Cliff Buchan
News EditorOn April 15, as many Americans went dutifully about the task of filing income tax statements, Sixth District Congressman was in Forest Lake plugging for continued tax relief.
On a day-long tour throughout Washington County, Kennedy briefly stopped in Forest Lake last Thursday to talk taxes and shake hands at a downtown ice cream parlor.
During his tax day chat, Kennedy said the economic rebound was heavily dependent on Congressional action to keep in place a number of tax relief provisions that are set to expire at the end of 2004.
ìThe economy is coming back,î Kennedy said during an interview. ìIíve talked to a lot of businesses. They are seeing the economy coming back.î
And a major factor, Kennedy said, has been federal tax relief. The first-term congressman for the Forest Lake area said the continuation of the rebound will be hurt if tax relief now in place is allowed to end.
In a statement, Kennedy said, ìEliminating the marriage penalty, increasing the child tax credit, and putting more taxpayers in the 10 percent bracket is good for the economy and good for Minnesota families.
ìI will not sit by and allow these taxes to increase and hurt Minnesota families. The economy is like a jet airplane on the runway, getting ready to take off.
ìThe last thing we should do is to put up a trip wire and hook the economy by raising taxes.î
The elimination of the marriage penalty has been a boon to couples hit hard by the old tax structure, he said. Kennedy said families have received major tax help by the doubling of the child tax credit from $500 to $1000 per child.
Unless Congress takes action in this session, both tax relief measures will be eliminated at the end of the year, he said.
During his two-hour visit to Forest Lake, Kennedy dropped in on customers at Peppermint Parlor & Eatery, an ice-cream shop at The Plaza, 56 E. Broadway Ave.
A self-proclaimed ice cream connoisseur, Kennedy donned a Peppermint parlor soda jerk cap, tied on an apron, grabbed an ice cream scoop and filled his own order ó a double dip maple nut cone.
After finishing his short shift behind the counter, Kennedy spent a few more minutes chatting with customers and shaking hands. Then he was off to visit other friends in Forest Lake.
The congressman had a host of weekend activities planned in the district, including attending his daughterís class play last Thursday night.
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