Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Marie Demuth said, “It’s time for common sense and economic freedom to make a comeback in Minnesota,” as she campaigns for the Republican nomination for governor.
“On Day One as governor, I’ll work to cut taxes for families and small businesses. We’ll dial back expensive car tab fees that were raised by Democrats and end taxes on social security benefits for ALL our seniors,” She wrote on X. “I will also push to require that state surplus dollars be returned to the taxpayers who paid them, because a budget surplus should not be an excuse for politicians to spend more money.”
According to KSTP, Minnesota drivers have faced higher license tab fees following formula changes enacted in 2023 that raised the base tax rate and slowed depreciation calculations. The adjustments have resulted in costs exceeding $1,000 for some vehicle owners, prompting pushback from residents. Legislators have introduced measures to revert the fees to pre-change levels in response to affordability concerns.
Minnesota’s February forecast projects a $3.7 billion surplus for the current biennium, marking an increase of $1.3 billion from the November estimate. The higher projection stems from an improved economic outlook and stronger revenue from volatile sources, according to Session Daily.
Demuth was elected to the Minnesota House in 2018. She became the first Black person and first female Republican elected Speaker of the Minnesota House in 2025. Prior to entering politics, Demuth operated a small business in Cold Spring, according to Ballotpedia.
