House Speaker Steve Sviggum says the priority is providing tax relief. It's permanent tax cuts, permanently reducing that tax burden upon moms and dads in the state, is where most voters and most citizens of the state would like to see the priority brought forward. The DFL-controlled Senate is also looking a balance of tax breaks and strategic spending, and Senate leaders say the poll results bolster their approach. Senator Ember Reichgott Junge says she's not surprised so few Minnesotans are asking for another rebate check. She says she's heard the same message from her constituents.
People say, 'Look, keep the money, it's just a couple hundred dollars.
Put it into education. Put it into roads or transportation or transit. If there are new spending initiatives this year, education might be the easiest sell among voters. Poll respondents ranked education as the most important issue facing Minnesota, followed by taxes and health care. Minnesotans also appear generally confident in their elected representatives, but remain divided on whether the legislature should go from two houses to one.