Letter: 'Bad Idea' to Tax Businesses When They Create New Jobs

There has been much debate between the majority and minority parties in the Legislature on who can create jobs. I've supported some tax credits or grants; some believe we should use bonding dollars for job creation. One thing I think all the parties would agree is that it is a bad idea to charge businesses an extra tax when they create new jobs. That would undoubtedly take us in the wrong direction.

So why is Rep. Ryan Winkler, D-Golden Valley, supporting a 900-percent increase in taxes on corporations for increasing a firm's payroll as the chief author of H.F. 2480?

Minnesota taxes its corporations on an average of three items: sales; property value; and payroll. It has wisely relied mostly on the sales factor, and indeed had planned to use it alone in 2014. Thus, adding another worker would not add a dime to the corporation's tax bill. Rep. Winkler's tax increase is a job killer because it puts a firm that hires many workers at a higher effective tax rate than a corporate tax relying only on the sales factor. A medical device firm doing additional research and development has to hire workers, but doesn't increase its sales. Rep. Winkler's plan would still increase the company's tax liability.  

The Winkler tax increase therefore inhibits technological advancements that help make our people healthier and our wages higher. Voters should ask him why he supports this whopper of a job killer.

-Anthony A. Sadder

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