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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Donald Raleigh (R)

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Capitol Newsletter from Rep. Donald Raleigh

Thursday, March 4, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

Tomorrow, Friday, as I do every two weeks, I will be hosting a Zoom Town Hall. This week I will be talking about a bill I am bringing to the House, and, my Legislative Assistant Joshua Solano will be sharing what we do for constituent services.

This will be a very good town hall to have your students/children join so they can find out more about what a State Representative does for our citizens. I look forward to connecting with each of you!

When: Friday, March 5th, 2021

Time: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Follow this link for Zoom information: https://zoom.us/j/92594034298...

First Bill Hearing

My bill to provide tax credits for employers that hire disabled or unemployed veterans received its first hearing yesterday in the Labor, Industry, Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committee. 

This bill is a small way to show our appreciation to the brave women, men, and their families for the sacrifices made while serving. Moving from active duty to civilian life can be difficult, and this legislation will help ease this transition.

House File 641, provides up to a $3,000 tax credit for employers that hire a disabled veteran or up to a $1,500 credit for employers that hire an unemployed veteran. Employers may not claim the credit if they hire a veteran that has previously been employed by the business.

I was joined by Trent Dilks, Executive Director at Disabled American Veterans of Minnesota Foundation, who testified in support of the bill. Click here or the photo below to watch the hearing on this bill.

Raleigh

Budget Forecast              

The Forecast Is In: Buckle Up!

Minnesota's February Budget forecast was released last week by Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) showing a $1.6 billion surplus for the 2022-2023 biennium. This is a significant improvement from the $1.3 billion deficit that was projected in December and was driven by a $456 million decrease in state spending on education and health care, and a $1.423 billion increase greater-than-expected tax collections. The forecast does not include any of the significant federal funding expected to be passed by Congress in the coming weeks.

What this means in plain English: Minnesota is Taxed Too Much, and we do not need to raise taxes.

What I expect: Minnesota government has all the money it needs. With a $1.6 billion surplus and a budget reserve of more than $2 billion, there's no reason for Gov. Walz and Democrats to continue pushing harmful tax hikes. This surplus ensures that we can take additional steps to help families and businesses who are still hurting from the shutdowns over the past year, including exempting Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from state taxes.

News reports indicate that Governor Walz will push ahead with tax increases, and Democrat legislators continue to tweet about the need for new taxes despite the budget news.

Staying in Touch

As always, I am happy to answer questions! You can reach me at rep.donald.raleigh@house.mn or via phone at 651-296-2907.

Stay Strong, Stay Safe, and Stay Free!

Donald