Minnesota’s economic news, w/e 5/31/19
State and local taxes
Pioneer Press: No gas tax or tab fee hikes, but roads and bridges get funding boost; slowpokes must move over
Albert Lea Tribune: Peggy Bennett: Taxes, transparency issues slow budget process
Pioneer Press: Are you getting a tax cut? Some Minnesotans will. What about corporate tax rates?
Fox 9: Minnesota House, Senate pass budget bill, ending special session
Mankato Free Press: Our View: Legislature: Minnesota became better with bipartisan budget
Inforum: What got done: A summary of the 2019 Minnesota legislative session
KNSI: Lawmakers pass state budget
WCCO: It Was Messy, But Gov. Tim Walz & Lawmakers Found A Way To Finish The 2019 Session
Winona Daily News: Walz fights to a draw, comes away with a win
Mankato Free Press: What did, didn’t happen in 2019 legislative session
Marshall Independent: Swedzinski pleased tax hikes dropped by Walz, Democrats
Lillie News: Dakota County: A financial check-up
MPR News: Daily Digest: More takes on session
Winona Daily News: Amid budget noise, Minnesota’s government grows about the same speed as the economy
Minn Post: Incremental change, ‘lackluster’ year: Compromises all around in final Minnesota education budget
International Falls Journal: OUR VIEW: Ready for next session
Star Tribune: New Minnesota law should make filing taxes simpler, cheaper
Economic development
Rochester Post Bulletin: Lanesboro, Minnesota: From boom to bust to boom again
Detroit Lakes Online: Guest editorial: Strides and divides in this part of MN
Southernminn.com: Infrastructure: Devise a plan to begin long overdue repairs
Mankato Free Press: Ask Us: Greater Minnesota gets its fair share of gas tax revenue
Duluth News Tribune: Local View: Truth on TIF may not be what you heard
Pioneer Press: With Minnesota’s economy booming, should state tap into its savings to make budget?
Crookston Times: LGA increase means Crookston’s in line to receive $136K more in 2020
MPR News: Chris Farrell’s Conversation on the Creative Economy: medical entrepreneurs
MPR News: Daily Digest: Polymet, Franken, school lunch
KNSI: Becker plant closure gets mixed reactions
Business North: Appeals Court sides with PolyMet on challenge
KBJR 6: Environmental groups lose cases regarding PolyMet project
Crookston Times: Minnesota Legislature – $5M for Soy Innovation Campus here approved
CBS 3: Environmental groups lose cases regarding PolyMet project
Business North: Appeals Court sides with PolyMet on challenge
Star Tribune: PolyMet Mining, DNR win a round with Minnesota appeals court ruling
MPR News: Court denies request for additional environmental review of PolyMet mine
Minn Post: Losing the Amazon HQ bid may have been very good for Minnesota’s fiscal health
Labor market
Pioneer Press: Business changes: Protection from wage theft, no pre-emption of city rules on benefits
Pioneer Press: Jennifer Schellenberg: Democratic Party leaders should listen to tipped workers
Business North: Labor shortage may cast a cloud over Duluth’s ambitious construction schedule
Agriculture
Minn Post: During the 1980s farm crisis, Minnesota lost more than 10,000 farms
WNAX: Minnesota Legislature’s Special Session Positive For Agriculture
Trade
Grand Rapids Herald Review: Minnesota Chamber to Congress: Trade agreement will grow exports, economy
KELO: Minnesota exports up 1.5 percent in the first quarter of 2019
Pioneer Press: MN exports continue growth after record 2018. Which countries bought the most
Star Tribune: Minnesota exports rise to $5.4 billion despite trade war with China, others
John Phelan is an economist at the Center of the American Experiment.