The Minnesota House approved a tax bill that would freeze business property taxes and create several new tax breaks. Governor Dayton and other DFLers say the freeze will drive up the state's budget deficit in the next biennium. The tax breaks include incentives for investing in startup companies and hiring veterans.

The credit, passed into law last year, helps finance the rehabilitation of historic buildings around the state -- and the U believes that will translate into the creation of 1,800 new construction jobs.

The proposal would cut taxes by about 30 percent over the next six to 12 years. The House Taxes Committee Chairman Greg Davids told the Pioneer Press it would be the "bigger job creator." DFL Gov. Mark Dayton hasn't ruled out the Republican plan, but doesn't know how they plan to pay for the tax cut.

Gov. Mark Dayton wants to expand the state's GI Bill to include older veterans. The plan looks to spark job skill training and reduce the high rate of veteran unemployment.

Minnesota's jobless rate remains 5.6 percent for the third straight month, according to the figures released Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Employers added 7,200 jobs last month to end a three-month skid of job losses in the state. Minnesota is still well below the national unemployment rate of 8.2 percent.