| For Immediate Release | For more information contact: |
| February 25, 1999 | Bill Walsh (651-296-0640) |
(St. Paul)...Rep. Phil Krinkie and Sen. Linda Runbeck upped the ante today on their permanent tax cut by proposing a new $2.6 billion plan that includes a 1% across the board income tax cut, elimination of the marriage penalty, flattening the car tab fees, and eliminating the provider tax.
They were joined in their effort by Sen. Michelle Fishbach and Rep. Bruce Anderson (authors of the car tab proposal), Rep. Andy Westerberg and Sen Dave Knutson (authors of the marriage penalty elimination), and Rep. Bill Haas and Sen. Dan Stevens (authors of the provider tax elimination).
"While some are talking about one-time rebates, we are trying to focus on the more important task of permanently reducing the tax burden on Minnesota families," said Krinkie. "The call for a substantial permanent tax will only get louder after Minnesotans hear about yet another budget surplus on Friday."
"We are excited to join forces with these other members as we add to our original proposal for an across the board income tax cut," said Runbeck. "This plan truly gives back all of the budget surplus, meeting the campaign promises heard so often during the 1998 election."
The new proposal totals $2.6 billion and contains the following parts:
1% rate reduction in each income tax bracket $1.526 billion
Flatten the auto tab fees to $35 $410 million
Eliminate the marriage penalty $329 million
Elimination of the provider tax $414 million
Total $2.679 billion
A new budget forecast is scheduled to be announced on Friday.