Dear Neighbors,
Spring is in the air! We’re working hard today in St. Paul, but I can’t wait to get back to Little Falls to spend some time with the family. Before the weekend officially starts, I wanted to make sure you were up-to-date on what’s happening at the Capitol.
Yesterday, we passed a $1.35 billion tax relief proposal that’s targeted toward middle class Minnesotans. Our $1.6 billion budget surplus is evidence the state has been overtaxing for too long, and we need to change that. Some of the important provisions include:
- $269 million in relief for Minnesota’s senior citizens by increasing the income limit at which social security income is taxable.
- $35 million for working families with young children by modifying the child and dependent care credit.
- $42 million in relief for farmers by reducing what farmers pay for school bond referendums.
- More than $125 million to help make college more affordable through a first-in-the-nation tax credit for student loan payments.
- $203 million for local, main-street businesses by exempting the first $200,000 in property value from the state general levy.
These are just some of the critical parts of our plan to give the middle class a tax break. I’m happy to see the passage of our bill with bipartisan support. To me, it’s common sense to vote for a bill that goes to help middle class families, small business owners, senior citizens, and more.
As I said earlier, it’s a busy Friday in St. Paul. On the House floor today, we’re discussing our education and transportation budget bills. These are some of the most important areas of our budget, and I’ll be sure to include information on these in my next update.
Since it’s a Friday during Lent, it means it’s time to head out to a local fish fry!
Second, St. Mary Catholic Church in Upsala is holding its second annual Best Smelt & Fish Fry in Central MN on Friday, April 7th.
Enjoy your weekend,
Ron