ST. PAUL (LEARFIELD) – Senate Republicans are pushing to give one billion dollars of the state’s expected budget surplus back to Minnesotans by reducing the lowest income tax rate, expanding the K-12 education tax credit and eliminating state income tax on Social Security benefits — plus tax relief for farmers and other measures.

“The only folks up here that are not truly represented by special interests are all those people who pay the bills,” said Chamberlain. “We are going to fully and adequately represent the workers and the taxpayers and the people who pay the bills in the state of Minnesota.”

Senate Republicans’ plan squarely breaks with Democrats by *not* including money to expand early childhood education programs.