Sen. Paul Gazelka (R-Nisswa, at podium) flanked by Senate Republican Caucus members
The Republican majority in the Minnesota Senate says they don’t have numbers yet but promise tax relief, job growth and long-term transportation improvements in their forthcoming budget proposal. Senator Paul Gazelka says there’s talk about agriculture and business property tax relief, exempting Social Security from state taxes and something related to student loans. “Certainly it will be more generous than what the governor has proposed,” he says. Gazelka adds Senate Republicans are waiting for the latest economic forecast next Tuesday before firming up their budget proposals.
Senate Democratic Minority Leader Tom Bakk (BOCK) is urging Republicans to resist the temptation of depleting the state’s rainy-day budget reserve to pay for a short-term budget.