[Fmhc] Fwd: Renters' Credit at Risk: Take Action Today

Wed Mar 19 14:55:32 CDT 2008

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <nan at mncn.org>
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:50:01 UT
Subject: Renters' Credit at Risk: Take Action Today
To: directorfmchp at gmail.com

Dear Michael:
 <http://www.mncn.org/bp/>

The Governor has proposed cutting the Renters' Credit by 21%. The Renters'
Credit helps over 271,000 low- and moderate-income Minnesota households who
have high housing costs, many of them seniors and people with disabilities.

*The Legislature is making decisions right now* about how to solve the
state's budget deficit – and they must hear from Minnesotans that they
should not accept the Governor's proposal to cut the renters' credit. There
are three simple things you can do TODAY to protect Minnesotans from this
cut:

   1. Please see the action
alert<http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&view=js&name=js&ids=1dgpb0bm4mmnf#118c802367eaefbe_alert>below
and make a couple of calls to members of the tax committee and
   legislative leadership. Let us know any feedback you receive.
   2. If you represent an organization, please join us in a sign-on
   letter<http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&view=js&name=js&ids=1dgpb0bm4mmnf#118c802367eaefbe_letter>opposing
the cuts.
   3. Pass this email along to your allies and networks.

When the Governor proposed a similar cut in 2005, a coalition of over 160
organizations from across the state united in opposition and was successful
in defeating the cuts to the Renters' Credit. *We can do that again this
year, but we need your help!* If you need additional information about the
renters' credit, please visit our web site at
www.mncn.org/bp/renterscredit.htm, or contact me.

Nan Madden
Minnesota Budget Project Director
Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
2314 University Ave W Ste 20
St. Paul, MN 55114
(651) 642-1904 x230
nan at mncn.org
www.mncn.org/bp/
* *

*Action Alert: Renters at Risk in Budget Debate: Call TODAY to Oppose 21%
Cut in Renters' Credit*

The Renters' Credit is an important tool for tax fairness in Minnesota. It
provides an average credit of $536 to over 271,000 low- and moderate-income
households with high housing costs. Of the households receiving the Renters'
Credit, 29% include seniors and/or people with severe disabilities.

In his budget, Governor Pawlenty proposes to cut the Renters' Credit by 21%.
The average credit would be cut by $119.

The Governor's budget asks low-income people, persons with disabilities,
seniors and other vulnerable populations to shoulder too much of the
responsibility for solving the state's budget deficit. The Legislature must
take a different path.

The Legislature is making decisions right now about how they will solve the
state's budget shortfall. They must hear from Minnesotans: *Reject the
Governor's proposal to cut the Renters' Credit.*

If your Senator or Representative is on the tax committee, please call him
or her. Otherwise, please call the chairs of the tax committee and
legislative leadership. If you are not sure who represents you in the
Minnesota legislature, find out at
http://geo.commissions.leg.state.mn.us/districts/start.html.

*House Tax Committee:*
Chair: Rep. Ann Lenczewski, 296-4218
Joe Atkins, 296-4192
Laura Brod, 296-4229
Lyndon Carlson, 296-4255
Jim Davnie, 296-0173
Chris DeLaForest, 296-4231
Randy Demmer, 296-9236
David Dill, 296-2190
Ron Erhardt, 296-4363
Debra Hilstrom, 296-3709
Mike Jaros, 296-4246
Lyle Koenen, 296-4346
Paul Kohls, 296-4282
Morrie Lanning, 296-5515
John Lesch, 296-4224
Tina Liebling, 296-0573
Paul Marquart, 296-6829
Joe Mullery, 296-4262
Erik Paulsen, 296-7449
Tom Rukavina, 296-0170
Loren Solberg, 296-2365
Cy Thao, 296-5158
Tom Tillberry, 296-5510
Kurt Zellers, 296-5502

*Senate Tax Committee:
*Chair: Tom Bakk, Cook, 296-8881
Scott Dibble, Minneapolis, 296-4191
Debbie Johnson, Ham Lake, 296-3219
Keith Langseth, Glyndon, 296-3205
Dan Larson, Bloomington, 297-8061
Warren Limmer, Maple Grove, 296-2159
John Marty, Roseville, 296-5645
Mee Moua, St. Paul, 296-5285
Julianne Ortman, Chanhassen, 296-4837
Larry Pogemiller, Minneapolis, 296-7809
David Senjem, Rochester, 296-3903
Katie Sieben, Newport, 297-8060
Rod Skoe, Clearbrook, 296-4196

*House and Senate Leadership:
*Speaker of the House: Representative Margaret Anderson Kelliher, 296-0171
Senate Majority Leader: Senator Larry Pogemiller, Minneapolis, 296-7809

All phone numbers are (651) area code.

For additional information on the Renters' Credit, please see
www.mncn.org/bp/renterscredit.htm or contact Nan Madden, Minnesota Budget
Project, 651-642-1904 ext. 230, nan at mncn.org

*Sign-on Letter*

*March 2008*

*An Open Letter to Governor Tim Pawlenty and Members of the Minnesota
Legislature:*

The undersigned organizations are deeply concerned about the Governor's
proposal to reduce the Renters' Credit. These cuts will harm Minnesotans
across the state including seniors, persons with disabilities, and other
low- and moderate-income Minnesotans.

The Renters' Credit provides a reduction in property taxes to Minnesotans
whose rent is high relative to their income. While renters do not pay
property taxes directly, the Renters' Credit recognizes that owners of
rental property pass on the cost of property taxes to renters in the form of
higher rents.

   - In 2005, more than 271,000 Minnesota households received this tax
   credit. 29% of these households included seniors and/or persons with severe
   disabilities.
   - More than $145 million was brought into local communities and
   businesses because of the Renters' Credit.

Under the Governor's proposal, the Renters' Credit would be cut by 21%. The
average credit would be cut by $119 and 11,200 taxpayers would lose
eligibility for the Renters' Credit.

The Governor claims that a cut to the Renters' Credit is appropriate since
property taxes were decreased in 2001 for most apartment owners. Renters did
not benefit from this property tax reform; the savings have not been passed
on to renters.

Even when the Renters' Credit is taken into account, rental property taxes
remain one of the most regressive taxes in Minnesota.

At a time when the state faces an economic downturn and a significant lack
of affordable housing, renters in Minnesota cannot afford a 21% cut in the
Renters' Credit. Many Minnesotans use the Renters' Credit to meet basic
needs such as delayed dental care, school clothes and supplies, car repairs,
bills, and prescription drugs. Cutting the Renters' Credit harms Minnesota
families. We need to stop asking our most vulnerable Minnesotans to bear
much of the costs of balancing the state's budget.

*We, the undersigned organizations, therefore oppose a cut to the Renters'
Credit.*

*Contact Person Name*:
*Organization Name*:
*Organization Address*:
*City, State, Zip*:
*Contact email*:
*Phone*:

*To join this sign-on letter in opposition to cuts to the Renters' Credit,
please provide the above contact information and return to:*
Nan Madden
Minnesota Budget Project
Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
2314 University Ave W #20
St. Paul, MN 55114
Fax: 651-642-1517
Email: nan at mncn.org

-- 
Michael Carbone
Executive Director
FM Coalition for Homeless Persons
P.O. Box 862
Moorhead MN 56561
701-364-2697 office
701-232-2590 fax

THE MISSION of the Fargo Moorhead Coalition for Homeless Persons is to
increase access to services for people facing homelessness and provide
homeless awareness, education and advocacy in the FM area.

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use of the information contained in this communication is strictly
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