by Briana Bierschbach
Published: May 20, 2013
Tags: Alice Hausman, Ann Lenczewski, b2b taxes, bonding, Capitol restoration, chris eaton, Julianne Ortman, LeRoy Stumpf, Mark Dayton, minimum wage, omnibus tax bill, Pat Garofalo, Paul Thissen, Ryan Winkler, Tom Bakk
Democrats who control the Legislature saved some politicking and deal-making on Capitol restoration bonding and taxes for the final hours of the regular 2013 Legislative session
The inclusion of business-to-business taxes, particularly those that could cost farmers, are causing last-minute tensions over the omnibus tax bill.
The House passed a tax bill that includes just over $2 billion in tax increases by a 69-65 vote early Monday morning. The legislation now heads to the Senate and is the lynchpin of the budget deal needed to conclude the legislative session.
by Steve Perry
Published: May 19, 2013
Late Saturday night, House and Senate conferees adopted a tax bill containing $2 billion in new taxes and a handful of provisions added at the last minute.
The bill will increase the basic funding formula to schools by $234 million, or 3 percent, which Marquart said would break down to more than $300 in new spending per student.
The House passed a health and human services finance bill that reduces anticipated spending by $50 million on a 73-61 party line vote on Friday night. The legislation, which includes a 5 percent rate increase for nursing homes, is now headed to the Senate.
DFL legislative leaders have taken a proposed increase in the state’s per gallon gasoline tax off the table. Although nothing at the Legislature is ever truly dead until adjournment, the fate of the gasoline tax appears to be sealed, according to news reports and the House and Senate transportation chairs.
The state House on Friday agreed to submit to Minnesota voters a constitutional amendment question that asks if an independent council should be given the authority to determine legislators’ pay.
Gov. Mark Dayton and DFL leaders who control the Legislature said Thursday evening they have reached a final deal on tax increases this session, calling it a “linchpin” in the final budget deal that must be completed by midnight on Monday.
The proposal failed on a 76-56 vote on Friday, with only three Republican legislators -- Reps. Tama Theis, Chris Swedzinski and Mark Uglem -- voting yes. Bonding bills need a supermajority to pass, meaning Democrats would have needed to attract eight Republican votes to reach the 81 required.
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