The Tax Burden on Families and Job Creators

Records 1-14 of 14

Votes

The Tax Burden on Families and Job Creators
Welfare Program Immigration Status Verification

Body: House | Journal Page: 9867 (Click to view vote.)
Scored? Yes | Right Vote: Y
Author: Seifert
Acting on: SF2855 Date: 04/08/2010
Result: Amendment Adopted 82 - 50

The Seifert amendment simply requires that "counties must verify that all applications for MFIP [Minnesota Family Investment Program] include verification of citizen eligibility status for both applicants and recipients." Existing law requires the use of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program to conduct immigration status verifications, but use of the verification system is spotty at best. It's bad enough that the DFL uses the force of law to transfer wealth from productive Citizen A to Citizen B, who may or may not be deserving of government's forced charity. This has served the DFL well by creating a fiercely devoted group of voters who are dependent on government handouts. But the Citizen B group also includes people who are not even citizens, but are people who come to Minnesota for the free money and no questions asked. Many of these programs are on autopilot and increase in cost every year. Lame excuses for voting Red were that the amendment is a mandate on counties and would require costly training. Not a mandate as most welfare workers comply now, and training would require little more than bookmarking a website. Vote Green.

The Tax Burden on Families and Job Creators
Lenczewski Author's Amendment

Body: House | Journal Page: 9730 (Click to view vote.)
Scored? No |
Author: Lenczewski
Acting on: HF2695 Date: 03/29/2010
Result: Amendment Adopted 78 - 54

The Lenczewski amendment made a number of tweaks to the bill, but the item that received the most attention on the House floor was the repeal of a $25 per family / $12.50 per individual handout for gas for low income families. No need to actually own a car or buy gas, just be low income. Repeal of this insulting government gas charity passed the House once before but apparently did not make it to the governor's desk. Not scored.

The Tax Burden on Families and Job Creators
Tax Exempt Social Security Benefits

Body: House | Journal Page: 9741 (Click to view vote.)
Scored? Yes | Right Vote: Y
Author: Seifert
Acting on: HF2695 Date: 03/29/2010
Result: Amendment Defeated 62 - 70

The Seifert amendment exempts Social Security benefits from taxes beginning in 2013. Neighboring states Wisconsin, Iowa and South Dakota provide this exemption to their seniors. Coupled with the previous Seifert amendment to exempt military pensions, Minnesota looks less and less attractive as a place for seniors - a cold climate and an even colder economic climate.

The Tax Burden on Families and Job Creators
Targeted JOBZ Eligibility Extension

Body: House | Journal Page: 9747 (Click to view vote.)
Scored? Yes | Right Vote: Y
Author: Hamilton
Acting on: HF2695 Date: 03/29/2010
Result: Amendment Defeated 43 - 89

The Hamilton amendment would extend eligibility for the Job Opportunity Building Zones (JOBZ) program by allowing the full 12 years of tax benefits to any agreement signed by December 31, 2015. Targeted tax cuts, but tax cuts nonetheless. Vote Green.

The Tax Burden on Families and Job Creators
Horse Operations Tax Treatment

Body: House | Journal Page: 9752 (Click to view vote.)
Scored? Yes | Right Vote: Y
Author: Dettmer
Acting on: HF2695 Date: 03/29/2010
Result: Amendment Defeated 64 - 68

The Dettmer amendment contains the language of his HF 3107, which would "clarify" law regarding the tax classification of horse boarding services. Historically, the state treated these properties as agricultural land. But in 2008 the state moved them into the commercial category, resulting in a huge tax hike to these businesses. The Dettmer language would put horse boarding services back in the agricultural category. This change is an initiative of the Minnesota Stable Owners Association and the issue was the subject of a study mandated in 2009 by the Legislature. Click here to view the 34-page report issued by the Minnesota Department of Revenue. The state shouldn't view poorly worded statutes as an opportunity to raise revenue, as was clearly the case in the 2008 when horse operations were conveniently moved into the commercial category. Vote green.

The Tax Burden on Families and Job Creators
Corporate Tax Rate Reductions

Body: House | Journal Page: 9733 (Click to view vote.)
Scored? Yes | Right Vote: Y
Author: Zellers
Acting on: HF2695 Date: 03/29/2010
Result: Amendment Defeated 52 - 80

The Zellers amendment reduces the franchise tax from 9.8% to 4.8% in a gradual phase down over ten years. The amendment also reduces the corporate alternative minimum tax from 5.8% to 2.8% by stepping it down over the same ten year period. The "cost" to state government in the next biennium is about $75 million. But of course, keeping that $75 million in the private economy can only be a good thing for families and job creators. No social engineering here, no winners and losers, just common sense. Vote green.

The Tax Burden on Families and Job Creators
Military Pension Tax Exemption Falls One Vote Short!

Body: House | Journal Page: 9737 (Click to view vote.)
Scored? Yes | Right Vote: Y
Author: Seifert
Acting on: HF2695 Date: 03/29/2010
Result: Amendment Defeated 65 - 65

The Seifert amendment exempts income from military pensions from the state income tax. Minnesota lags behind the more than forty states that provide this exemption. Making Minnesota a vet-friendly place to live will attract a proven, talented workforce to the state. The estimated $20 million annual "cost" to the state could easily be offset by revenue generated by increased economic activity. In supporting the Seifert amendment, Rep. Severson said Wisconsin has experienced a net gain of tax revenue since exempting military pensions in 2001.

Military.com reports state tax provisions for retired military.

