There is not a budget deficit, there is a surplus. If you only follow the mainstream media or Establishment politicians, you would never know this. While most legislative committee meetings are uneventful and filled with political theatre, GOP Rep. Jon Koznick (57A) admitted that Minnesota currently has a surplus in the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee.

Koznick co-chairs the committee with radical leftist Brad Tabke (54A) and were in discussion on a bill (HF3562) that lowers vehicle registration taxes. As Minnesotans are experiencing new, higher cost of license plate tabs established during the 2023 Democrat trifecta, now would be an optimal time to lower these costs. Unfortunately, radical Democrats want to continue to punish law-abiding citizens with unfair costs and this was evidenced by Tabke angrily arguing that MN needs these funds.

Rep. Koznick then explained that Minnesota does not need to impose ridiculous tab costs when we are currently sitting on a budget surplus! See the exchange below:

Representative Tabke (D-Shakopee) is fighting to keep your tab fees high!

"You know this is wrong. You know that we can't do this!"

Rep. Koznick (R-Lakeville): "No, it's not wrong! Families are working harder and harder every year to pay their taxes. Minnesota taxpayers are… pic.twitter.com/WekmVPou9M

— MN House GOP Rapid Response (@MNHRCWarRoom) March 25, 2026

Action 4 Liberty exposed this previously! As seen in previous A4L reporting, there is a $6.2B surplus shown in the latest estimate released by Minnesota Management and Budget. This means MN was overtaxed by $6.2B and each taxpayer should be given back around $2,500!

The historic 2023 surplus was about $18B, which means that when combined the the current surplus and returned to taxpayers, each taxpayer would've received about $10K each! $10K buys a car for your family, it pays for a semester of college, it pays for two years worth of gas, it is a down payment on a home, it is months of rent: Minnesotans are struggling with high taxes and high costs and deserve their over-taxed surplus dollars back. 

The bill was stalled in committee after a party line vote of 7-7 on advancing the bill to the House Ways and Means Committee. The full debate of this bill in committee can be seen here.

Politicians will always pretend that the government needs more money when it is already too big and over-funded as is! Minnesota can EASILY afford to reduce the costs of license plate tabs and so much more.

Rep. Koznick admitting the truth is a great start but he should now fight to return the surplus money to taxpayers! A4L encourages legislators to begin moving legislation to achieve this.

Action 4 Liberty will continue providing Patriots with liberty-based reporting that cannot be found anywhere else.