Legislature Passes Tax Bill, But Governor Promises Veto
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – On Wednesday, lawmakers in the Republican-led Minnesota Legislature passed a tax bill and sent it to the governor.
This is the bill that would sync-up Minnesota's tax code to the federal system and thereby avoid major tax hikes for Minnesotans.
Gov. Mark Dayton says he will veto the bill as soon as it crosses his desk, because he says the tax cuts heavily favor corporations instead of individuals.
Republicans strongly disagree, saying 2.2 million Minnesotans will stay the same, or see tax cuts in this bill.
"If you think that it's too much to give a small tax cut to a cop and a nurse who might make $150,000 total, married, if you think that's a bad thing...that's a problem," said Sen. Roger Chamberlain (R – Lino Lakes).
Meanwhile, Dayton is accusing Republicans of wanting to give money to multinational corporations.
"A lot of money that these Republican legislators want to give away to multinational corporations who are repatriating their foreign profits," he said. "So, these are profits! This isn't income! This is profit! They don't want to pay taxes on their profits!"
Now it's a race against the clock: Republicans are speed-shipping the tax bill over to the governor's office.
He's going to veto the bill as soon as possible so Republicans can send him another one.
Remember, there are only four days left until the end of the session.