To the Editor:
People who earn the least amount of money will pay the most toward the $2.4 billion tax and fee increases, according to the Minnesota Department of Revenue. In fact, every Minnesotan will pay more in taxes under the tax bill passed by the Democrat-controlled Legislature and Governor’s office.
Though my Republican colleagues and I warned against the negative impact these tax increases would have on low- and middle-income families, Democrat leaders ignored our pleas.
Since enacted in May, we have continued to hear reports of how the business-to-business taxes are hurting the average Minnesotan.
We can right this wrong.
In September, Governor Dayton is proposing to hold a special session. This special session is the Legislature’s chance to fix this “bad tax policy” by repealing the business-to-business taxes. Living in Minnesota should not be an audition for Survivor—last one standing after the tax onslaught wins.
Four states tried the storage and warehouse services business-to-business tax. All of them repealed it within six months—one repealed it in two days. Michigan discovered they would lose 7,000 out of the 13,000 jobs in this sector if they continued the tax. Minnesotans cannot afford to lose 7,000 jobs.
It’s not just jobs we stand to lose if action isn’t taken to repeal all of the business-to-business taxes; every Minnesota family will pay more for groceries, medicine, personal care products, and much more. The Department of Revenue study notes that families will pay more when new business tax increases are passed on to consumers.
We can do better.
My Republican colleagues and I will continue to work on the Democrat-controlled Legislature to make this important change for all of Minnesota.
Sincerely,
Sarah Anderson
State Representative
District 44A
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