Accessibility menu
State Representative John Benson
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-9934
For more information contact: Charlene Briner 651-296-5809
Column/LTE
House moves quickly to pass tax relief
To the Editor,
As of this writing, the Minnesota House has completed its first full week of the 2007 session. Last week, I voted on my first bill as a freshman member of the Legislature, a bill to conform Minnesota’s income tax to federal income tax changes enacted since the 2006 House Legislature session concluded last spring. I'm pleased to say that our first order of business passed with unanimous support, and will bring tax relief to hard-working Minnesotans across the state.
It's always hard to believe how quickly tax season rolls around. Most of us do a good job of keeping our records and receipts in order to file the most accurate return possible, pay our taxes and maybe, get a refund. Passage of this tax conformity bill means that you could have more deductions to claim on your 2006 tax return - good news for Minnesota taxpayers.
The bill adopts changes made in federal tax codes since the adjournment of the 2006 Minnesota legislative session. The proposal was quickly put on a fast track in order to align Minnesota's tax code with recent changes Congress made to federal tax guidelines. Our goal was to make the changes before the window opens for filing 2006 returns so that Minnesotans eligible for the targeted deductions can claim them without filing extra paperwork.
So what do the changes mean to Minnesota taxpayers? First, an estimated 111,000 Minnesotans would be able to deduct up to $4,000 in college tuition costs and related expenses from their income taxes, resulting in a net savings of up to $165. In addition, more than 53,000 teachers would be eligible for up to $250 in deductions for classroom supplies they purchase. Finally, military personnel would get permission to put tax-exempt combat pay into retirement accounts without a penalty.
This week the bill is expected to pass in the Senate and be sent to Governor Pawlenty, who has already expressed that he will sign it into law.
One of my priorities as your representative is to help return our State Legislature into an efficient and functioning body. Passage of this bill is a good first step in a return to effective government that works for Minnesota.
Sincerely,
John Benson
State Representative, District 43B
News Items
- Rep. John Benson: Southwest Light Rail Transit Good For Businesses, Communities, and Our Future - (Posted: 2012-09-13 00:00:00)
- Legislature Passes Bonding & Vikings Bills, Neglects Skyrocketing Property Taxes - (Posted: 2012-05-10 00:00:00)
- Legislative Update - May 8, 2012 - (Posted: 2012-05-08 00:00:00)
- Archived News Items
- Subscribe to RSS News Feeds
- Read more about RSS.