Legislator uses budget proposal to lure business - KXLT - Fox 47 Rochester MN News, Weather and Sports

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- A Wisconsin legislator is using Gov. Mark Dayton's budget proposal to try to lure business across the state border.

Republican Rep. Erik Severson, of Osceola, has sent a letter to hundreds of Minnesota businesses, including Best Buy, 3M and UnitedHealth Group. Severson urges the businesses to relocate to Wisconsin and avoid higher taxes.

Dayton's proposal raises about $2 billion in additional tax revenue by lowering the state sales tax, but expanding it to more items and to services. The St. Paul Pioneer Press says Dayton's office has responded to Severson's letter by saying job growth is not dictated by taxes and that Severson should focus on his own state. The statement from the governor's office also says Minnesota's economy has fared far better than Wisconsin's in recent years.