Historic tax relief, transportation funding increase are signature accomplishments of 2017
ST. PAUL – Rep. Matt Bliss, R-Pennington, is highlighting $650 million in tax relief and significantly more funding for transportation as the top accomplishments of the 2017 Legislature, which completed its budget work and adjourned early Friday morning.
“Tax relief and funding for roads and bridges have been two of my top priorities this session and it is satisfying to see major victories come in both of those areas,” Bliss said. “Those are the bills that will define this session in the history books: $650 million in tax relief and $300 million more for transportation the next two years alone without raising taxes.”
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 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.
“Minnesota was one of very few states that was fully tax our seniors’ Social Security income,” Bliss said. “It was long overdue to right that wrong and the fact we accomplished that will translate to meaningful relief to seniors.”
In addition, Republicans championed and the Legislature approved the largest investment in road and bridge infrastructure in state history, billions more over the next 10 years without an increase in the gas tax or license tab fees.
Overall, 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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