Robert Farnsworth

Criminal Justice / Public Safety

One of the core responsibilities of our state is to ensure the public safety of its citizens. No society can function without the rule of law, and I stand with the men and women who risk their lives to protect mine and my family’s. Immigration has become one of the major public safety challenges of our time. I support the federal government’s efforts to crack down on illegal immigration, and our state should work with our federal partners to help make Minnesota as safe as possible. Learn more

Economy

Everyone in Minnesota who wants to work should be able to find a good job. Unfortunately, many businesses are leaving the state, or avoiding it altogether, because of our unfriendly business climate. That trend has only sped up in recent years as more anti-business laws were passed during the trifecta. I was proud to support permitting reform in the last few sessions, but there’s still a lot of work to do to make Minnesota a place where job creators can succeed. Learn more

Education

I believe we need to take a fresh look at our educational system to make sure students are truly prepared for life in the 21st century. Right now, we’re trying to educate every student as if they’re headed to a four-year college, even though fewer than 75% will pursue any kind of post-secondary education. We should be preparing students for the futures they’re actually likely to have. That means putting a stronger emphasis on industrial arts and work-readiness programs for some students, while focusing on college preparation for others. Our schools are also weighed down by too many unfunded mandates, which end up pushing costs onto property owners. We need to eliminate these mandates and give schools the flexibility they need to provide the best education possible. Learn more

Environment / Energy

I believe that responsible citizens must be good stewards of the Earth. While climate-change theories evolve, I am convinced that it is in our best interests to pursue a policy of energy independence. I do not support politically motivated schemes that pick winners and losers within the energy sector while passing the costs on to homeowners and businesses. Minnesota energy providers must be allowed to provide the least expensive energy possible while maintaining our proven record of protecting the environment. Learn more

Our mining industry is under assault from every direction. These assaults come from foreign nations dumping unlawfully subsidized steel on our shores, the cost of electricity that has skyrocketed in recent years due to renewable energy mandates, a burdensome tax system, and unchecked environmental regulations/lawsuits that overburden our mining industry. It is time for lawmakers in Minnesota to fight the special interests that aim to destroy our way of life so the mines of the future can open and current mines can remain competitive on the global market. Learn more

Guns

I agree with the 2008 Supreme Court ruling in Heller v. D.C., which affirmed that the right to keep and bear arms is an individual right. Our right to own firearms is a fundamental protection guaranteed by the Constitution. Nothing is more basic than the right to life, the right to protect that life, and the right to defend one’s family. In the legislature, I consistently voted against the anti–Second Amendment bills passed by the DFL trifecta, and I will continue to stand up for our God-given right to keep and bear arms. Learn more

Infrastructure / Transportation

Minnesota must maintain a world-class transportation infrastructure to remain competitive in business and to keep our citizens safe. Greater Minnesota has experienced a loss in transportation funds due to huge metro projects that serve a tiny fraction of the population. We need to focus on repairing, expanding and improving our transportation infrastructure without politically motivated projects that drain funds from where they would be most useful. Learn more

Taxes / Budget

Families in Minnesota should be able to keep as much of their hard-earned income as possible. Minnesota taxpayers are among the most heavily taxed in the country. Individuals face income tax rates ranging from 5.35% for lower-income earners, 7.05–7.85% for middle-income earners, and 9.85% for higher-income earners. On top of that, we pay a statewide sales tax of 6.875% on most goods and services. Businesses also face a flat corporate income tax of 9.8%. And these are only some of the taxes Minnesotans shoulder. We’re taxed at much higher rates than our neighboring states, and lowering those rates is essential to easing the burden on families and making Minnesota more competitive in the global marketplace. Unfortunately, during the recent DFL trifecta, not only was the entire budget surplus spent, but taxes were raised by another 10 billion. We need to focus on bringing tax rates down to make life more affordable for everyone. Learn more

Recent increases in taxes and spending have pushed our state budget to historic levels. Looking back over the past 50 years, state spending has grown faster than inflation, and the budget now exceeds 65 billion. When adjusted for both inflation and population growth, Minnesota’s budget has grown by 600% since 1960. We need to slow down this runaway spending and return more decision-making to the local level. It’s far easier for citizens to influence how their county board spends money than the state legislature, and it’s time to give that control back to local communities. Learn more