Benson co-authored a bill that permitted businesses and individuals to discriminate against same-sex couples.[10] Additionally, Benson voted against legislation that would have increased penalties for hate crimes. [11] She sponsored a proposal to remove healthcare, vision, and dental coverage from 510,000 Minnesotans and more than 25,000 live in Bensons Anoka county.[12] When Benson sat as the chair of the health and human services committee, she tried to lead efforts for the elimination of the healthcare provider tax,[13] which would have caused a $1.5 billion hole in the health and human services budget, low-income health programs, and programs for disabled and elderly people.[14]
In 2021, Michelle Benson called into question the ways in which the Minnesota government spent federal COVID-19 relief, dubbing the spending wasteful.[15] She also spread scientifically incorrect information about the COVID-19 virus and questioned needs for testing and vaccinations. [16] Benson has been a long time opponent to the Affordable Care Act.[17]