Neighbors,
I hope that you had a very happy belated Mother’s Day, and enjoyed celebrations with family and friends.
As we enter the final week of the legislative session, I wanted to take a moment to give you an update on recent budget negotiations between House and Senate leadership and Governor Dayton.
While we passed budget bills that stabilize transportation funding, increase our investments in E-12 education, continue to ensure high quality care for our seniors and vulnerable adults, and implement policies that help Minnesota families, budget negotiations have stalled as the governor and DFL leaders continue to push for a gas tax increase.
After a $2 billion projected surplus, it’s simply wrong to insist that Minnesota families must pay more at the pump. The governor’s own agency agrees, noting that “lower gas prices are comparable to a tax cut, freeing up disposable income for spending on non-gasoline food and services.” A 6.5% gas tax, which is the governor and DFL’s request, would cost families in our district an average of $600 per year. That substantial amount of money is better managed in the pockets of Minnesota families, not by our government.
My colleagues and I continue to stand firm against this regressive, harmful tax increase. In fact, when brought to a vote on the House floor last week, every single member of the House voted against the tax increase. Minnesotans, too, are opposed to it – 80% believe it is unnecessary, according to a recent KSTP/Survey USA poll. So why would the governor and DFL leaders ignore the voices of their own members and of their constituents and push for an unnecessary tax increase?
We’ve fully funded our budgets, providing policies that help Minnesota families. It’s time for Governor Dayton and the DFL to put family budgets before partisan politics.
Please continue to reach out to me to share your thoughts on this and any other issue. You can reach me via phone at (651) 296-5813, or via email at rep.peggy.scott@house.mn.
I continue to stand up for your voice in the House.
Rep. Peggy Scott