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Lawmakers push to hire more veterans

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Feb 11, 2013 at 3:33 pm

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) State lawmakers want to give Minnesota businesses tax credits for hiring veterans.

Apple Valley Republican Rep. Anna Wills and Sen. Chuck Wiger, a Maplewood Democrat, unveiled a bill Monday they say would lower the unemployment rate for veterans and boost Minnesota's economy. Wills says 23 percent of veterans in Minnesota are unemployed — the third-highest rate in the nation.

Businesses would receive a $3,000 credit for hiring a disabled veteran, $1,500 for an unemployed veteran and $500 for hiring any veteran. The lawmakers hope that hiring more veterans would increase income tax revenues enough to cover the cost of the credits.

Gov. Mark Dayton floated a similar proposal last year. It was included in a large package of tax cuts that Dayton vetoed for other reasons.