Sen. Bill Lieske Defends Voting Record, Refusing to Help Working Families
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16th, 2026
In an op-ed, Lieske refused to take responsibility for his bad votes in an effort to short his constituents’ tax relief.
ST. PAUL, MN. — In a recent op-ed published in the Faribault Daily, Sen. Bill Lieske defended his vote against bipartisan tax legislation that delivered relief to working families while helping balance Minnesota’s budget.
At a time when federal funding cuts are forcing states to make difficult fiscal decisions, Minnesota lawmakers came together across party lines to pass a balanced budget that reduced costs for families and protected essential services. The tax bill itself passed with overwhelming bipartisan support on a 52-15 vote, with opposition coming primarily from the most extreme members, including Sen. Bill Lieske. While Democrats and Republicans worked together to find common ground and deliver tax relief for Minnesotans, Lieske chose to vote against those efforts.
Lieske’s opposition comes as he continues to align himself with President Donald Trump and the policies emerging from Washington. On his podcast, Lieske said, “You know why we’re standing with Donald Trump? Because he’s trying to fix and right the ship.”
Meanwhile, Minnesotans are facing rising costs, threats to affordable health care, and economic uncertainty driven by federal policies. Rather than working with others to address these challenges, Lieske is attempting to rewrite the record and stand in the way of real relief.
In response, Senate DFL Campaign Director Jessica Barloga released the following statement:
“Bill Lieske is another example of the hypocrisy of the far right in this state. This tax relief package passed with bipartisan support because lawmakers across the political spectrum recognized that Minnesotans need help managing rising costs. Yet Lieske opposed the very relief that is now putting money back into people’s pockets. While Republicans and Democrats alike came together to deliver results, Lieske stood on the sidelines and voted no.”
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