Minnesota Legislature: Taxes & Finance



Cities, state wrangle over low-level speeding fines

Cities across Minnesota are hoping this is the year the Legislature clarifies whether they can issue fines for minor traffic stops. (05/03/2009)

House, Senate pass health and welfare bills

The Minnesota House and Senate have passed separate Health and Human Services finance bills that use federal economic stimulus money to maintain current eligibility for state-subsidized health benefits. Both versions reduce spending, but not by as much as Gov. Tim Pawlenty has called for. (04/27/2009)

House passes $1.5 billion tax increase

A bill that increases taxes $1.5 billion dollars over the next two years squeaked through the Minnesota House Saturday night. (04/25/2009)

Senate passes $2 billion tax increase

The Minnesota Senate has passed a bill that raises state income taxes by more than $2 billion. (04/24/2009)

Governor and legislative leaders face Chamber of Commerce

Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the four top legislative leaders of both parties answered questions about the $4.6 billion budget deficit at a Minnesota Chamber of Commerce event this morning. (Midday, 04/24/2009)

Pawlenty says he'll veto tax increases

The tough choices keep coming as lawmakers put in long hours to piece together a spending plan that aims to solve the state's worst budget crisis in years. (04/23/2009)

State employees avoid furloughs in tentative contract

Minnesota's two largest public employee unions have reached a tentative contract agreement that avoids the possibility of unpaid furloughs. (04/22/2009)

Residents fight to keep Lindbergh site open

Residents in Little Falls are sending local legislators letters, e-mails and petitions in a campaign to keep the Charles Lindbergh Historic Site open. It's one of three historic sites that could be shut down because of state budget cuts. (04/22/2009)

Education Commissioner sets priorities for session

In the final weeks of the 2009 legislative session, lawmakers are deciding education funding and policy changes. Education Commissioner Alice Seagren joins Midday to discuss the proposals being debated at the Capitol. (Midday, 04/22/2009)

Tax debate pits Senate vs. House vs. Pawlenty

Senate Democrats want to raise income taxes on every Minnesotan for five years to help balance the state's budget. Their plan differs from a tax increase plan from House DFLers, and both proposals face an almost certain veto from Gov. Pawlenty. (04/21/2009)

DFLers propose cutting payments to health care providers

Rep. Tom Huntley, DFL-Duluth, said most provider payments would be cut by 3 percent, but he said no one currently on state subsidized health insurance would lose their coverage. (04/21/2009)

House DFLers: State 'can't afford' some current tax breaks

Democrats in the Minnesota House are proposing to raise income taxes for the state's wealthiest residents and scrap many of the tax breaks those same people now enjoy. (04/20/2009)

Local governments spending more on lobbyists

Democrats in the House and Senate are scheduled to release their tax bills this week, and a lot of people will be looking to see how those bills impact local governments. Many of them will be lobbyists -- lobbyists who are paid with taxpayer money. (04/20/2009)

Minn. Historical Society faces drastic budget cuts

The Minnesota Historical Society said today it may lay off nearly 100 employees, cut the hours of another 220, and close some historic sites in the state as a result of cuts in its state funding and the poor economy. (04/16/2009)

Senate bill aims to cut prison sentences to save state funds

A bill introduced in the Minnesota Senate this week would cut prison sentences across the board and lower penalties for specific crimes. The bill's author said she's proposing the changes to help balance the state's budget. But some public safety advocates say the changes go too far and the savings could be found elsewhere. (04/16/2009)

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