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State Representative Carly Melin
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-0172
For more information contact: Charlie Vander Aarde 651-297-8406
Press/News Releases
REPUBLICANS CONTINUE TO TARGET IRON RANGE
(ST. PAUL) – The Minnesota House of Representatives debated the omnibus tax bill during an evening session at the State Capitol yesterday. A number of provisions in the tax legislation related to the Iron Range. State Representative Carly Melin (DFL-Hibbing) questioned the impact of the provisions on the Iron Range during debate on the House floor. In response to the bill and policy debate, Rep. Melin issued the following statement:
“The tax bill is another example of the misplaced priorities of the Republican legislature. Minnesota faces a $5 billion plus budget deficit and Republicans are giving taconite companies, who are making record profits, a tax break when they aren't even asking for it. I had a meeting with US Steel last week and they did not ask me for a tax break. Not a single Iron Range legislator has been asked for a tax break by any of the mining companies.
“I have repeatedly pointed out the hypocrisy in raiding $60 million from the Taconite Economic Protection Fund. Yet Republicans continue to insert this plan into a variety of bills. They also eliminated the small amount of money that we appropriated for the Range Association of Municipalities and Schools (RAMS) and the Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth. Neither of these provisions will save the state a penny. They are just another example of an attack on our region.
“I remain committed to balancing the budget fairly. This Republican plan actually makes the deficit worse by refusing to collect tax revenue that pays for public safety, schools and roads. The Iron Range delegation has asked the Governor to veto this tax bill and insist on a fair tax bill that does not pit one part of the state against another.
“Democrats have voted to support a responsible and balanced solution to Minnesota’s budget. This budget solution, supported by Governor Dayton and House Democrats, would not raise taxes on 98 percent of Minnesotans. It would ask 2 percent of the state’s highest earners to pay their fair share. The Republicans have yet to offer a complete, balanced plan. I remain concerned they won’t finish their work or at least finish it on time."
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News Items
- STATE REP. CARLY MELIN APPOINTED TO KEY HOUSE COMMITTEES NAMED VICE-CHAIR OF THE JUDICIARY FINANCE AND POLICY COMMITTEE - (Posted: Dec 20 2012 12:00AM)
- MELIN: STATE DISASTER RELIEF IS ON THE WAY - (Posted: 2012-08-24 00:00:00)
- REPRESENTATIVE MELIN AND SENATOR TOMASSONI SECURE CENTRAL IRON RANGE SANITARY SEWER DISTRICT GRANT - (Posted: 2012-07-31 00:00:00)
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