Did you know that if you are a senior citizen with an income above $33,000 per year (or $45,000 for couples), you are being taxed on your social security benefits?
Minnesota is one of only seven states that taxes social security income, a move that impacts 383,000 residents. With rising energy costs, property taxes and medical bills, our senior citizens cannot afford to have state government taking more of their money.
This is why I am sponsoring the Retire in Minnesota Act, which would phase out the Minnesota tax on Social Security income. The bill would phase out the tax by ten percent per year for ten years, and after that it would be gone altogether. Doing so would provide $400 million per year in tax relief to residents who could truly use it.
I believe we should be doing everything we can to keep seniors in Minnesota. I appreciate that they choose to live here (especially with our brutal winters) during their retirement years and are valued members of our communities. There’s no need to punish them by continuing to tax their Social Security benefits.
As this bill moves forward in the House committee process, I’ll be sure to keep you updated about its status.
This week in our health and human services committee we had two very important discussions centering on Alzheimer’s disease and child protection.
Alzheimer’s impacts so many families and caregivers so it’s critical that lawmakers understand the barriers that are being faced every day, as well as the latest treatments and diagnoses. As for child protection, it is truly heartbreaking to hear stories in committee of how kids have been mistreated, abused, and ignored, but it does drive home the point that lawmakers need to do more to make sure that children are safe.
One of my top priorities is to protect children and ensure that no child falls through the cracks, and I’m also very supportive of additional research for Alzheimer’s disease. I look forward to continuing the discussion on these important issues in the coming weeks.
Finally, January 22 marked the 41st Annual March for Life at the State Capitol, which is organized by the Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life. Thousands took part in the event, which marks the day the Roe v. Wade decision was handed down by the Supreme Court. I was honored and pleased to attend and stand with those who believe abortion is wrong and takes the life of a preborn child. I am committed to standing with them to support legislation that can protect life and protect the taxpayers from having to pay for abortions.
As always, I am interested in your feedback. Please feel free to contact me by e-mail at Rep.Kathy.Lohmer@House.MN or contact my office at 651-296-4244. You can also send mail to my office address: 501 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.