Preview: Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton's State of the State Address

Gov. Mark Dayton will give his State of the State address Wednesday from the House Chambers at the State Capitol in St. Paul.

Watch livestream video of the speech starting at 7 p.m. Central at Fridley Patch via The UpTake.

Dayton is not expected to make any new announcements on Wednesday night, but rather take the opportunity to promote his budget proposal and tax overhaul, the Pioneer Press reports.

The Governor says his biennial budget proposal will eliminate the state’s $1.1 billion budget deficit and balance government spending and revenue over the next two fiscal years while putting an end to the “fiscal games” and “accounting gimmicks” of the last decade.

Dayton’s proposals include cutting the sales tax rate from 6.875 percent to 5.5 percent, while broadening the tax to many goods and services that are currently exempt.

He also seeks to create a new income tax bracket on the wealthiest 2 percent of Minnesotans, while providing a rebate for the first $500 of property taxes paid going forward from 2013.

Some of the governor’s other proposals include: reducing the corporate tax rate from 9.8 percent to 8.4 percent; raising the cigarette tax 94 cents per pack; extending the sales tax to clothing costing more than $100; increasing local government aid $80 million a year and county program aid $40 million per year; and increasing funding for special education by $125 million.

Fridley's Capitol Contingent
What do Fridley's representatives at the Capitol think about the state budget?

Rep. Connie Bernardy made this statement after Dayton announced his budget plan:

"Governor Dayton's budget is a good place to start. It gives us the opportunity to invest in our communities by supporting education. Funding for all day every day kindergarten and early childhood education are great ways to help our children succeed in the future. Overall, it is a great start for us. Our job as legislators is to take the Governor's proposal and come together to find the best solutions for our communities. And that's what we'll be doing this session. I look forward to listening to the needs and idea from our residents in New Brighton, Fridley, and Spring Lake Park."

At the session's start in early January, Sen. Barb Goodwin said:

"My focus, and hopefully all of ours, will be to concentrate on producing a balanced budget without gimmicks or shifts. We must also plan how we are going to pay back our schools. Of course, many other issues will arise as well, but hopefully the controversial ones will be held off until next year. After too many years of skirting the issue, a balanced budget will move Minnesota forward faster than anything else we can do."

The State of the State address begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Click here to watch a live feed of the governor's speech.