ST. PAUL, Minn. – Governor Tim Walz has made no secret he intends to revive his proposal for direct-to-taxpayer refunds. These are the $350 Walz Checks that were killed n the 2022 Legislature by the Republicans led by GOP Senator Jeremy Miller of Winona. Now with Democrats controlling the Legislature and the state revenue surplus at $17 billion, Walz, a Democrat, is bullish about giving Walz Cbecks a second go. He said as much while touring Minneapolis Community and Technical College a couple weeks back. This time, instead of $350 per taxpayer, it may be $1,000, Walz budget-planners say. The revenue surplus, they note, has grown from $9 billion back early this year to the current $17 billion. Miller and other Republicans never liked the original Walz one-time refunds. The GOP preference: Permanent tax relief for businesses. They bristled at the governor calling them Walz Checks and derided the proposal as a reelection scheme. Walz was re-elected in November by a 56% to 40% margin.
Remember Jesse Checks
When Jesse Ventura was governor, 1999-2003, he proposed a series of direct-to-taxpayer refunds that ended up at $779 per family. He didn’t call them Jesse Checks, but the media did. The name stuck.
Elsewhere
Several states last year approved rebates to taxpayers, albeit many variations and stipulations:
> California: $1,050.
> Colorado: $750.
> Delaware: $300.
> Hawaii: $300.
> Idaho: $600.
> Illinois: $850.
> Indiana: $200.
> Maine: $850.
> Masachusetts: 14% of personal income.
> Rhode Iaslnd: $750.
> South Carolina: $700.
> Virgina: $500.