Minneapolis, MN – August 4, 2025 – Phillip C. Parrish, candidate for Governor of Minnesota in 2026, today issued the following statement in defense of Representatives Michelle Fischbach and Brad Finstad against Governor Tim Walz’s recent misleading attacks on their support for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Parrish condemned Walz’s claims as partisan distortions and highlighted how the Governor’s own tax increases and fees are the real culprits behind rising costs for Minnesotans.
“As a proud Minnesotan and candidate for Governor in 2026, I stand firmly with Representatives Michelle Fischbach and Brad Finstad, who have consistently fought for our state’s families, farmers, and workers,” said Parrish. “Governor Tim Walz’s recent attack—claiming they ‘voted to raise Minnesotans’ household energy bills by 28% so Trump can give tax cuts to billionaires’—is nothing short of a blatant distortion, rooted in partisan desperation rather than facts. This is classic Walz: cherry-picking speculative numbers from left-leaning advocacy groups to scare voters, all while ignoring the real benefits of the OBBBA and his own failed policies that are driving up costs right here at home.”
Parrish continued, “Let’s set the record straight. The so-called ‘28% increase’ Walz peddles isn’t a hard fact—it’s a wildly inflated projection from Energy Innovation, a pro-green energy think tank with a clear agenda. Independent analyses paint a far more realistic picture: national household energy costs might rise by just 2-4% by 2035. Walz’s claim is fearmongering designed to distract from the truth that this bill cuts wasteful subsidies, saves taxpayers billions, and prioritizes American energy independence.”
“Moreover, tying this to ‘tax cuts for billionaires’ is pure class-warfare nonsense,” Parrish added. “The OBBBA makes tax reforms permanent for everyone, with middle-class families benefiting from lower rates, doubled deductions, and new breaks on tips and overtime. Working Minnesotans stand to gain the most—not some elite cabal.”
Parrish also pointed to Walz’s own fiscal policies as the true source of economic pain for Minnesotans. “While Walz points fingers at Washington, his administration has been an outlier in raising taxes despite massive state surpluses. Under Walz, Minnesota families are burdened by a new 0.7% payroll tax for paid family leave, split between workers and employers, which directly increases the cost of doing business and takes more out of paychecks. He’s proposed hiking income taxes with new top rates and surtaxes on capital gains, and his budgets have expanded the sales tax base to legal, financial, and other services—effectively raising $108 million more annually under the guise of a tiny rate cut. These increases, combined with policies shifting human services costs to counties and driving up property taxes, are hurting everyday Minnesotans: families paying more at the pump and grocery store, small businesses struggling to hire, and seniors on fixed incomes squeezed by rising property bills. Walz’s tax hikes have fueled inflation and eroded our quality of life, all while he boasts about surpluses that could have provided real relief.”
“This isn’t leadership; it’s political theater at its worst, timed as Walz eyes higher office,” Parrish concluded. “Minnesotans deserve better than these divisive tactics. Representatives Fischbach and Finstad voted for prosperity, security, and fiscal responsibility—values I’ll champion as your next Governor. Let’s reject the smears, cut taxes for all, and build a Minnesota that works for everyone.”
About Phillip C. Parrish: Phillip C. Parrish is a candidate for Governor of Minnesota in 2026, committed to affordable energy, lower taxes, and putting Minnesotans first. For more information, visit parrish4mn.com
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