Dear Neighbors,
Warm temperatures are heading our way this weekend! I hope you take time to get outside and enjoy the sun.
Things are also starting to heat up at the State Capitol with first committee deadlines next Friday.
Last week I briefly discussed the state’s new $1.6 billion budget surplus and how this will impact negotiations in St. Paul. On its face, this is great news for the state’s economic outlook.
Unfortunately, this recovery is not being felt by all Minnesotans and businesses. As big box stores continue to thrive, main street businesses have had to rely on federal and state aid to keep their doors open as they’ve been forced to close or significantly alter their operations.
In fact, more than 102,000 businesses in Minnesota were able to access critical aid through the federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). These forgivable loans allowed businesses to keep their doors open and staff employed despite the significant financial losses that were being incurred at the time.
Now, many of these same businesses are receiving unexpected tax bills from the state. At a time when so many are struggling to get back on their feet, these tax bills will cause significant harm to small businesses that employ our friends, families, and neighbors.
In fact, Minnesota is the only state in the upper Midwest that taxes PPP loans.
This will cause further damage to main street businesses in our community.
The state has a $1.6 billion surplus, so there certainly is not a lack of revenue. We need to get this issue resolved and exempt PPP loans from state taxes. Let’s get this done.
Bringing our Best Days to Reality
Bringing our best days to reality starts with responsible mining. The world of tomorrow will be built with iron, copper, nickel, and the other countless minerals that are right here beneath our feet! My bill that I am working on with my teammate, Sen. Justin Eichorn, to make Minnesota a Mining Friendly State (HF 1009/SF 590) is the first step to making that happen.
Let's do this right and mine for the world of tomorrow with the hardest working men and women, best labor standards, and responsible environmental policy to exist. Let's be Mining Friendly Minnesota!
Click here or the photo below to watch the speech I gave at the Fight for Our Way of Life rally in Chisholm a few weeks ago.
Staying in Touch
Please do not hesitate to contact me. As your representative, it is my duty to listen to your thoughts, questions, and concerns regarding state government. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-4936 or via email at rep.spencer.igo@house.mn.
Have a great day,
Spencer