Hello from the State Capitol,
This week’s lowlight comes to you from the Minnesota House Taxes Committee, where Democrats lined up to argue and vote against eliminating taxes on tips and overtime.
Keep in mind, the federal government has already done away with these provisions. House Republicans think it’s a good idea to match what the feds are doing and allow our lower and middle-class residents to keep more of what they earn. Democrats want to keep it and spend it.
Senior citizens are leaving our state for 6 months and a day to establish residency elsewhere to avoid paying our taxes. Politicians put in a four-day week and head for home. Meanwhile, we’ve got residents working 6 to 7 days a week and barely getting by. The very least we can do for these folks is allow them to keep all of what they earn on tips and overtime by following the federal government’s lead.
To hear my thoughts from the taxes committee hearing, click here.
UPDATED STATE BUDGET FORECAST
Minnesota’s economic experts recently unveiled an updated budget forecast for the remainder of this biennium, showing a $3.7 billion surplus. But in the next budget cycle, expenses and inflation are outpacing expected revenue collections by roughly $3.4 billion. Any dollar spent this year means a dollar more on the deficit next year. Common sense should tell us new spending and tax increases should not even be discussed for the remainder of this year. We’re spending too much as it is. Enough is enough.
STOPPING NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
I am working on a bill that would prevent elected local and state officials from signing non-disclosure agreements on local economic development projects.
I’ve heard plenty of concern from residents across counties on this topic. They believe their councils and planning commissions signed NDA’s early on during data center development talks, which then prevents them from being transparent with the public about what they’re doing.
I find this very troublesome. With property taxes going through the roof, I’m all for finding ways to lower them for residents, and adding a major corporation to the tax rolls is certainly worth local consideration. However, we must respect the taxpayers in the process. Every elected official should be transparent, and signing an NDA is an easy way to avoid criticism from decisions they may or may not be making. I am very much against backroom deals with stakeholders, and very much for elected official accessibility to those who put them in office.
In liberty,
Drew