Senator Kreun's
Priorities
Combat Fraud
Restore Accountabilty
Fraud is unconscionable. Those engaged rob from their neighbors and friends – they erode the public trust – they steal from all who legitimately need services and a helping hand.
Senator Kreun was the chief Republican author of groundbreaking legislation establishing a statewide Office of Inspector General. This independent taxpayer watchdog was a key victory of the last legislative session, finally passed by an overwhelming bipartisan majority.
We must continue pursuing reforms to prevent fraud and hold perpetrators accountable.
Senator Kreun also led the passage of:
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Increased whistleblower protections for state employees who report fraud
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Imposing a 100% excise tax on fraudulently obtained funds
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Increasing the statutes of limitations on theft of public funds to allow for prosecution of fraud
He will continue pursuing reforms to prevent fraud and hold perpetrators accountable, including:
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Increased penalties for state employees who fail to report fraud
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Required automatic audits for programs which exceed budget projections by 5% and pausing funding the following fiscal year when they exceed budgets by 10% - , requiring legislative review before funding is restored. Social service programs can no longer operate on “auto-pilot.”
Lowering Taxes and the
Cost of Living
Minnesotans are over-taxed, plain and simple. Business and individual tax rates are too high, and our regulatory burden makes it harder to compete for jobs and investment.
Senator Kreun will work to undo tax hikes imposed during the 2023-24 session, including tab fees, the metro-area sales tax, retail delivery fee, and automatic gas tax increases without a legislative vote. He will work to reduce business and individual income taxes across all brackets.
He will also work to eliminate the state income tax on Social Security benefits for all seniors, so seniors can afford to stay.
Property taxes have increased $1 billion statewide in the last year. These high taxes are crippling individuals and businesses and are leading to higher prices for consumers. Michael supports policies that impose levy caps combined with a prohibition of unfunded and underfunded mandates on our local governments.
He will also support bills that reform Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) and Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) to make the programs more flexible and affordable. The PFML program is currently paying out more than it is collecting in payroll taxes, and he will not support raising the payroll tax to address that imbalance. He will pursue regulatory and permitting reforms to make government more predictable, transparent, and responsive. He will also work with employers to identify appropriate exemptions or alternative approaches for temporary workers and address provisions that can be especially disruptive to small businesses, including the use of intermittent leave.
Promoting Academic Excellence in Our Schools
Minnesota has long been the home of some of the finest educational opportunities in the United States. In recent years – we have seen a troubling drop in academic achievement and school performance. There are many concerns regarding teacher support, unfunded mandates, classroom discipline and school safety.
As a former school board member and an education finance expert, Michael is and will remain a fighter for our kids. Minnesota children must receive a world-class education and graduate with the skills and opportunities to succeed. That means adequate funding, a focus on high academic standards, and strong behavioral expectations.
To promote academic excellence, Senator Kreun will:
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Support strong academic standards and assessments in schools
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Support local control of school boards to decide on school budgets and curriculum
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Support safe learning environments by empowering schools to remove disruptive students
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Support collaboration between teachers and parents to foster a strong academic partnership
Supporting Law Enforcement Keeping Communities Safe
Families and Businesses cannot thrive without safe communities. Senator Kreun will continue to support law enforcement and policies that hold criminals accountable, beginning with repealing the 2023 law allowing certain felony offenders to serve only half their sentences. He will pursue additional reforms that strengthen accountability and make Minnesota safer.
Safe communities require law enforcement and accountability. Senator Kreun will support police, firefighters, first responders, and school resource officers while working to strengthen penalties, improve sentencing transparency, end catch-and-release, and repeal early-release policies allowing offenders to serve only half their sentences.
Healthcare
Rising healthcare costs are a significant challenge for businesses and their employees. Senator Kreun supports Minnesota’s individual-market reinsurance program, which helps stabilize the insurance market and blunt premium increases without imposing additional mandates or regulations that drive up costs.
Energy
Minnesota businesses need reliable, affordable, and flexible energy. Senator Kreun supports an all-of-the-above approach that allows businesses and consumers to benefit from a diverse energy portfolio. That includes eliminating Minnesota’s nuclear moratorium and ensuring energy policy prioritizes reliability and affordability rather than restricting viable energy sources.
Business
Senator Kreun is running for reelection because Minnesota needs a pro-growth approach that makes it easier to start, grow, and invest in a business. We need lower taxes, less unnecessary and more predictable regulation, permitting reform, and a government that understands businesses are partners in creating jobs and opportunity. Public service, like any successful business, should be defined by professionalism, civility, collaboration, and results.
Michael, a small business owner himself, consistently advocates for pro-growth policies, opposing legislation that makes it harder to operate and grow a business. He has a 100% voting record on votes scored by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). He has worked closely with the Minnesota Chamber and his local chambers, including MetroNorth, Ham Lake, and Forest Lake, to understand their concerns and advocate for their priorities.
Michael can often be found visiting the businesses in his district. He routinely engages with business representatives on legislation before the Judiciary Committee, where he serves, working to cultivate the best business climate, and oppose legislation that would negatively impact businesses.
He received the endorsements of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Leadership PAC, MetroNorth Chamber Leadership fund and NFIB.
