ST. PAUL — With only days remaining in the 2023 legislative session and no end in sight for a conference committee that will set tax policy in the state for the next two years, State Representative Ben Bakeberg (R-Jordan) is wondering if Minnesotans will see any tax relief.
“Minnesota has a historic, $17.5 billion surplus, yet Democrats are refusing to provide permanent, meaningful tax relief for our families this session,” said Bakeberg. “Minnesotans continue to face higher prices for gas, groceries, and energy bills. Instead of exploring ways to raise taxes by upwards of $10 billion, we should be focused on finding ways to support our families and their budgets.”
While Democrats talked a good game about tax relief last fall, their legislative actions have spoken louder than their campaign pledges. Among the Democrats’ broken tax relief promises:
- Social Security tax relief. Despite nearly universal agreement among Democrat candidates to eliminate the unnecessary taxation on Social Security benefits for all of Minnesota’s senior citizens, talks of following through on that promise disappeared almost immediately after the Legislature gaveled into session in January. Recently, talks resumed on increasing the number of seniors who might qualify for taxation exemption, but a full elimination for all elderly residents is almost certainly dead.
- Baby products. Among the decisions the Democrat-controlled Taxes conference committee has made is to remove an overwhelmingly bipartisan provision that would eliminate sales taxes from baby products. This tax exemption provides meaningful support for all parents in Minnesota as they expand their families and is especially helpful for first-time parents who may be overwhelmed at the costs of bringing a baby home safely.
- Rebate checks. Following Sen. Rest’s comments about an “insatiable appetite to raise taxes” will talks of providing rebate checks disappear? Governor Walz began session by stating that he wanted $2,000 rebates sent to married couples making $150,000 or less and $1,000 checks sent to single filers making $75,000 or less each year. As it stands today, legislative Democrats are only offering $550 for the same joint filers and $275 for singles. Could this amount decline even more or be eliminated altogether as the surplus well runs dry?
- Gas tax increase? The Democrats found plenty of taxes and fees to raise in the transportation arena – including a ¾ cent Metro Area sales tax and increases on license tab renewals and the motor vehicle sales tax, to name a few – but raising the gasoline tax in the face of a mammoth budget surplus was supposed to be off the table. Now, in the waning hours of session, Democrats won’t rule out having the gas tax tied to inflation, which would further financially devastate drivers who are currently paying nearly $4 per gallon.
“It’s time Democrats and Republicans come together to honor our campaign promise of delivering tax relief for Minnesotans,” said Bakeberg. “Raising taxes while we have a historic surplus sends the wrong message. Increasing family budgets, not government bureaucracy, should be our only priority this session.”
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