Rep. Dotseth: House Republicans Propose Historic Tax Cuts

ST. PAUL – House Republicans have unveiled a “North Star Comeback” package of bills that, together, would provide nearly $4 billion in tax relief – a state record.

The plan features $1 billion in one-time property tax relief, eliminates taxes on tips and overtime, and reduces car tab fees. It also lowers childcare costs and provides hundreds of millions of dollars for education at no cost to taxpayers through scholarship-granting organizations.

“These are real dollars going back into the wallets of Minnesotans who are trying to make ends meet while the cost of everyday necessities continues going up,” said Rep. Jeff Dotseth, R-Silver Township. “Billions of dollars in new state taxes, fees, hidden costs and unfunded mandates passed by the former trifecta have only added the burden locally and throughout the state. We need to lighten the load for Minnesota taxpayers, and this package would be a sigh of relief for local residents.”

Dotseth said the package is built around three main components: protecting family budgets, making government work for Minnesotans, and building a world-class economy where businesses can survive and thrive. These proposals, Dotseth said, reflect what legislators are hearing across the state as families, businesses, and local governments feel the pinch in today’s economy.

Dotseth said many of the proposals in the North Star Comeback are common-sense policies that Minnesotans broadly support. For example, several measures aimed at improving government are included, such as modernizing county-administered public service IT systems and dedicating additional funding for fraud prevention. The proposal also expands safe schools funding so that, Dotseth said, every student can learn in a secure environment.

House Republicans have made efforts to advance bills on tax relief, only to have House Democrats block them. This includes legislation (H.F. 3127) that would provide a combined $2.05 billion in tax relief for 66,000 Minnesota businesses – at no cost to the state – by conforming to the federal tax code.

House Democrats also have stalled a House Republican proposal to provide $1 billion in property tax relief to Minnesotans at a time when rates are skyrocketing across the state. Dotseth said costly, unfunded mandates are playing a direct role in driving up property taxes, so it makes sense to use the current, short-term $3.7 billion surplus to provide a one-time rebate to Minnesotans.

“This would be especially helpful to seniors on fixed incomes,” Dotseth said. “It’s a shame the state is taxing people out of their homes that, in some cases, folks already have paid for and have lived in for decades. We need to make Minnesota a more affordable place to live, work, raise a family and retire. That’s what these bills help accomplish.”