Accessibility menu
State Representative John Lesch
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4224
For more information contact: Nick Halter 651-297-1934
Press/News Releases
Bill to Help the Homeless
St. Paul- Starting next year it will get a little easier to help the homeless. State Rep. John Lesch (DFL- St. Paul) will introduce a bill created by one of his constituents that would add a voluntary check-off box to Minnesota State tax returns. The box would give taxpayers an opportunity to donate to food shelves and homeless shelters. Lesch said this legislation makes it easier to help out the less fortunate.
“Minnesotans are known for their generosity and kindness toward others, especially those who are down on their luck," said Lesch. “By stream-lining the donating process for shelters and food shelves we are making it easier for our citizens to carry on this tradition.”
The idea for the bill came from Arthur Nguyen, a junior at St. Paul Johnson High School. While talking with his guidance counselor Dan Kennedy about the recession he came up with the check-box idea. They both came down to the Capitol and rounded up support. Senator Ellen Anderson has introduced it into the Senate.
If passed, any individual who files an income tax return or property tax refund claim form can designate a $1 or more to either be added to their tax or deducted from their refund. It ensures that donations would stay in the district that the taxpayer who made it lives in. Nguyen hopes to see up to $1.2 million flow to shelters and food shelves across the state.
“Anytime we can get constituents from my district involved in the legislative process, that’s a plus,” said Lesch. “I’m proud to be presenting Nguyen’s bill into the House. For families who are struggling to make ends meet, ideas like this help to lighten their load.”
The legislation’s number is Senate Bill 2688 and will be introduced by Lesch this week.
-30-
News Items
- Rep. Lesch, Senator John Marty and Revenue Commissioner Frans to talk tax reform with area residents at St. Paul town hall meeting - (Posted: 2012-12-12 00:00:00)
- Rep. Lesch Named Chair of the House Civil Law Committee - (Posted: 2012-11-16 00:00:00)
- EARTH DAY A CHANCE FOR REFLECTION, ACTION - (Posted: 2012-04-17 00:00:00)
- Archived News Items
- Subscribe to RSS News Feeds
- Read more about RSS.