Lowering the tax burden on Minnesota farmers and completely eliminating state income tax on Social Security benefits — Senate Republicans say those are prominent agenda items for them in the 2020 legislative session which begins in about a month. Governor Tim Walz says about any possible tax cuts, “That’s probably best left for a budget cycle of 2021.”
Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka reminds the governor, because 2020 is not a budget-setting year, “We don’t really need a supplemental spending program, and so what do we do with that 1.3 billion dollars [budget surplus]?… That’s where I’m gonna push to say, let’s give it back in some form.”
Last month Gazelka tossed around the idea of a tax holiday on license tab fees, but it apparently hasn’t gained traction with his caucus members.