MN Revenue Commissioner Cynthia Bauerly: Dayton’s tax plan provides tax cuts for 2 million Minnesotans

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April 11, 2018                                                                                Bookmark and Share


Graphic: Governor Dayton's tax plan would put tax cuts in place for over 2 million Minnesotans

Cynthia Bauerly: Gov. Dayton’s tax plan provides tax cuts for 2 million Minnesotans

Pioneer Press | April 05, 2018

In his March 25 commentary, John Spry asked if the governor’s tax plan would mean a tax cut for Minnesotans. Let me answer: It does. Over 2 million Minnesota families and many small businesses and farmers will see a tax cut under the Governor’s plan.

If the Legislature passes Gov. Dayton’s proposal, Minnesota families would see $319 million in individual income tax relief, and small businesses and farmers would see tax cuts totaling $186 million.

The governor’s plan creates a new, permanent tax credit that cuts taxes an average of $117 for over 1.9 million eligible Minnesota families. He is also proposing to expand the Working Family Credit, which means 329,000 additional Minnesota families will see a tax cut averaging $160.

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Minnesota legislators must hold drugmakers accountable for opioid crisis

Star Tribune | April 06, 2018

George W. Bush was president the last time the U.S. surgeon general issued a public health advisory. On Thursday, the widespread abuse of opioid painkillers spurred the current surgeon general, Dr. Jerome Adams, to take this uncommon action again, advising Americans to personally carry a medication to reverse overdoses if a loved one is at risk.

“What makes this one of those rare moments is we’re facing an unprecedented drug epidemic,” Adams said in a follow-up interview with STAT, a health care news site.

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Legislature is pushing the clock on timely, transparent policy debates

St. Cloud Times | April 07, 2018

While there is not a two-year, $45-billion-plus budget to craft this year, the Minnesota Legislature and Gov. Mark Dayton do have three major issues to resolve by the time the regular session ends May 21.

They are tax reform, a bonding bill and what to do with a projected $300 million surplus.

It's time for legislators to craft proposed solutions over the next seven weeks in ways that all Minnesotans can follow.

In short, legislators need to do their job in a timely and transparent manner.

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Dayton Calls For $33 Million Security Upgrades To State Capitol

WCCO | April 09, 2018 

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton is asking for millions of dollars in security upgrades to the State Capitol complex, and he says not funding it this year could pose a threat to tens of thousands of Minnesotans who visit the Capitol every year.

The State Capitol got a top-to-bottom overhaul a couple of years ago, including some security upgrades. Now, the Democratic governor says the rest of the Capitol may be vulnerable to attack.

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Minnesota elder care reform advocates turn up heat on legislators

Star Tribune | April 09, 2018

Frustrated by what they see as legislative foot-dragging, family members of abuse victims are intensifying their push for new laws to protect tens of thousands of vulnerable adults who live in senior care facilities across the state.

A grass roots coalition of abuse victims and their relatives, Elder Voice Family Advocates, descended on the State Capitol early Monday and distributed 1,850 summaries of maltreatment reports — including descriptions of beatings, sexual assaults and thefts — to legislators ahead of key hearings this week. The reports represent just a small fraction of the more than 20,000 allegations of maltreatment received by the Minnesota Department of Health each year from individuals and facilities across the state.

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