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State Representative Kurt Zellers
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-5502
For more information contact: Austin Bleess 651-296-5529
NEWS COLUMN
JOBS ARE THE ANSWER
By Kurt Zellers
State Representative
You can’t pick up a newspaper or turn on the TV lately without hearing about the tough economic times here in Minnesota and across the country. Its scary news if your job is in jeopardy or even worse if you are one of those that lost your job and are looking for new work. Here in Minnesota, we are faced with a $5 BILLION budget deficit over the next two years. The question before the Legislature, but more importantly you the taxpayers is; how are we going to balance the budget?
Up to this point there have really been two options on the table; cut government spending and live within our means or raise taxes and fees to maintain current spending levels and increases. Personally, I’m with the vast majority of Minnesotans and taxpayers of our area that say government at all levels should have to live within it’s means just like we have to with our family budgets.
But I believe there should be a third, more positive and optimistic, option on the table. Instead of waiting for the Federal government to send us more national debt money that our great-grandkids are going to have to pay off; let’s turn to what built this country and makes it the greatest nation in the word – the American workers. Let’s grow new jobs and new businesses in our state. Let’s give business women and men; the entrepreneurs and job creators, an incentive to move to Minnesota and expand their business in our state.
To do that, I introduced a bill this week the, “Emergency Jobs Stimulus Bill” to help bring news jobs to our state and encourage current Minnesota companies to stay, expand and grow. The idea is very simple; if you bring your business to Minnesota and stay for 5 years, we will exempt you from the 9.8% tax rate. And if your business is already here, we want you to expand and will exempt any new job as well.
Our business tax rate at 9.8% is one of the highest in the region and in the country. When neighboring states have tax rates that are half as much or even none at all – it puts our businesses at a huge disadvantage. And keep in mind, companies don’t pay those taxes; you and I do when we buy their products and services. So if a snow blower in Sioux Falls costs $300, it would probably cost $325 or $350 here in Minnesota because the manufacturer or retail has to make up the cost of those taxes to still make a profit and be able to pay their employees.
And that is the focus of this stimulus bill for me and the vast majority of business owners and job providers in our area and state – keeping and growing jobs for our Minnesota workers. I want to do all that I can to help those women and men who are willing to take a chance and start a new business in Maple Grove and Minnesota. To send the message to business owners in other states and we want you, and your employees, to move here and expand your business.
As the saying goes, “A rising tide lifts all boats.” Let’s start growing jobs again in Minnesota and refuse to participate in the doom and gloom of the daily media. Let’s grow our way into better economic times and make a better and brighter future for our state and our kid’s future.
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News Items
- Legislative Update (April 20, 2013) - (Posted: Apr 20 2013 2:43PM)
- Zellers Statement on House DFL Budget Framework - (Posted: Mar 19 2013 4:57PM)
- ZELLERS STATEMENT ON FEBRUARY FORECAST - (Posted: Mar 1 2013 6:02PM)
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