Dear neighbors,
As the Minnesota Legislature hits the midpoint of the 2013 session, one thing is clear: DFL majorities are focused on creating jobs, balancing our budget without gimmicks, and making investments in our children’s education.
The House DFL majority recently released a budget framework that puts Minnesota on sound fiscal footing and moves our state forward.
The proposed budget includes three main components:
1) Closing Minnesota’s $627 million deficit.
2) Fully paying back the remaining balance of over $800 million in funding borrowed from Minnesota schools.
3) Investing an additional $1 billion in priorities to strengthen Minnesota’s economic future, including $700 million for early childhood education through post-secondary, $250 million in property tax relief, and $46 million in job creation.
The budget framework is paid for using new revenue, spending cuts, and reforms. Specifically, a temporary income tax surcharge on Minnesotans who earn more than $500,000 per year would pay back the school shift. The surcharge would end once schools are fully repaid, which would occur in two years or sooner.
Additional revenue for investments to spark economic growth would come from asking the richest Minnesotans to pay their fair share in taxes – an idea that polling shows the majority of Minnesotans support. Similarly, we will not take an all-cuts or gimmick-filled approach that voters rejected last fall.
With the first two legislative committee deadlines behind us, lawmakers will soon begin spending more time discussing larger omnibus bills on the House floor. As our budget takes shape over the coming weeks, I look forward to making the case for investments that set our state up to thrive for years to come, like making sure we provide our children with a great education.
As always, please contact me with any questions, comments, or ideas. You can reach me by phone at (651) 296-1188, by email at rep.leon.lillie@house.mn, or by postal mail at 371 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.
Sincerely,
Leon Lillie
State Representative, District 43B