Rep. Green Reacts to Governor Dayton’s Budget Proposal
Dear neighbor,
This week, Governor Dayton released his budget proposal for the 2014-2015 fiscal year to the legislature. Although it is very early in the process, I have deep concerns that this budget would grow the size of government at an unsustainable rate, do damage to our business climate, and hurt middle class families.
The budget that the governor put forward would increase spending by 7.6% and increase taxes by 11.9%. That 11.9% translates to $3.7 billion in new taxes – the largest tax increase ever proposed by a Minnesota governor. While Minnesota families are tightening their own budgets, state government should follow suit. We cannot continue to tax and spend our way to prosperity in Minnesota. Our hard-working taxpayers can’t afford it.
I’m also concerned about the $2.1 billion of new sales taxes proposed on goods and consumer services. The Governor wants to tax clothing over $100, gym memberships, over-the-counter drugs, haircuts, legal services, accounting services, and auto repairs. In Minnesota, we should not be taxing necessities like warm winter coats. I believe taxes like the governor is proposing will only make lives more difficult for middle class Minnesotans who are trying to make ends meet.
Governor Dayton also has proposed increasing income taxes on the top two percent of earners. Income tax hikes hurt small businesses registered as S-Corps or LLCs who file taxes through their individual tax returns. 92 percent of businesses, job creators in Minnesota, file through individual tax returns. I believe that if the legislature adopts this tax increase, business in our area will flee to North Dakota. We can’t afford to lose any more of our rural businesses to another state.
I plan to keep a close eye on the budget proposal as it works its way through the legislature. I will continue to update you with my thoughts as the weeks and months move forward.
As always, I can be reached via email at rep.steve.green@house.mn. To contact me by phone, call (651) 296-9918. Mail can be sent to Rep. Steve Green, 231 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, Minnesota 55155. Please feel free to share this update with friends and family and encourage them to sign up for my email updates by clicking the link (http://bit.ly/WUX4kO) and putting in your contact information.
Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Steve