SAINT PAUL, MN – Rep. Mark Uglem, R-Champlin, issued the following statement regarding the release of the February forecast budget update:
"Today's forecast shows Minnesota's economy continuing to improve. The projected 2014-2015 budget deficit has shrunk yet again from $4.4 billion dollars two years ago to just $627 million dollars today. The state has generated billions of dollars in additional tax revenue, lowered the unemployment rate to 5.5%, and created well over 50,000 new jobs.
"As we continue to discuss the best path forward to solve the budget gap, we should be looking at pro-growth policies that have helped us achieve these economic improvements. Raising taxes as proposed is a very risky path for our fragile economy. Any tax increase will have a negative effect on the growth we have enjoyed, and take money out of the hands of consumers. We need to make sure we continue in the right direction of job growth, and a vibrant Minnesota economy."