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DFL legislators, unions urge tax changes to protect Minnesota services amid federal cuts
Summary
DFL state legislators and union members held a State Capitol event urging the Minnesota Legislature to pursue new revenue options — including a fifth-tier income tax, higher corporate rates and closing tax exemptions — to blunt projected federal funding cuts that speakers said threaten health care, education and other services.
Sen. Erin May Quaid, who represents Senate District 56 (Apple Valley, Rosemount and part of Eagan), told a State Capitol event that DFL legislators will resist federal cuts and seek state revenue options to protect schools, hospitals and other services. “We will fight to protect Minnesotans from the chaos, corruption, and destruction from the Trump administration and federal Republicans,” she said.
The speakers said the Legislature faces an unusual budgeting challenge because of recent federal proposals they described as likely to reduce Medicaid, public-health funding and other federal supports that Minnesota relies on. The group urged a set of state-level revenue actions — advanced in bills already introduced or discussed by DFL lawmakers — to mitigate those harms.
Rep. Esther Agbaje, who represents House District 59B (downtown and North Minneapolis), summarized several options being discussed in the Legislature, including a so-called fifth-tier income tax bill filed by Sen. McEwen that she said “could raise as much as $2.5 billion” and a…
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