News Release
STATEMENT FROM REP. KIEL ON WALZ BUDGET PROPOSAL
ST. PAUL - State Representative Deb Kiel, R-Crookston, issued the following statement regarding Gov. Tim Walz's 2021-2022 budget proposal. Gov. Walz is proposing $1.7 billion in new taxes including a 10 percent hike to Minnesota's top tax bracket, a 15 percent hike to Minnesota's business tax, and regressive tax hikes on cigarettes and vaping products that disproportionately hit low-income Minnesotans. The Governor is proposing just .3% in cuts ($150 million) out of a $52+ billion budget.
“This budget imposes massive tax hikes on Minnesota families and businesses that will slow our economic recovery,” said Kiel. “Instead of raising taxes on families and businesses who have already been hit hard by shutdowns and executive orders, we should be passing a budget that uses existing resources, asking government to tighten up its budget and solving the deficit without harmful tax hikes.”
Lawmakers and the Governor must pass a new two-year budget by June 30 to avoid a state government shutdown.
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