STATE OF MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
EIGHTY-EIGHTH SESSION
SEVENTEENTH MEETING
COMMITTEE ON TAXES
Chair, Representative Ann Lenczewski
MINUTES
Representative Lenczewski, Chair of Committee on Taxes, called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm February 27 in Room 10 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
Lenczewski, Chair
Loeffler, Vice Chair
Anzelc
Davids, Lead
Anderson, S.
Barrett
Benson, J.
Carlson
Davnie
Drazkowski
Erhardt
Garofalo
Hansen
Lesch
Liebling
Lillie
Loon
Mack
Marquart
Myhra
Paymar
Peppin
Runbeck
Schoen
Simonson
Zellers
Members excused:
Melin
Slocum
A quorum was present.
Minnesota Department of Revenue Commissioner Myron Frans presented HF 677 (Lenczewski) Tax law modernization and reform provided, property tax rebate established, state business property tax reduced, fourth tier income tax established, sales tax rate lowered and base broadened, corporate franchise tax rate lowered and simplified by eliminating preferences, local government and county aid provided for, and money appropriated.
Commissioner Frans answered questions of the committee.
The following individuals testified on HF 677:
Robert Scarlett
John Strachota, BWBR Architect
Rev. Dan Garnaas, Grace University Lutheran Church (ISAIAH group)
Carl Peterson, CPA and MN CPA Society
Elizabeth Bruber
Mark Haveman, Executive Director, MN Center for Fiscal Excellence
Jackson Fate
Monte Williams, Altria
Jean Bender
Kevin Cooper, Enterprise Holdings
Mayor Chris Coleman, City of St. Paul
Molly Jungbauer, Techserve Alliance - MN Chapter
Chevelle Bradley, Metro Transit
Derek Madsen, YMCA
Mark LaKosky, MN Firefighters Local 82
Doug Spong, Carmichael Lynch Spong
John Matthews, First Transit
Paul Eger, MN Association of Realtors
Joy March Stephens, Member of ISAIAH Board of Directors
Katie Toghramadjian, American Council of Engineering Companies
Mayor R.T. Rybak, City of Minneapolis
Joyce Brenny, MNTrucking Association, owner of Brenny Transportation
Sarah Mullins, ISAIAH group
David Sweet
Rev. Paul Erickson, Assistant to the Bishop, St. Paul Area Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church, (ISAIAH group)
Dr. Tom Hagerty, MN Veterinary Association
Dr. Pete Dehnel, Pediatrician, Medical Director, Blue Cross Blue Shield
Amy Langer Salo, Salo MN Recruiting and Staffing
Nancy Larson
Randy Lebedoff, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the Star Tribune Media Company
Jen Peterson, MN Coalition for Homeless
Mike Martin, MN Cable Communications Association and the MN Telecom Alliance
Harry Melander, MN Building Trades and St. Paul Building Trades
Jim Scott, Carmichael Lynch
Jake Benson, Owner and Publisher of the Proctor Journal, Hermantown Star, The Forum/Floodwood
Dane Smith, Growth and Justice
Brent Christenson, Minnesota Telecom Alliance
Jacob Millner, Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association
Melissa Goldberg, ESL teacher in Bloomington
Tim Brunelle, Minnesota Interactive Marketing Association
Mary Cecconi, Executive Director of Parents United for Public Schools
Beth Kadoun, MN Chamber of Commerce
Vic Moore, MN Auctioneers
Margaret Donahoe, MN Transportation Alliance
Jay Fahe, MN Auctioneers
Bob Kolstad, MN Assistant Public Defender
Ralph Balestriere, CFO, Red Wing Shoes
Josiah Hill, Stillwater English Teacher
Joe Keller, President and COO, MotivAction
David Schimf, Faculty at UMD
Matt Drevlow, Corporate Attorney, KGP Logistics
Lynn Peterson, JRLC
Paul Berg, MN Shopping Association
Mark Grant, Faculty at Dakota County Technical College
Roz Peterson, Cerron Commercial Property, MN Shopping Association
Nan Madden, MN Budget Project Director, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
Shaye Mandle, VP of Government Relations & COO for LifeScience Alley
Damon Kapke, Faculty at Lake Superior College in Duluth
Jennifer Michaelson, R.N.
Jaime Pfuhl, President of MN Grocers Association
Todd Mikkelson
Bob Connor, Veteran
Dean Aschman, Veteran
Chuck Jones, Veteran
Mark Peters, Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy
Dean Stanton, President of Local 1-M of the Printer's Union
Thom Petersen, Director of Government Relations, MN Farmers Union
David Radziej, President and CEO of Printing Industry Midwest
Bernadine Engeldorf, R.N.
Peter Mitchell, Traust Group, Inc.
Steve Hunter, MN AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer
David Skjelbred, Independent Community Bankers of MN
Clifford Poehler, AFSCME
Mark Nordland, Commercial real estate developer
Alberto Monserrate, President and CEO of Latino Communication Network
Paul Gammel, AFSCME
Sue Aberholden, National Alliance on Mental Illness
Terry Mattson, Visit Duluth
Noah Wilcox, Independent Community Bankers
Patrick Algyer, North Central Business Association
Sarah Chamberlain, AFSCME
Robert Enger, Attorney at Northwest MN Legal Services
Kent Gernander, Attorney at Streater & Murphy P.A.
Mike Lindholt
Steve Reeves, AFSCME
Bill Strusinski, Securities and Financial Marketers Association
Jeff Gardner, Coin Laundry Association
Toni Carter, Ramsey County Commissioner
Angie Sylling, American Cancer Society
Julie Buchanan, World Class Travel Leaders
Kate Madonna Hindes, SMCPROS
Roger Aronson, MN State High School League
Lorrie Louder, St. Paul Port Authority
David Aquilina, Strategic Storyteller
Jan Callison, Hennepin County Board of Commissioners
Dana Bartocci, Volunteer, White Bear Area YMCA
Corey Cusick, Student
Simon Radecki, Student
Mike Mestad, CEO Red Wing YMCA
Kristy Collier
Stephen Kranz, Partner, McDermott Will & Emery LLP
Jennifer Thomas
Todd Hauschildt
Ron Elwood, Legal Services Advocacy Project
Jason Sprenger
Tom Torgrud, St. Paul College
Bob Reinitz, Professional Recruiters, Inc.
Tom Klint
Steve Morse, MN Environmental Partnership
Steve Woodbury, The Pohlad Companies/Northern Lights Broadcasting-KTWN-FM
Steve Hornsfield, Assisted Housing Services
Phillip Mattison
Lisa Thompson
Mayor Jim Nash of Waconia
The meeting was adjourned at 11:59 PM.
Representative Ann Lenczewski, Chair
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Gina Kunesh, Committee Legislative Assistant
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