Sen. Rich Draheim hosts tax town hall in New Prague
Public shares thoughts on state tax policy

Senator Rich Draheim [R-Madison Lake] hosted a public tax town hall on Wednesday, February 8 in New Prague, focusing on state tax policy and the upcoming legislative session. Senator Draheim was joined by Senator Roger Chamberlain [R-Lino Lakes], Chairman of the Senate Tax Committee, and Senator Eric Pratt [R-Prior Lake] at New Prague City Hall. The public listening session focused on the impact of the state tax cuts enacted by the legislature in 2017, the effect of the new federal tax reform legislation on Minnesotans, and upcoming legislation to make our state tax code fairer and simpler for all residents.

“These town halls provide an excellent opportunity for us to hear directly from Minnesotans on how to best protect their hard-earned wages,” said Senator Draheim. “With federal tax reform impacting our state tax code, our state government will collect way more money than it needs to function effectively. Hard working families should not be asked to shoulder an unnecessarily high tax burden while the state sits on excess cash.”

Due to federal tax reforms, Minnesotans face an unintended state tax increase totaling over $800 million. The New Prague tax town hall is part of a six-stop statewide tour hosted by Senator Chamberlain to gather public input on how best to protect state taxpayer income.

“We have already seen the positive effect the federal tax cut has had on the economy,” added Senator Draheim. “But if we do not act in Minnesota, our companies will be at a disadvantage compared to their competitors in neighboring states. We need to maintain our economic edge and spur new growth.”

You can view a recording of the event here.