To the Editor:
Last week Governor Mark Dayton announced that he plans to scrap his budget’s business-to-business sales tax proposal.
The announcement came one day after I met with the Governor to share concerns from my constituents about the proposal’s impact on small businesses in our District.
From the time he first announced the business-to-business tax proposal, I have held town hall meetings, distributed a legislative survey, and met with business owners to gather input and feedback. I was grateful for the opportunity to share the concerns I heard from constituents with the Governor.
Throughout the entire budget process, Governor Dayton has been open to feedback and new ideas relayed to me by my constituents. He showed leadership by listening to our concerns and others who criticized his initial proposal. Receptive and responsive government is exactly what Minnesotans deserve from their elected officials.
Right now, the Legislature is putting together our own budget proposal that will incorporate feedback I’ve heard from constituents and business owners. They want us to get Minnesota’s fiscal house on stable footing by passing an honest, fair budget that doesn’t rely on gimmicks, shifts, or one-time fixes. They also want us to make smart investments in our children’s education so we can keep Minnesota competitive in an increasingly global economy.
I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues to get the job done so we can end Minnesota’s perpetual cycle of budget deficits and set our state up to thrive for years to come.
If you want to share your ideas or feedback as the budget process continues, please contact me by phone at (651) 296-8875, by email at rep.peter.fischer@house.mn, or by postal mail at 421 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155.