DFL Chairman Ken Martin Statement on GOP Tax Plan

Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party Chairman Ken Martin today released the following statement on Congressional Republicans newly released tax plan.

“We need a simpler, fairer tax code for all Minnesotans. The plan Republicans released today is not that. By limiting a major tax deduction that families depend on every year, it could cost thousands of dollars for nearly a million Minnesota taxpayers. It will take away other critical deductions that help Minnesotans afford college, offset the cost of medical expenses, and purchase a new home. Meanwhile, the wealthiest Americans receive massive handouts and the federal budget is decimated.”

“Republican Representatives Tom Emmer, Jason Lewis, and Erik Paulsen have a duty to stand against this disastrous plan that disproportionally hurts their constituents in Minnesota.”

The tax plan released today limits the State and Local Tax (SALT) Deduction, which provides an average $12,000 tax deduction for 900,000 primarily middle-class Minnesota families and results in about $12 billion in tax benefits to Minnesotans every year.

  • 42 percent of taxpayers in Lewis’ district claimed the SALT deduction last year for nearly $1.8 billion in federal tax relief.
  • 40 percent of taxpayers in Paulsen’s district claimed the SALT deduction last year for nearly $1.7 billion in federal tax relief.
  • 40 percent of taxpayers in Emmer’s district claimed the SALT deduction last year for nearly $2.5 billion in federal tax relief.