Dear Friends,
Today is the deadline for Governor Dayton to sign or veto the 2016 tax bill. The bill passed with the support of 89 percent of the legislature, passing 123-10 in the House and 55-12 in the Senate.
The bill includes half a billion dollars in permanent, ongoing middle-class tax relief including (over the next three years):
- $110 million in tax relief for college graduates paying off student loans
- $49 million in tax relief for families who contribute to 529 plans to save for their children's college costs
- $146 million in tax relief for every small business in Minnesota
- $13 million in tax relief for Minnesota veterans
- $90.6 million in tax relief for Minnesota farmers
- $150 million in tax relief for working families by expanding the working family tax credit
- $32 million to reduce the cost of childcare by expanding the childcare tax credit
- Federal conformity provisions that allow Minnesotans to deduct higher education tuition expenses, mortgage insurance premiums, classroom expenses for teachers, charitable giving (for seniors), and more
The Governor has threatened to veto the bill despite agreement from Republicans to make two changes he requested to fix a drafting error and restore a small sales tax exemption. It's time for the Governor to put politics aside, do what's right, and sign the bill to give long-awaited tax relief to thousands of Minnesota families.
I saw many of you at last week’s Memorial Day services and you asked about the status of our tax relief proposal. Please take the opportunity, and respectfully encourage Governor Dayton to sign this bill into law. You can call his office at 651-201-3400, or toll free 800-657-3717. You can email your comments to the Governor by clicking here. Please be respectful in any comments you make.
Sincerely,
Jim