Dayton talks taxes, turkey loans

With two weeks remaining in the 2015 session, DFL Gov. Mark Dayton is signaling a willingness to compromise with House Republicans on a tax bill.

Dayton still doesn’t like the Republican’s overall plan for $2 billion in tax cuts. He also opposes their plan to phase-out taxes on Social Security income. But Dayton said Monday that he’s interested in adjusting the tax on Social Security benefits to lessen its impact middle-income seniors.

“I would be willing to look at raising the ceiling in that middle-income range because it’s been locked in for some time and it’s lower than certainly what I would consider middle income,” Dayton said.

Dayton also expressed an openness to the House Republican plan for an individual income tax exemption. He said he could be agreeable to that tax cut, because it benefits all income levels and would last only two years.

Dayton also offered his support for the latest legislative proposal related to Minnesota’s avian flu outbreak.

Bills introduced today in the House and Senate would make available $200,000 low interest loans to turkey farmers to replace their flocks. The Rural Finance Authority would issue the loans.

“I think it’s something that we should do, and I strongly support it,” he said.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.