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Minnesota House of Representatives

State Representative Sheldon Johnson

549 State Office BuildingState Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4201

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Posted: 2012-05-01 00:00:00
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E-Update

2012 SESSION UPDATE

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Back in mid-December, Republican House Speaker Kurt Zellers issued the 2012 legislative schedule, outlining deadlines, breaks, and an April 30th adjournment date. Despite repeated boasts of finishing their businesses by April 30, Republicans failed to meet their self-imposed deadline.

Going into this session, jobs and securing a more stable economy for Minnesota have been my top priorities. But most people will remember this session for its divisive constitutional amendments and an agenda tilted toward corporate special interests.

Now we’re debating a tax bill that cuts property taxes for big businesses and corporations with scraps for middle class Minnesota.

I can’t support this bill. Due to the use of one-time funds and budgeting gimmicks to balance last year’s budget, we already face a $3.5 billion deficit next budget cycle. Enacting this property tax elimination for business would tack on an addition $145 million to that deficit – and billions more in the future.

I would rather see property tax relief for homeowners and farmers. With the elimination of the Market Value Homestead Credit last year, homeowners saw a property tax increase of $71 million, yet this bill would only provides $4 million in relief for them this year. And even though farmers saw the steepest spike in property taxes, the Republican tax bill offers no tax relief for farmers.

The Vikings stadium is another unresolved issue at the State Capitol. So far neither the House nor Senate has taken an up-or-down vote on the Vikings stadium proposal.

Now that we have failed to reach Zellers’ deadline, I’d hope we could use this time to deliver some results on the issues that matter to Minnesotans. For my part, I will continue to advocate for legislation that creates jobs and strengthens the middle class.

Thank you again for the honor of serving you in the Legislature.

Sheldon

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