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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Sondra Erickson (R)

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RELEASE: Erickson statement on passage of federal tax conformity and House DFL blocking MNsure fix

Thursday, January 5, 2017


Democrats who created Obamacare disaster block $300 million in relief to provide aid for skyrocketing premiums

 

ST. PAUL, MN—House Republicans wasted no time getting to work on key session priorities, including health care and tax relief. House File 2, which will result in $21.7 million in tax relief for 220,000 Minnesota tax filers by conforming Minnesota's tax code to the federal tax code, passed Thursday on a vote of 130-0.

Republicans also moved to declare an urgency and pass The 2017 Health Care Emergency Aid and Access bill, HF1, which would have provided premium relief, extended access to doctors for continuity of care, and begun to reform the individual market. Democrats blocked the measure, despite agreeing days earlier to suspend the rules in order to expedite premium relief for Minnesotans.

"I am pleased that we were able to pass HF2, which will provide $21.7 million in tax relief to people filing this year,” said Rep. Sondra Erickson (R- Princeton). “House Republicans and myself presented a MNsure fix that would have given immediate relief to people suffering under the burden of skyrocketing premiums, and been a substantial first step toward a long-term solution. I’m disappointed that the House DFL refused to adhere to their agreement and vote pass this measure.”

Without quick approval of the federal tax conformity bill (HF2), Minnesotans who file their taxes early could face higher tax bills, a situation all lawmakers wanted to avoid. The Department of Revenue has said that in order to avoid tax filing complications, the proposal needs to be signed into law before January 11. The Senate is expected to pass tax conformity in time to meet the January 11th deadline.

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