04/10/2026
Friends,
I want to talk to you about something that continues to happen at the capitol, something that many of you have already noticed.
There’s this idea getting pushed that what we’re seeing right now is just normal, that this is just how things are supposed to work. I don’t buy that, and I don’t think most Minnesotans do either.
It seems to me that more and more decisions are being based off ideology or attacking your opponent instead of addressing reality or applying common sense. And when something comes forward that most people would agree on, it gets shut down anyway.
For those keeping a close eye on the 2026 legislative session, this is what took place on Tuesday… and on the Thursday the other week, for that matter.
Tuesday this week, House File 2685 came to the floor. All it did was say girls should compete against girls in school sports. Pretty straightforward. Instead of dealing with that question, the conversation went in every direction except the one that actually mattered.
In the end, not a single House Democrat could shed their ideology in favor of common sense, women’s dignity, or the majority will of Minnesotans.
I said it earlier this week, and I meant it. Forcing girls to compete against boys doesn’t make sense. Most people know that. And when you allow it, you’re taking something away from those girls, opportunities, recognition, all of it.
I’ve got three daughters, so this isn’t theoretical for me. I want them to have the same kind of opportunity I had growing up. That’s what this was about. Nothing more complicated than that.
Some individuals criticize us over this issue; they ask why we place such importance on girls' sports. To that, I point to the above. I’d also say because you have to put your foot down at some point, and when it comes to the future for my daughters, I just won’t stand for it. I also won’t join them in a stand against basic reality.
This pattern of ideology put before things that actually work can also be seen in the Democrats’ approach to business and taxes in our state.
Look at what’s happening with taxes. People are feeling it. Families are feeling it. Small businesses are feeling it. And the response we keep seeing is more spending and no real interest in giving any relief to the countless Minnesotans who work hard just to get by.
A drastic reduction in car tab fees. Getting rid of taxes on tips and overtime. Making sure we’re not completely out of line with the states around us. Tax conformity that allows businesses to reinvest in their employees and equipment. Those are reasonable ideas. They’re not controversial. Minnesota Republicans understand this and have these proposals ready to move forward.
Then you’ve got the fraud issue.
Nine billion dollars. That’s a pretty big number, and yet there’s still substantial resistance to putting real oversight in place to make sure it doesn’t keep happening.
And it is still happening. It's happening right now as I type this out.
Just think about what that kind of money could have done if it had actually been used the way it was supposed to be.
And while all of that is going on, we’re now seeing reports about what’s happening to Minnesota’s hospitality industry.
This is an industry that supports a lot of people across the state, restaurants, hotels, local spots people rely on. It’s about a $9 billion part of our economy, and right now it’s being described as being "on the brink."
More than half of those businesses saw traffic and profits drop last year. Many are in decline. This didn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s not happenstance or coincidence.
You can only stack so many costs, mandates, and regulations on top of people before something breaks. All the while, customers are pulling back, and the gap in the middle where businesses survive is getting smaller.
Despite this, we still hear the same ideas out of Democrats and the governor: tax more.
At some point, you have to step back and ask if what you’re doing is actually working.
Minnesota has real issues to deal with. We don’t need to overcomplicate things. We don’t need to pretend there’s only one way forward.
There are better ways to do this, and I’m going to keep fighting for them.
Thank you for the opportunity to represent you.
Sincerely,
Josh
