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State Representative Joe Hoppe
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-5066
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
HOUSE PASSES TAX BILL
If you follow breaking news from the Capitol you probably heard all about the House bill that would raise the gas tax by 10 cents. I voted against a gas tax increase because it hits too hard and at the wrong time. Commuters and businesses are having enough difficulty keeping up with rising gas prices, they don’t need government tacking on another 10 cents to gas that already costs more than $2. The increase did however pass, but Governor Pawlenty promised a swift wielding of his veto pen if it ever crosses his desk.
But there was an important tax bill I voted “Yes” on and it happened the day before our misguided vote to raise the gas tax. I voted in support of the House Omnibus Tax bill because I believe it brings welcome benefits to families, job creators and veterans. Let’s start with families.
The House tax bill provides $56 million in tax breaks by eliminating the so-called “marriage penalty” for joint filers. Our House research staff predicts 500,000 married couples will see the benefits of this move and you can bet that many of them will put their savings right back into their families, which is good news because…
Our tax bill also removed the $2,000 per-family cap on the education credit. As those of you who claim it know, you can only claim up to $1,000 in education-related expenses per child and no more than $2,000 total. But our bill not only removes the $2,000 cap, it also removes the need to allocate costs to a specific child. An investment in education starts at home and I think that removing the marriage penalty and the education credit cap will encourage parents to make that investment in their children.
For businesses, our bill contains important provisions that allow them to receive tax rebates faster – in some cases they are actually instant rebates – and removes tax penalties large employers face when they add more jobs or buy property. Active service members and veterans also benefit through income tax exemptions for money earned while on active duty in Minnesota and on a new tax check-off designated for service members and their families who suffered financial difficulties as a result of serving in the Global War on Terrorism.
Now the bad news here is that the Senate has proposed $1.4 billion in new taxes in its tax bill. They claim they are targeting high income earners but really they will hit small businesses that pay individual tax rates. Needless to say, this is a really bad idea. They claim they are targeting high income earners but really they will hit small businesses that pay individual tax rates. Needless to say, this is a really bad idea and there is now way the governor or the House will ever go along with it.
What we will go along with is a tax plan that provides targeted relief to those who need it and keeps government sprawl in check. The House tax plan hits the right people for tax benefits and will keep state government within its means.
Sincerely,
Joe Hoppe
District 34B, State Representative
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