 60 unfunded or underfunded mandates while about three quarters of their budget has been restricted by state and federal government to be used for the stated purpose. This has made education funding extremely unadaptable to the changing needs of each local district.
The state legislature should provide more flexibility to local school districts while actually fully funding the areas that are mandated.
Education - Under Democrat control the state has taken away decision-making power from local educators and school boards and removed parents from the process. There are currently 65 new mandates on schools – many without any funding. Local schools no longer have the flexibility to use the funding they do receive in ways that work best for them. We need to set goals, then get out of the way for them to do their job!
School districts need to return to academics and prepare students for the transition to adulthood and the job market, or to higher education, whether trade schools or college.
Many of the academic shortcomings - but not all - are exacerbated by the high number of immigrant students entering our school districts, further taxing the system with the need for ESL teachers and programs paid for one year in arrears. And remember, schools are not allowed to operate in the red!
Rather than needs-based funding, we now provide free breakfast and lunch to ALL Minnesota students, regardless of a family's income, many of whom could well afford to bear the cost. The money saved by returning to needs-based funding could be targeted to ensuring the food we are providing is the freshest and healthiest available, not overly processed 'filler'.
Taxes and Government Spending - Democrats have a spending problem; in the past few years, our legislature managed to spend the bulk of a $17 BILLION surplus, but that wasn't enough. They went on to add another $10 billion to our already top-heavy tax burden. Minnesota households cannot thrive, let alone stay above water, when their tax burden increases with each swipe of the legislative pen. The $2000 refund promised by Governor Walz ended up with an average of $260 - decidedly less than promised, as the Democrats found 'better' ways to spend your money.
Businesses and Employment - Minnesota is losing when it comes to big business. Why? We have the highest corporate tax rate in the country at 9.8% and legislation that makes it difficult to sustain doing business in our state! We also have one of the highest income tax rates and we are reliant on that money as the mainstay of our budget revenue. The Democrats continue to focus on the middle class - and not in a positive way - which has left us with higher prices, lower paychecks and a daily struggle to make ends meet! When the Democrats are faced with cutting spending or raising taxes, they inevitably raise taxes.
Health Care - Democrats have added insurance mandates that increase the cost of health insurance premiums, placed more burdens on hospitals increasing their operating costs and ultimately costing us more to maintain our health. We need price transparency and expanding health plans. Proactive health care, finding the root causes of growing chronic diseases rather than treating the symptoms alone, should be prioritized. Annual coverage rates for those with complex needs are 4 times higher compared with all U.S adults; the proportion of U.S. adults with 3 or more chronic conditions is 28%.
Crime and Public Safety - Democrats continue to choose criminals over law enforcement, moving to allow shorter/lighter sentencing in the courts, early release, probation vs. incarceration, allowing sentence reduction post-conviction, cutting funding for police and incarceration facilities, expunging criminal records, eliminating funding for police departments and police training. Democrats want Citizen Oversight Councils with broad disciplinary and subpoena powers over officers, often resulting in less policing and more crime.
Legal Immigration - Those among us in the United States illegally should not have access to drivers licenses, free healthcare, free college and free housing. Minnesota was built upon the hard work of legal immigrants from around the world, and only once a person has followed the proper steps to citizenship should they be able to enjoy those benefits. This includes the privilege of voting in local and federal elections.
Energy - In 2022 Democrats passed the 'Blackout Bill' making energy less affordable, less reliable, and less safe. This legislation would require the state's electric utilities to have carbon-free electricity sources by 2040. These unreliable sources include wind, solar, hydropower and biomass, entirely eliminating the use of coal and natural gas. Without necessary subsidies for homeowners, the conversions remain expensive and unachievable for most. Unfortunately, the Biden administration has banned local mining for the very materials needed to provide this energy, leading utilities to source these products from overseas countries with few environmental and child labor regulations. We need to become energy independent.
Abortion - Recent legislation legalizes abortion with no restrictions. Restricting access to all procedures under extreme circumstances is not feasible. We must protect our daughters, sisters, and all women whenever possible. Safeguards should be implemented such as parental notifications for minors, personal protection from additional abuse by providing confidential access to mentors, licensed clinics, and consistent rules for all states.
Democrats want to expand availability to all at a most extreme level, with little if any oversight for compliance. This is dangerous and jeopardizes the women’s health. Creating a pathway to a future through common sense should be a priority.
Fraud - We have been left with higher taxes, smaller paychecks, and struggling to make ends meet – while they – the DFL - have participated and/or turned their backs as Minnesota soared above the other 49 states with the highest Fraud in history! There doesn’t appear to be an end in sight. The recent Audit found pre-dated documents entered after the fact, among other discrepancies!
Federal funds are being withheld and that - unfortunately - affects
those needing those services to survive! Authorities are stating the Fraud is 10X worse than previously thought! WE need to stop the lack of transparency and accountability.
