Minnesota's massive spending and fraud issue is the fault of both Democrats and RINO legislators despite what Establishment Republicans are pushing. The state legislature has been corrupted into passing thousand-page omnibus spending bills that crooked politicians don’t even read. Though Democrats control all Executive positions in Minnesota and oversaw fraudulent payments, it was the legislature who appropriated the money in the first place.

Many Establishment RINOs have been sharing around a graphic highlighting the increase in spending in Minnesota. See graphic below:

Of course, RINOs fail to mention that the GOP had control of the State Senate from 2017 to 2022 and control of the State House from 2015 to 2018. Additionally, the GOP currently controls the gavel in the currently tied House.

During times of GOP control, conservatives would think that Republican politicians are fighting for their interests. In reality, they are driving the same direction as Democrats, only a little bit slower. Continual growth in government is a Uniparty problem despite all of the misrepresentations of the RINOs.

As reported on by A4L, Lisa Demuth and RINOs in the House partnered with Democrats to pass massive spending omnibus bills. Lisa Demuth voted for EVERY SINGLE bill Walz signed into law in 2025. The budget deal was negotiated behind closed doors between Demuth, GOP Sen. Leader Mark Johnson, and Democrats and resulted in the 2nd LARGEST budget in MN history. At the time, the RINOs, Democrats, and mainstream media claimed the budget spent a little over $66B.

The RINOs sold this as the “largest spending cut in MN history” but that does not appear to be accurate at all. The latest projections from Minnesota Management and Budget show that spending in the 2026-2027 biennium is closer to $70.2B! This is barely a cut from the $71B budget passed during the Democrat trifecta in 2023! Despite this, Demuth's Governor campaign is LYING to people by still claiming the spending totaled $66B, not $70.2B! See graphic found in a campaign email from her running mate, Ryan Wilson, below:

One bill that highlights how disingenuous RINOs are in budget discussions was the State Govt. Spending bill (SF3045) which increased the budget for the LGBTQIA2s+ Council and increased the budget for radical socialist AG Keith Ellison. 46 RINOs in the House and 2 RINOs in the Senate voted for that bill. There was also the Health Spending bill (HF2435) which funds abortion and Planned Parenthood which received support from 29 House RINOs.

While Mark Johnson did not vote for most of the spending bills in 2025, he has a pathetic, FAILING lifetime A4L score of 43.39% which shows he has voted for these types of bills 

Many Minnesotans also remember the failed leadership of RINO Paul Gazelka as the Senate Majority Leader and corrupt lobbyist legislator Kurt Daudt as House Speaker. Instead of advancing conservative causes to shrink the size and scope of government, Gazelka and Daudt ingratiated themselves into the Establishment and continued to balloon Minnesota spending. Gazelka also gave Ellison a budget increase in 2021 and Daudt worked with Democrats to spend away surplus dollars.

As seen in A4L Scorecards, RINOs have been voting alongside radical leftists for bloated spending in omnibus bills for years. Grassroots conservatives know that they’ve been sold out by elected Republicans and continue to feel the negative effects of their actions. 

Until the GOP is willing to cut at the root of the problem by eliminating omnibus bills and requiring single subject bills, the massive fraud and spending will continue. A4L will continue to represent the will of grassroots conservatives by being unwavering in our fight for liberty. While RINOs are willing to trade away your liberty for power, we are willing to fight power to ensure liberty.