St. Paul – As the campaign for Minnesota Governor enters its final weeks, the Minnesota AFL-CIO is shedding light on how or if the candidates’ tax proposals would affect middle class families.
“In balancing our state’s budget, we must protect our school children, our seniors, and the job creation tools we need,” said Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson. “However, middle class families can no longer afford to have the budget balanced on their backs with higher property taxes and more fees…middle class Minnesotans are already paying more than their fair share.”
The state labor federation representing 300,000 union members turned to respected tax expert Jeff Van Wychen to crunch the numbers.
“Looking at all the candidate’s budget and tax proposals, it’s clear that budgets from both Tom Emmer and Tom Horner would result in higher taxes for middle class Minnesotans,” Van Wychen said.
Van Wychen’s research shows that Emmer’s $1.15 billion in cuts to property tax aids and credits would result in at least a $700 million property tax increase. Tom Horner’s plan calls for an estimated $2.75 billion expansion of the sales tax base to clothing and other services like haircuts, oil changes, and funerals.
“Tom Emmer and Tom Horner have been trying to scare Minnesotans on the tax issue, however, they would both raise taxes on middle class Minnesotans,” added Knutson. “Mark Dayton is the only candidate for Governor who will protect the middle class.”
The Minnesota AFL-CIO is labor federation made up of more than 1,000 affiliate unions, representing over 300,000 working men and women throughout the state.
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This is an independent expenditure prepared and paid for by the Minnesota AFL-CIO Political Fund, 175 Aurora Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55103 and is not approved by any candidate.
Video comes courtesy of TheUptake.