MPR: House DFLers unveil tax bill

April 23, 2007

DFLers in the Minnesota House have released the details of their tax bill. The bill increases taxes on Minnesota's highest earners and uses the money to give homeowners a property tax break. The governor has made no secret of his plans to veto a tax increase. Some lawmakers are indicating that they may be willing to drop the income tax proposal but want the governor to find some other form of revenue for property tax relief.

St. Paul, Minn. — House Taxes Committee Chair Ann Lenczewski, a DFLer from Bloomington, says her bill would provide direct property tax relief for 90 percent of Minnesota homeowners. She says she would pay for the package by increasing income taxes on married joint filers earning more than $400,000 a year and for single filers making more than $226,000 a year. She says her proposal would create a fairer tax system since wealthier Minnesotans pay a smaller portion of their income in taxes than middle class Minnesotans.

The House and Senate both want to raise income taxes on high earners. Lenzcewski says it's possible that they may drop the income tax proposal, but she says Gov. Pawlenty has to find some other revenue to pay for some form of property tax relief.

Tags: politics taxes minnesota