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The Republican-controlled Minnesota House Thursday night on a vote of 80-52 passed a bill that would cut taxes 1.3 billion dollars, over the objections of Democrats. House Minority Leader Melissa Hortman says, “By choosing to give tax cuts to the super-rich and corporations, Republicans have crowded out Minnesotans who need and deserve help.” Preston Republican Greg Davids fires back, “Social Security, beginning farmers, first-time homebuyers. That’s not the uber-rich, last I looked…. Low income housing tax credit — now how is that for the rich?”
Majority Leader Joyce Peppin says, “If you think the Republicans haven’t put any middle class tax relief forward, we’ve put more than double of the total tax bill that the governor’s proposed.” Governor Mark Dayton opposes tax cuts as large as House Republicans want, warning if the economy slows down it will throw the state budget back into deficit.
D-F-L Minority Leader Hortman says, “This super-size tax bill prevents us from giving our children the high quality education opportunities they deserve.” Republicans say repeated state budget surpluses prove government is collecting too much from taxpayers and they should get some of that money back.
Here are Hortman’s comments on the House floor:
And Davids’ closing speech: