ST. PAUL —State Representative John Poston, R-Lake Shore, issued the following statement regarding Gov. Tim Walz's 2021-2022 budget proposal. Gov. Walz is proposing $1.7 billion in new taxes including a 10% hike to Minnesota's top tax bracket, a 15 percent hike to Minnesota's business tax, and regressive tax hikes on cigarettes and vaping products that disproportionately hit low-income Minnesotans. The Governor is proposing just .3% in cuts ($150 million) out of a $52+ billion budget.
“The economic and social damage caused by Governor Walz’s harmful shutdowns will take years to recover from,” said Rep. Poston. “That’s why these proposed tax increases are the wrong approach to balancing the budget and will only extend the pain and slow Minnesota’s economic recovery. I am committed to working on and passing a bipartisan budget that invests in the things that matter most to Minnesotans while ensuring that we reduce overall government spending and streamline state agencies and programs.”
Lawmakers and the Governor must pass a new two-year budget by June 30 to avoid a state government shutdown.
###