Business group takes aim at DFL tax plan

Group urges more cuts, but Dayton administration says corporate special interests don't want to pay their fair share.

April 11, 2013 at 12:28AM

A group of business leaders are pressing DFL legislative leaders and Gov. Mark Dayton to focus on budget reductions rather than tax increases.

The group, United for Jobs, is releasing television, radio and newspaper ads around the state saying that proposals to increase state spending by $2 billion would crush the economy.

"How can legislators justify a 7 percent spending increase when the economy is only growing by 2 percent?" asked Charlie Weaver, executive director of the Minnesota Business Partnership.

Business leaders persuaded Dayton to drop a major tax reform proposal that included billions of dollars in new business taxes. But Dayton is digging in over his proposal to raise income taxes on high earners, a plan which was a hallmark of his campaign for governor.

"Minnesota's tax system has been stacked against the middle class for a generation," said Bob Hume, a Dayton spokesman. "It's not a surprise that the corporate special interests who haven't been paying their fair share don't want to."

So see the ads or learn more about the United for Jobs, go to here.


about the writer

about the writer

Baird Helgeson

Deputy editor

Baird Helgeson is deputy local editor at the Star Tribune. He helps supervise coverage of local news. Before becoming an editor, he was an award-winning reporter who covered state government and politics. He has worked for news organizations in Minnesota, Florida and North Dakota.

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