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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Cindy Pugh (R)

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Legislative Update (Feb. 28, 2014)

Friday, February 28, 2014

Dear neighbor,

The Minnesota Office of Management and Budget released the February Economic Forecast showing a $1.2 billion surplus for Fiscal Year 2014-15. This news confirms that Minnesotans are overtaxed and overwhelmed by Governor Dayton and Democrat policies. They took $2.1 billion in new taxes from Minnesotans including taxes on internet purchases, farm equipment repairs, cigarettes and warehousing and increased spending by nearly 10 percent in their overall budget including millions of dollars for a new office building and salary increases for politicians.

The proper course of action now is to return the money to the hardworking taxpayers of Minnesota! Along with other Republican legislators, I support a “Give It Back” package that would return tax dollars to hardworking Minnesotans including:

  •  Full, retroactive repeal of Democrats’ 2013 business-to-business taxes
  • Elimination of the marriage penalty, adoption tax & full conformity to the federal personal income tax code
  • Undo the Democrats’ 2013 death tax

Since the end of the 2013 Legislative Session, I’ve been hearing weekly from constituents who have told me that the tax increases imposed by Democrats have begun driving families away from Minnesota.  In some cases, it’s children and grandchildren moving away from parents and grandparents for better job opportunities in other states. In other cases, it’s older couples moving away to retire to states with a more welcoming tax environment. Throughout the interim I’ve wondered how many constituents I have actually lost due to the Democrats’ tax policies given the fact our district was disproportionately affected. “Is this what Governor Dayton really wants – driving grandparents away from their children?” a constituent asked me recently. I hope we can begin this session and quickly undo some of the damage, but I’m worried much of it may already have a permanent and lasting impact.

With session now underway, I encourage you to contact my office with your thoughts, comments, and concerns. You can contact me via e-mail at rep.cindy.pugh@house.mn. To contact me by phone, call (651) 296-4315. Mail can be sent to Rep. Cindy Pugh, 313 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, Minnesota 55155.

Sincerely,

 

Cindy