DFL Chair Melendez calls on Governor to support property tax relief

05/10/2007

ST. PAUL (5/10/07) – The Minnesota House and Senate have put forward a proposal that would provide significant property tax cuts for 90 percent of the state's homeowners, with only Governor Tim Pawlenty standing in the way of those cuts. The property - tax - relief proposal is a way to break the logjam at the Capitol caused by the Governor's recent vetoes. The plan would raise $452 million in 2008-09 by raising the top income tax rate to 9 percent; the plan only affects the top 1 percent of the state's earners, with 80 percent of the increase being paid for by people making more than $1 million per year. The property - tax relief would be based on income, making it an ideal way to ensure that seniors stay in their homes and that young people can afford a home. The proposal would also make the state's tax system less regressive.

Governor Pawlenty has vowed to veto the measure.

"This Governor keeps undermining middle - class Minnesotans. He continues to be an obstacle to the progress that Minnesota needs,” said DFL Chair Brian Melendez. "Governor Pawlenty's policies caused skyrocketing property taxes and now he's running away from the problem. Protecting the wealthiest 1 percent at the expense of the overwhelming majority of Minnesotans is wrong."

"Tim Pawlenty is a lot like President Bush," said Melendez. "They're both obstinate and unwilling to compromise; neither one has a plan to finish the job; and they both protect their ideology at the expense of progress. It's time for the Governor to actually do his job and look out for all of Minnesota, instead of looking out only for the privileged few."