Statement on House Tax Bill by MAPE President Megan Dayton

We are pleased to endorse the House Tax Bill, which aims to enhance our state tax code to better support working families, including MAPE members, and the work we do. 

Our Governor and numerous elected officials have been striving to make Minnesota the best state for children and families. Realizing this ambition requires resources and a dedicated workforce, as well as a tax bill that embodies these values. 

The proposed House tax bill will provide relief to working families, focus cuts on those most affected by inflation, and ensure that those who have profited while others struggled will contribute more towards their fair share. 

We would like to emphasize two key aspects of this bill: Firstly, the targeted Social Security Tax Exemption for retirees earning $100,000 or less annually. We appreciate the House's decision to heed our calls for a targeted cut, rather than a blanket exemption that would disproportionately benefit higher-income retirees. This was a wise choice. 

Secondly, the addition of a 1% income tax increase for individuals earning over $1 million demonstrates the forward-thinking approach needed to secure our state's future. While we currently have a surplus, most of it is one-time funding, which doesn't address the longstanding resource shortages experienced by state government employees. 

This thoughtful decision-making can potentially enable the Department of Corrections to recruit and retain the staff required to transform lives. With these resources, our public health system can prepare for a post-COVID world, DHS employees can aid those battling addiction, college employees can focus on educating the next generation, and small businesses can benefit from healthy employees in safe environments earning living wages. 

MAPE members work tirelessly to address these and many other challenges daily. We are proud to stand with the House in promoting a tax bill that will help us meet these challenges today and into the future.