Minnesota received some positive economic news recently, as economic experts have projected our state will see a nearly $1.9 billion surplus for the 2016-17 budget cycle. The windfall comes from both an increase in projected revenue and a decrease in expected spending.
I find it interesting that last session's legislative leadership raised taxes on hardworking Minnesotans by $2 billion and now we have a surplus of nearly $2 billion. To me, this just proves we didn't need to increase anyone's taxes and that we need to give that money back through tax relief.
My Retire in Minnesota Act, which would phase out the Minnesota tax on Social Security income by ten percent per year for ten years, is one way we could do that. It would provide $400 million per year in tax relief to senior citizens.
I was pleased by the reception this bill received in the Minnesota House Taxes Committee this week. The committee chairman agreed to hold onto the legislation for possible inclusion in its comprehensive tax reform proposal that will be unveiled in the next few weeks, which I believe is a good sign.
Along with this legislation, there are a number of proposals being debated that would provide tax relief to veterans, small business owners, and hardworking Minnesotans. Hopefully they will all receive strong consideration as we look for ways to return the surplus to those who are responsible for creating it.
Also this week my anti-SLAPP bill, which stands for Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, was heard in the House civil law committee. The legislation is necessary because currently citizens do not have the ability to report a crime without fear of reprisal. A constituent brought this to my attention after he was forced to spend thousands of dollars to defend himself in court after he called police to report what he believed was a crime.
Citizens who are trying to do the right thing should not be sued, and this common sense bill would simply make this clarification.
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.