News Release
House Democrat Inaction Causing Tax Increase Amid Historic Surplus
ST. PAUL, MN — Rep. Duane Quam, R-Byron, issued the following statement regarding House Democrats' blocking bipartisan legislation to avert a massive tax increase on Minnesota employers:
“Today the small businesses in our community are frustrated, and rightly so. After they were forced to shut down during the pandemic, government is punishing them again through no fault of their own. House Democrats stood against the Governor, Senate Republicans, Senate Democrats, and House Republicans in blocking a massive multiyear tax increase for businesses. They refused to support bipartisan legislation to replenish the UI Trust Fund, a resource so many needed when government told businesses to close their doors.
“Minnesota is an abnormality, unlike other states that provide UI to people who lost their jobs because of a vaccine mandate, they are being denied Unemployment Insurance by Minnesota. I created HF 2843 to prevent these workers from being denied UI benefits in Minnesotans.”
House Democrats voted against bringing up the bipartisan UI bill on Thursday, and did so again yesterday. They also blocked a motion to recess to the call of the chair to give additional time to negotiate a possible compromise.
It's been more than a full month of complete inaction by House Democrats. The House DFL UI bill — which DEED testified would result in six years of tax increases on businesses— has been stalled since it passed the Workforce Committee on February 9. The bill has not received a single hearing since being referred to Ways & Means. In contrast, Senate Republicans passed a full UI repayment bill on an overwhelming 55-11 vote a full month ago.
House Democrats adjourned the House until Thursday, guaranteeing that the tax hike deadline will be missed.
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