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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Tony Cornish (R)

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REP. CORNISH DISCUSSES LATEST BUDGET FORECAST

Thursday, March 2, 2017

ST. PAUL – State Representative Tony Cornish (R-Vernon Center) said Minnesota's February state budget forecast shows a positive balance.

 

“It’s always preferable to have a budget surplus as opposed to a budget deficit,” Cornish said. “The biggest problem now is that special interests will be coming to us with their hands out, hoping we’ll dramatically increase their budgets. If anyone should receive this money it should be hardworking Minnesotans.”

 

The economic experts project the surplus total at $1.65 billion, which is $250 million more than the $1.4 billion windfall estimate given in December. Reasons for the rising surplus number include greater than expected income and corporate tax collections.

 

Cornish said middle class tax relief now has to be at the top of lawmaker’s to-do lists, as taxpayers are the ones who created the surplus in the first place.

 

“We have to have tax relief and I would maybe put some more money into transportation, but after that we should be cautious and not commit to unsustainable amounts of future spending,” Cornish concluded.