One-point-one-five billion dollars in tax relief is the main feature of state budget numbers Republicans in the Minnesota House and Senate have agreed on, as they get ready to begin negotiations with Democratic Governor Mark Dayton . House Speaker Kurt Daudt says, “We want to make sure that we put some money back in the pockets of Minnesotans. We’ve had record surpluses for some time now, and it’s time that Minnesotans share in the prosperity that they’ve created for the state.”
Senate Democratic Minority Leader Tom Bakk calls Republicans’ proposed tax cuts “totally irresponsible.” Bakk says, “It’s frickin’ phony, I’m sorry. And until they get off this notion of a billion-dollar tax bill, we are not gonna get resolution to the real budget bills that have to pass.”
Republicans’ budget has a 372-million-dollar increase in road and bridge funding, which Democrats say is totally inadequate. The GOP budget cuts funding for state agencies by over half-a-billion dollars — also problematic for the governor. There are under four weeks left in the legislative session.
Watch for further updates.