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RELEASE: House Republicans: Time for tax relief with budget surplus

Thursday, February 27, 2020

HOUSE REPUBLICANS: TIME FOR TAX RELIEF WITH BUDGET SURPLUS

ST. PAUL, MN—On Thursday, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) released the February Budget and Economic Forecast showing a budget surplus of $1.5 billion. House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, issued the following statement regarding the budget surplus. 

"The billion dollar budget surplus means it's time for tax relief for Minnesota families," Daudt said. "House and Senate Republicans are putting forward specific plans to deliver more than a billion dollars back to taxpayers including the elimination of the unfair tax on social security. Governor Walz and House Democrats should come to the table, tell Minnesotans what their plan is, and whether they will commit to passing a tax relief bill this session."

Eliminating the tax on social security benefits has been a top priority for House Republicans for several years, and in 2017 House and Senate Republicans successfully reduced or eliminated social security taxes for more than 250,000 Minnesotans. 

Deputy Republican Leader Anne Neu, R-North Branch, added that social security tax relief and Section 179 conformity will be top priorities for the remainder of the 2020 session, and that House Republicans plan to release a full tax relief proposal early next week. 

"With this billion dollar budget surplus we can end the immoral tax on social benefits and help our seniors keep more of the money they worked their entire lives to earn," Neu said. "We also must address Section 179 conformity for our farmers and businesses—all of it. Legislators continue to hear devastating stories from Minnesotans facing exorbitant tax bills that put their livelihoods, businesses, and even homes at risk. All four leaders said they support it, the governor says it's a priority, so it's time to fix it."

Earlier this month at the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Session Priorities dinner, all four legislative leaders voiced support for including a Section 179 fix in a tax bill. Gov. Walz also indicated that he thought Section 179 could get done this session, adding that he had included full conformity in his proposed tax bill in 2019. 

House and Senate Republican Leaders plan to respond to the latest budget report at the Minnesota Department of Revenue Building immediately following the presentation by MMB and Governor Walz.

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