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Federal Issues

Federal policy decisions in areas from health care to nutrition to the environment have a real impact on Minnesotans' daily lives. The federal government is also an important partner in funding public services at the state and local levels, and federal tax decisions influence our state tax system as well. Our analysis focuses on whether federal policies support or hinder Minnesota's progress toward building a broader prosperity for all.

Research

September 2008

Preserving fairness and federal revenues: A common-sense approach to the estate tax

The estate tax helps keep our tax system fair by ensuring that those with the greatest ability to pay contribute their fair share. Proposals to weaken the estate tax would have negative consequences, including increasing the federal debt and reducing tax fairness. Minnesota's federal delegation should reject estate tax changes that increase the deficit or weaken the estate tax beyond the 2009 law. 

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September 2008

The Pay-As-You-Go rule: A return to fiscal responsibility

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September 2008

State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP): Keeping Minnesotans healthy

Why It Matters: SCHIP Keeps Minnesota's Children and Parents Healthy Nearly 40,000 Minnesotans, including children, pare...

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September 2008

The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) debate: What's at stake

The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) is a tax stop-gap, preventing wealthy taxpayers from completely avoiding income taxes by exploiting tax deductions, loopholes and exclusions. The AMT is not indexed for inflation, however, and so it is affecting a rapidly growing number of people. The AMT should be reformed, but that reform should be fully paid for, well-targeted and permanent.

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Federal Issues Blog Posts

August 13, 2020

Emergency SNAP funding an essential part of an anti-racist COVID response

Expanded SNAP food assistance is one tool that should be made available to the millions of families struggling to get by while also being one step in reversing centuries-long patterns of discrimination.

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August 10, 2020

Minnesota expecting continued revenue shortfalls; time for strong federal action

July brought us more sobering news about the ongoing damage that COVID-19 is expected to have on the economy, and by extension the state’s budget.

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August 03, 2020

New data confirm states need more federal Medicaid support

Data shows climbing numbers of Minnesotans needing some help to afford care while we’re also seeing massive state revenue shortfalls as a result of the pandemic’s economic disruption. This presents a serious mismatch of needs and resources. An increase to federal Medicaid funding is needed to make sure people can get the health care they need, when they need it.

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July 28, 2020

US Senate COVID-19 relief package falls dramatically short of what nation needs

The Senate relief package – called HEALS Act -- is inadequate to meet the challenges of this moment and is too small to jumpstart our economy. Instead of prioritizing the health and well-being of Americans and building for an economic recovery, the Senate plan falls short and would result in more kids going hungry and at risk of becoming homeless, force more lay-offs of teachers and other state and local government workers, and cause harmful cuts to health care, education, and other urgently needed services.

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More Federal Blog Posts

Research Focus

fed highlighy

Federal Funds are Instrumental to Building Prosperity

The federal government is a significant source of funding for Minnesota and helps more Minnesotans have affordable health care, assists low-income families who are trying to make ends meet, and strengthens our roads and transit systems. 

In the FY 2018-19 biennium, about 30 percent of the state’s budget comes from the federal government, or close to $25 billion. Additional federal dollars go to local governments and nonprofits for education, transportation, and other community investments. Read the full report here.

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