Historic tax relief, transportation funding increase are signature accomplishments of 2017
ST. PAUL – Rep. Chris Swedzinski, R-Ghent, is pointing to $650 million in tax relief and historic funding for roads and bridges as key successes of the 2017 Legislature, which completed its budget work and adjourned early Friday morning.
“This session will be defined by the tax relief and increased funding for roads and bridges we provided,” Swedzinski said. “Those are two of the issues people in our district care about most and we came through. The $650 million tax bill and $300 million in increased funding for transportation over the next biennium are big victories for Minnesotans. It is satisfying to see hard work and determination produce these phenomenal results. This is one of the most productive legislative sessions in memory.”
The Minnesota House and Senate concluded a brief special session by passing the final bills that comprise the state’s 2018-19 budget. In all, the Legislature passed seven bills during the special session: taxes, transportation, state government, health and human services, K-12 education, capital investment and labor standards.
The Republican-led tax bill will mean more than $650 million in tax relief – the largest tax cut in nearly two decades – for Minnesota families in the 2018-19 biennium and roughly $750 million in tax relief in 2020-21. It includes relief for seniors on Social Security, college graduates with student loan debt, and property tax relief for farmers and Minnesota businesses.
“It is so good to see that we finally righted the wrong that was our state’s excessive tax on Social Security income,” Swedzinski said. “Our seniors deserve better and the tax bill we passed will leave extra money in their pocket each month. That will make a real difference for many people in our state, especially those on fixed incomes.”
In addition, Republicans championed and the Legislature approved the largest investment in road and bridge infrastructure in a state history, billions more for transportation over the next decade without an increase in the gas tax or license tab fees.
In all, the Legislature sent 10 budget bills, a $995 million bonding bill and a labor standards bill to the governor’s desk for his signature.
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