{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://emmer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/klobuchar-franken-minnesota-delegation-members-urge-treasury-department", "Klobuchar, Franken, Minnesota Delegation Members Urge Treasury Department and IRS to Protect Minnesota's Economic Development and Infrastructure Projects", "2016-08-29", "2016", "2016-08", "Republican", "House", "MN", "Tom Emmer", "E000294", "emmer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, along with Representatives Collin Peterson, John Kline, Tim Walz, Erik Paulsen, Betty McCollum, Keith Ellison, Rick Nolan, and Tom Emmer, have urged the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to carefully consider the potential impact of a proposed rule that could prevent port authorities and other political subdivisions from issuing tax-exempt bonds, a key financing tool for major projects. A diverse array of entities in Minnesota that currently qualify as political subdivisions, including certain port authorities, housing and redevelopment authorities, and economic development authorities, are currently allowed to sell tax-exempt bonds to fund critical local projects. The proposed IRS rule would change the definition of political subdivision in a way that could exclude certain Minnesota entities and stop them from using tax-exempt financing for major projects. In a letter to the Treasury Department and the IRS, Klobuchar, Franken, and members of the Minnesota congressional delegation called on the agency to ensure that changes to current policy do not harm public bodies that provide vital community services.\n\u00a0\n\u201cWe urge you to consider the concerns raised by a number of Minnesota entities that may be harmed by the Internal Revenue Service\u2019s proposed rule on the definition of political subdivision.\u00a0 While we recognize your concern about certain entities that may be unfairly taking advantage of the current definition of political subdivision for private gain, we believe that it\u2019s critical to ensure that changes to current policy do not harm public bodies that provide vital community services,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201cUnfortunately, if the proposed rule were adopted without change, some of them could lose their status as political subdivisions, threatening the critical public work of these entities. We hope you will closely consider the potential impact of your proposed rule and ensure that it does not limit the ability of public entities in Minnesota from providing important community services.\u201d \n  The full text of the Minnesota congressional delegation\u2019s letter is below:\nDear Secretary Lew and Commissioner Koskinen: \nWe urge you to consider the concerns raised by a number of Minnesota entities that may be harmed by the Internal Revenue Service\u2019s (IRS) proposed rule on the definition of political subdivision.\u00a0 While we recognize your concern about certain entities that may be unfairly taking advantage of the current definition of political subdivision for private gain, we believe that it\u2019s critical to ensure that changes to current policy do not harm public bodies that provide vital community services.\nMinnesota features a diverse array of entities authorized under state and local law to sell tax-exempt bonds and fund public projects.\u00a0 These entities include port authorities, housing and redevelopment authorities, and others that contribute significantly to our Minnesota community.\u00a0 Many of these entities currently qualify as political subdivisions, which allows them to issue tax-exempt bonds.\nWe believe these widely respected entities should continue to be able to use tax-exempt bonds to appropriately further their missions.\u00a0 Unfortunately, if the proposed rule were adopted without change, some of them could lose their status as political subdivisions, threatening the critical public work of these entities.\nTwo aspects of the rule deserve particular scrutiny.\u00a0 First, the proposed rule would only allow an entity to qualify as a political subdivision if it engages in activities with no more than an \u201cincidental private benefit.\u201d\u00a0 If adopted as proposed, some Minnesota entities are concerned that this provision could stop some entities from using tax-exempt financing for widely supported economic development activities. \nSecond, the proposed rule contains unclear provisions on the level of control elected officials or voters must have of a political subdivision.\u00a0 As a result, a number of Minnesota political subdivisions believe this provision could unfairly bar some transparent, accountable entities from using tax-exempt bonds to support critical local projects.\nWe hope you will closely consider the potential impact of your proposed rule and ensure that it does not limit the ability of public entities in Minnesota from providing important community services.\u00a0 Thank you for considering these concerns and others expressed in the comment process by Minnesota\u2019s political subdivisions and their community partners. \u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://emmer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/klobuchar-franken-minnesota-delegation-members-urge-treasury-department"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.1170171201229095, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}