It's no surprise that lawmakers from Minnesota's two main political parties have different ideas on what to do with the state's latest projected budget surplus.
The Office of Management and Budget has announced Minnesota has a $2.4 billion surplus for the last two-year budget cycle. That's in addition to a $1.6 billion surplus already predicted for the current state budget.
House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) telling Vineeta Sawkar on the WCCO Morning News it's time to cut taxes once and for all.
"Let's make that they are ongoing, that they affect all taxpayers of Minnesota, not give to special projects or certain segments of the population," says Demuth. "But let's overall cut state spending so that it stays in the hands of taxpayers."
DFL leaders say there's support for using some of the surplus on much-needed infrastructure projects and lowering the cost of child care.
But Demuth insists any tax cuts should be ongoing and for everybody in the state.
"That is our taxpayer dollars, it is Minnesota's taxpayer dollars that is pouring into this state and the answer is not to increase state spending," Demuth said. "That is to provide permenant, ongoing tax relief for Minnesotans."
WCCO Political Analyst Blois Olson says the fact that it will be an Election year, plus coming off an $18 billion surplus, will make for an interesting debate in the upcoming legislative session.
"Even if you were in favor of some of the spending that came out of the last legislative session, with inflation, higher other costs, housing costs, local property taxes going up, that I think there's going to be a sense like we need to give some back," says Olson. "Or find some tax relief for Minnesotans."
Lawmakers are expected to get final surplus numbers in December.