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| BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION TO DAYTON TAX INCREASE PROPOSAL IN MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE | ||||||||||
(St. Paul)---Republican Leadership commented on today’s legislative activity that occurred in both chambers of the Minnesota State Capitol. The House and Senate brought Governor Dayton’s tax proposal to the floor, where it was overwhelmingly defeated 63-1 in the Senate and 131-0 in the House.
“We’ve said all along that Governor Dayton’s job-killing tax increases are detrimental to job providers, families and individuals. Today’s bipartisan vote confirms that even members of the Governor’s own political party are skeptical at best, and afraid at the worst, to demonstrate their support for these enormous income tax increases,” said Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch (R-Buffalo).
“Minnesota’s budget challenge deserves a serious proposal. Republicans in the House and Senate will present a balanced budget in March that funds the priorities of the state, lives within the means of the state, and frees hardworking Minnesotans from additional tax increases,” said Speaker of the House Kurt Zellers (R- Maple Grove).
“This was a fair and accurate representation of what the Governor wants Minnesota’s tax system to look like, and the mere mention of it strikes fear in Minnesota families and job providers. These tax hikes would make Minnesota one of the least competitive states to do business in at a time when we can least afford it,” said Deputy Majority Leader Geoff Michel (R-Edina). “We do not believe that the same old, tax-and-spend ways are going to get us to a balanced budget, and today’s vote reflected that.”
“Republicans want to keep revenue in the economy. Tax increases are the wrong direction for a state that is in desperate need of a strong economic recovery. When spending outpaces revenue by 3:1, you have a serious problem. Our budget solution will reset how we balance the state’s budget, reduce the deficit, and maximize the state’s available resources to deliver results,” said Majority Leader Matt Dean (R-Dellwood).
The majorities in the Minnesota House and Senate have set the most aggressive committee deadlines in recent years to ensure that solving the budget deficit will be done first, and in a timely manner. While leadership in the House and Senate DFL have openly and consistently refused to propose a balanced budget plan of their own, House and Senate Republicans will present their budget plan in the coming weeks.
