Is $15 in tax cuts for every $1 for our kids the right priority?

Many Minnesotans had high hopes going into the 2015 legislative session. Our state’s economy was continuing to improve, we had a $2 billion budget surplus, and an opportunity to move forward on the issues that really matter to hardworking Minnesotans.

But the House Republican budget plan introduced last week, and sponsored by Representative Hancock, is actually most notable for the Minnesotans that are left behind- especially our kids and students.

The center of the Republican budget plan is $2 billion in tax breaks. They have not specified exactly who would get them, but it bears mentioning that HF1 – their top priority - was largely tax cuts for big corporate interests. It is safe to say that corporate special interests will cash in with hundreds of millions of new tax breaks in the Republican budget supported by Rep. Hancock.

Putting all of the eggs in the “tax breaks bucket” means that kids and students are getting a raw deal. Most striking to me is the fact that Republicans plan to give away $15 in tax cuts for every $1 they invest in Minnesota’s school kids. That’s less than a 1% increase in funding for education. This likely means our schools will face budget cuts. Our college students will see tuition increases again as well. The Republican plan stunts the progress we made over the last two years in education, from funding all-day kindergarten to freezing tuition for

Minnesota college students.

Despite all of their rhetoric during the campaign, Greater Minnesota is being left behind by the Republican plan. Along with underfunding Greater Minnesota schools and colleges, the Republicans actually cut funding for jobs and economic development budget. That means needed investments in broadband infrastructure and job and workforce training are likely to be thwarted. And despite our $2 billion surplus, the Republican budget would cut more than $1 billion from health care services for Minnesota workers, seniors, and our most vulnerable - cuts that would disproportionately hurt Greater Minnesota seniors, families, and workers. Rep. Hancock and other Republicans are determined to give tax breaks to their corporate allies at the expense of hardworking Minnesotan workers and students.

The Minnesota legislature is on its legislative break over the next week. I encourage you to contact your local legislator and tell them your priority for the $2 billion surplus. Is $15 in tax cuts to every $1 for education the right balance for Minnesota’s future?

I would submit we can do better. We should be working to build more economic opportunity for all Minnesotans and investing in our kids– not just catering to corporate special interests and the wealthy few.

Sincerely,

Paul Thissen

House DFL Leader