Hello again, my friend!!
When we need to get off of the House floor, there is a room called the Retiring Room. It is a beautiful room, but there is another room we lovingly call the napping room with recliners and couches above the Retiring Room on the fourth floor. I got to take a little power nap before we got started on taxes around 12:30 am.
One of the most incredible, smart people I have met here at the Legislature is Representative Marquart, the Chair of the Tax Committee. He is from Dilworth (near Moorhead) in Northwest Minnesota and did an awesome job on our Tax Bill to create a tax structure focused on families, seniors, farmers, small businesses, and communities across Minnesota. The bill passed 74 to 54.
First of all, the Tax Bill puts Minnesota in conformity with the Federal Tax code. This is a huge deal. It was mostly passed last year as part of the Tax bill but was vetoed by the Governor in Omnibus Prime.
Second of all, the Tax Bill keeps the provider tax helping to fund affordable health care in Minnesota. It was scheduled to sunset in 2019 but now will go from 2% to 1.8% with no sunset. Hundreds of hospitals, doctors, and healthcare networks support extending this provider tax.
Third of all, the Tax Bill works for Minnesota families by doubling the standard deduction, increasing the working family credit, and reduces the taxes on all.
Fourth, the Tax Bill helps seniors by increasing the Social Security subtraction.
Here are a couple other things:
- Statewide business property tax reduced by $47.5 million
- $10 million in Angel Investment Tax Credit
- Expands Local Government Aid and County Program Aid
- School District Referendum equalization (lowers property taxes)
Check out all of the provisions in this awesome Tax Bill here --> https://www.house.mn/bills/SS2019bill.asp
Brad
PS: I completely forgot to let you know that my hunting bill for using trained dogs for tracking wounded game passed in the the Environment Bill and is headed to the Governor!!! Now if you shoot a deer and are unable to track it because you are colorblind or unable to find the deer, you can use a trained dog on a 30' leash to track the deer and recover it.
PPS: Thank you to all of the hunting groups, MN Deer Hunters Assn, MOHA, and the MN Gun Owners Caucus for helping get this through!! Here is the language of the bill.
PPPS: No recess and we move straight into the Public Safety bill.
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