HOUSE APPROVES TAX CONFORMITY

The Minnesota House passed the Federal Tax Conformity bill Monday night, 81-51. Two Democrats and all Republicans opposed the bill that brings Minnesota tax laws into agreement with Federal laws for those filing this year. House Republican Leader Marty Seifert said his party opposed the bill because it also included tax increases for utilities, a taconite tax increase and an increase in the deed tax for five counties. Perham lawmaker Dean Simpson proposed that everything be taken out of the bill except Federal conformity but that was defeated. Tax increases in the bill included a utility tax, a taconite tax and the deed tax for five counties. The bill also includes a number of items that were vetoed in last year's tax bill. A similar bill waits in the Senate Tax Committee.