What does all this mean for you looking forward?
$730 MILLION for the Palace for Politicians amid multi-billion dollar fraud scandals, billions in tax increases, and record Inflation we haven’t seen in 50 years! All this amid tax surpluses and budget increases of 40%; Increased taxes to the amount of $20 Billion in the next 2 years!
Much of what the DFL has been able to pass is not long-term sustainable and they don’t care. “Free” is their operative word without regard to any individual affordability. We have been left with higher taxes, smaller paychecks, and struggling to make ends meet!
It is time for a balanced government. We need to return our focus to the community members electing their representatives and stop selfish behavior and political sabotage!
Kt
My opponent, Amada Simula, recently attended the League of Women Voters Candidate Forum. I could not attend due to a scheduling conflict.
Here are some of the highlights of her presentation. Each item followed by a “$” indicates more tax dollars from us!
While mayor, Amada credits herself with building a city budget that is transparent and reflects “what the people of Columbia Heights need. Those dollars are what are going to be serving people in the best way.” $
* Amada did not build the city budget. She and the Council reviewed the proposed budgets presented by each department, offering limited feedback. Giving consideration to the Council’s comments and making any necessary adjustments, after all department budgets have been presented, the Finance Department, along with the City Manager, will finalize and post the city’s budget.
As mayor, Amada led the council to a unanimous decision to remove the Flock cameras, and within days they were covered and then removed from the streets of Columbia Heights. Columbia Heights will continue to pay on the contract until at least mid-2027, costing the taxpayer dollars and leaving us without the protection they provided. Remember, Amada was in full support of their implementation when originally presented to Council. $
The issue is not the cameras themselves but the lack of oversight for data privacy. This was not a problem in Columbia Heights. The Flock cameras assisted police with stolen vehicles, parental and stranger abductions, and other criminal activity. Flock became an issue for the mayor only after the 2026 ICE presence.
Amanda takes credit for making decisions the community “can stand behind”. She suggests affordability is achieved for Columbia Heights by approving high-density housing and providing money for businesses affected by the presence of ICE.
She is spending your tax dollars! $
Amada states she will improve people’s lives by promoting Minnesota Care For All. She believes single-payer and lower healthcare costs are achievable without your tax money! She will support the Equal Rights Amendment in Minnesota. However, all aspects of it are already protected under existing laws. Amada will support legislation to prohibit assault weapons, grow workforce training, and vote to eliminate student debt by again taking money away from you - the taxpayer. My opponent will also require “oversight from the state” for Data Centers, without elaborating
on how to accomplish that, or what it will cost! $
Although she has used AI to respond to constituents, she believes “loopholes” should be addressed to provide “safeguards against bad actors”.
Note: Earlier this year, we were provided a copy of an email response to a constituent composed by Amada Marquez Simula. The email was identified as over 98+% AI generated. She didn’t even write it herself! That should be problematic for all voters!
In addressing ICE activities and wildfires affecting Minnesotans, my opponent states she can support impacted businesses by ordering items online from northern communities, yet provided no details on exactly how that will assist the affected businesses. She further implies that help is not always in the form of a handout, but added that “grants to businesses that need help” are always an option. $
Amada will “tax the ultra-rich” at the same rate as the rest of us. $
What defines “ultra-rich” and what is the average income tax levy?
The average income tax rate is 9.85%. In Minnesota, “ultra‑rich” generally refers to individuals with a net worth of at least $30 million. That is approximately 1% of households in our state, a much higher concentration than the national average.
Amada will seek state funding for zoning, parking, accessory units, and more because “housing is a human right” $
Housing is not the job of government!
Amada never states how or where the money will come from. She said nothing about the fraud, low academic scores, or unfunded mandates in our school districts; did not directly address Alatus’s development on 43rd/Central except to announce the TIF was extended. Alatus has delayed the project due to the high interest rates they were unwilling to pay. Construction is now slated to begin in 2027 – years after the previously scheduled date.
The City of Columbia Heights initially agreed to maintain the site on Alatus’s behalf. When residents filed complaints of 5-foot-high weeds, it was determined the city was not allowed to perform tasks on property owned by Alatus. $
According to Amada, the Medtronic site is an opportunity for the state to provide support yet again, given the timing of the Central Avenue reconstruction and the need to address issues with Sullivan Lake. $
Is she not aware that the state gets its money from you – the taxpayers?
Amada will vote to raise taxes to accomplish 10 of the 12 questions she was asked! Her answers were focused on Columbia Heights – not one comment addressed specific to issues to New Brighton or St. Anthony. Amada Simula operates on personal agendas and what the City of Columbia Heights wants – not what is good or right for all the residents she wants to represent. Does she even know the issues in other district cities?!? $
While my opponent votes to raise taxes and make decisions that ultimately affect the entire state, we will fight to reduce them and put money back in your pocket!
We can do better and we will!