Federal Issues

Federal policy decisions in areas from health care to nutrition to the environment have a real impact on Minnesotans' daily lives. The federal government is also an important partner in funding public services at the state and local levels, and federal tax decisions influence our state tax system as well. Our analysis focuses on whether federal policies support or hinder Minnesota's progress toward building a broader prosperity for all.

Research

May 2014

MinnesotaCare: A vital part of Minnesota's health care system

MinnesotaCare provides a path to affordable health insurance for lower-income, working Minnesotans who are not covered by their employers or are not able to find affordable coverage in the private market. This brief looks at changes made to MinnesotaCare in the 2013 Legislative Session, including those to adapt to opportunities under the Affordable Care Act.

August 2013

Thousands of Minnesotans would lose basic food support under US House proposal

A proposal under consideration in the U.S. House would drastically cut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), ending critical food assistance for for thousands of Minnesotans. The proposed cuts would increase hunger among Minnesotans who still struggle to put food on the table during the slow economic recovery.

August 2011

Federal deficit reduction: How it works and implications for Minnesota

Congress and President Obama agreed to a deal that raises the debt ceiling and ensures over $2.1 trillion in federal deficit reduction through a multi-step process. A close look at the deal reveals a package that is unbalanced and unfair, and could have serious consequences for Minnesota.

June 2010

The basics of cap and trade

A cap and trade system is one approach to reduce greenhouse gas pollution. It caps the total amount of carbon pollution that can be emitted in a given area, and gives pollution permits or “allowances” to individual companies to meet those goals. Companies that are able to reduce their carbon emissions can profit by trading part of their permitted emission to other firms.

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Federal Issues Blog Posts

May 23, 2024

Study: How much do profitable US companies pay in federal corporate taxes?

A recent report asserts that many profitable U.S. companies pay a lower effective corporate income tax rate than the federal tax rate of 21 percent, mainly because of the loopholes that have been left in place or introduced in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. As components of the TCJA are due to expire in 2025, policymakers should reconsider whether profitable corporations are doing their part to fund crucial public services that everyday folks across the country value and count on.

May 03, 2024

Direct File could save Minnesotans time and money when filing income taxes

Paying taxes is how we come together to fund public services that Minnesotans value and count on, but with our current system, the majority of folks pay to meet their tax-filing responsibilities. Direct File is a free online tool to file and prepare income taxes, and Minnesota can build on positive federal progress on making this option available. Read our blog to learn about how a Direct File system would benefit Minnesotans by saving time, money, and improving access to tax credits.

January 25, 2024

Proposed federal Child Tax Credit expansion would boost the incomes of millions of families

Congress is considering passing an important expansion of the federal Child Tax Credit that would benefit about 16 million children in low-income families across the US. But it's not a sure thing yet. We've included a link in the blog to email your representatives today, urging them to pass an expanded CTC and reduce poverty among the nation's children.

January 25, 2023

Child poverty declines sharply thanks to federal Child Tax Credit expansion

Thanks in part to improvements policymakers made to the federal Child Tax Credit (CTC), recent U.S. Census data show that from 2019 to 2021, child poverty fell a remarkable 59 percent. Minnesota policymakers should build on that success and create a state Child Tax Credit.

Research Focus

American Rescue Plan Resources

The federal American Rescue Plan (ARP), signed in March 2021, brought about $8.5 billion to Minnesota state and local governments. Learn more about the ARP funding streams and how Minnesota policymakers allocated these resources.

Federal Issues

Research

MinnesotaCare: A vital part of Minnesota's health care system

Thousands of Minnesotans would lose basic food support under US House proposal

Federal deficit reduction: How it works and implications for Minnesota

The basics of cap and trade

Federal Issues Blog Posts

Study: How much do profitable US companies pay in federal corporate taxes?

Direct File could save Minnesotans time and money when filing income taxes

Proposed federal Child Tax Credit expansion would boost the incomes of millions of families

Child poverty declines sharply thanks to federal Child Tax Credit expansion

Research Focus

American Rescue Plan Resources

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