The Tax Burden on Families and Job Creators
Tax Exempt Unemployment Benefits

Body: House | Journal Page: 9746 (Click to view vote.)
Scored? Yes | Right Vote: Y
Author: Seifert
Acting on: HF2695 Date: 03/29/2010
Result: Amendment Defeated 60 - 72

The Seifert amendment is the third in a series that attempts to shield income from The Taxman. This one exempts unemployment compensation benefits from the income tax. Other states are apparently doing this to help mitigate economic harm during this economic downturn. After glancing down at her every handy spreadsheet, Tax Chair Lenczewski said the "cost" of the amendment is $28 million a year. Vote Green.

The Tax Burden on Families and Job Creators
Local Taxpayers on the Hook for Energy Stuff

Body: House | Journal Page: 9756 (Click to view vote.)
Scored? Yes | Right Vote: Y
Author: Hackbarth
Acting on: HF2695 Date: 03/29/2010
Result: Amendment Defeated 41 - 91

The Hackbarth amendment changes from 20 to 10 the maximum number of years that local governments can be on the hook for financing energy stuff for the ridiculous new Voluntary Energy Improvements Financing Program for Local Governments. Yet more taxpayer financed social engineering based on the belief that human activity is killing the planet and our only hope is to invest gazillions of dollars at all levels of government. Vote "Green."

The Tax Burden on Families and Job Creators
Homebuyers on the Hook for Energy Stuff

Body: House | Journal Page: 9756 (Click to view vote.)
Scored? Yes | Right Vote: Y
Author: Anderson, B.
Acting on: HF2695 Date: 03/29/2010
Result: Amendment Defeated 45 - 87

The Anderson, B. amendment modifies owner liability for energy stuff financed through the new Voluntary Energy Improvements Financing Program for Local Governments. The provision to be modified by the amendment requires that "liability for special assessments related to the financing runs with the qualifying real property." Say the homeowner packs up his Prius and skips town before the loan for his brown water lawn irrigation system is paid off. The guy who buys the place would get stuck with the bill in the form of an assessment against the property. The Anderson, B. amendment would require any assessments to be fully paid off at the time the home is sold. Are we so desperate to squeeze every drop of efficiency out of our homes that cities have to start floating 20 year bonds for energy stuff?

The Tax Burden on Families and Job Creators
Senjem/Pawlenty DE Amendment Solves the Budget Crisis

Body: Senate | Journal Page: 8837 (Click to view vote.)
Scored? Yes | Right Vote: Y
Author: Senjem
Acting on: SF3223 Date: 03/22/2010
Result: Amendment Defeated 10 - 56

The Senjem DE (delete everything) amendment is, according to Sen. Senjem, the Pawlenty Administration's budget reduction plan including provisions to deal with the unallotments that are pending in court. In other words, this is the bill that gets the job done, unpleasant as that job may be.

Some of the good news is that the amendment includes a series of job creation incentives like a 20 percent reduction in the corporate tax rate, a 20 percent reduction in the small business income tax, angel investment tax incentives, research and development incentives, a capital gains exclusion for certain investments and a $100 million capital pool for Minnesota investors. While these tax reductions and incentives are a bit heavy handed in directing market outcomes, they are completely foreign to the DFL mindset and a positive approach to growing the economy. A rising tide lifts all boats, as they say. Vote green.

The Tax Burden on Families and Job Creators
Roll Back Green Acres to 2008

Body: Senate | Journal Page: 8846 (Click to view vote.)
Scored? Yes | Right Vote: Y
Author: Koch
Acting on: SF3223 Date: 03/22/2010
Result: Amendment Defeated 32 - 34

The Koch amendment rolls back the clock on the infamous Green Acres program to 2008 levels. Changes amounting to a retroactive tax hike were made in 2008 and became effective in 2009 and forward. Many rural landowners who had plans to sell their land suddenly faced a real tax penalty that was not part of the deal when they signed up for Green Acres - illustrating the point that what subsides the Tax Committee giveth, the Tax Committee can taketh awayeth. In opposing the amendment, Tax Committee Chair Bakk said a Green Acres fix is in the works and the amendment is not welcome. Sen. Koch replied that the so-called "fix" ain't much better than the problem. It imposes a new ten-year obligation and all sorts of new reporting and application requirements to make the Bureaucracy happy. Vote Green for Green Acres.

The Tax Burden on Families and Job Creators
Green Acres Paperwork Funding

Body: House | Journal Page: 8910 (Click to view vote.)
Scored? Yes | Right Vote: Y
Author: Dettmer
Acting on: HF2624 Date: 03/15/2010
Result: Amendment Defeated 53 - 78

The Dettmer amendment deletes some of the nonsense in the bill to free up $5.1 million for assistance to farmers with their conservation plans. Apparently it costs $300 to $1,000 to put together a management plan that will satisfy the Bureaucracy. This is related to the so-called Green Acres issue, caused in 2008 when lawmakers changed the rules for these farmland tax breaks by stipulating, retroactively, that only productive farm land would be eligible for the program.

The Tax Burden on Families and Job Creators
Motion to pass HF 363

Body: House | Journal Page: 7575 (Click to view vote.)
Scored? Yes | Right Vote: Y
Author: Buesgens
Acting on: HF363 Date: 02/08/2010
Result: Motion failed 46 - 81

The Buesgens motion would take HF 363 from Taxes and put it before the House for passage. The bill phases out the corporate income tax and that, needless to say, would sow the seeds for many new jobs in Minnesota. In light of all the uncertainty faced by job creators - cap and tax, the government health care takeover, salary caps, government takeover of the auto industry, etc - this phase out would at least give Minnesota employers some relief and some reason for staying in Minnesota and expanding their workforce.