In recent months, I have been overwhelmed by the numerous phone calls, letters, and e-mails I have received from citizens encouraging me to run for Congress. It’s clear that many in the 8th District are frustrated with the partisan gridlock that has gripped Washington since the last election and are eager for a new direction— and new representation—in Congress.
While I am humbled and honored by these strong words of support, I have decided that the best way I can serve our state is to remain in the Minnesota Legislature and continue my work as the leader of the Minnesota Senate DFL Caucus.
This past session, we witnessed a severe failure of leadership from the Republican majorities in the Minnesota Legislature. Republican leaders shut down state government fighting for a devastating all-cuts budget that slashed funding for everything Minnesotans value most: our schools, our colleges, our hospitals, our public safety, and even support for Minnesota veterans. They passed a budget that steals money from our schools and borrows billions from our future, leaving our children a massive debt to repay.
Republicans fought tooth-andnail to protect the richest 2 percent of Minnesotans, even as they passed huge property tax hikes on middleclass homeowners and renters. They lined up behind an extreme social agenda that would have stripped workers of their collective bargaining rights, criminalized stem-cell research, and even repealed laws that guarantee fair and equal pay for women.
After witnessing the failed leadership of the Republican majorities that resulted in a painful government shutdown and left our state billions of dollars in debt, I am more committed than ever to my work in the Minnesota Senate and continuing to fight for a better future for our state. While I’m grateful for all the kind words of encouragement, the work before us in St. Paul is just too important for me to leave behind.
Thank you to all of you, my constituents, for your continued support. I wish you and your families an enjoyable fall season.
Tom Bakk
Senator, District 6
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