Lawmaker Wants Taxes Axed For Minnesota Olympic Medal Winners

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A Minnesota lawmaker wants the state's Olympians to get a tax break.

Republican Rep. Pat Garofalo said Wednesday he'd introduce a bill next year to exempt Rio's medal winners from state taxes. Similar legislation is proceeding at the federal level.

U.S. Olympians get $25,000 for a gold medal, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze. Those cash winnings and the value of medals are taxed as income by the federal government and the state. That means a single gold medal winner could pay up to $9,000 in taxes.

Garofalo says it's not right to financially penalize the winners. His bill would apply to Rio winners and future Olympics.

The Legislature reconvenes in January.