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State Representative Tim Mahoney
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4277
For more information contact: Charlie Vander Aarde 651-297-8406
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REPUBLICAN “JOBS” BILL CUTS MINNESOTA JOBS
(ST. PAUL) – The Minnesota House Republican majority today released their Jobs and Economic Development budget. The bill makes a 58% cut in the budget compared to the 2010-11 budget.
“The Republican jobs budget does not create a single job for the 200,000 unemployed people who are looking for work," said DFL committee lead Rep. Tim Mahoney (DFL - St. Paul). “The party that ran on jobs is laying off people from their jobs. The party that ran on jobs is cutting future jobs. The 58% cut to the state’s jobs and economic development budget hurts all Minnesotans. It cuts investment in what makes this state great – its people.”
The Republican proposal includes a provision to raid $60 million from the Douglas J. Johnson Economic Protection Trust Fund at the IRRRB. “This is an extension of failed Pawlenty policies,” said Mahoney. “I respect what the Fund does and think it should remain dedicated to the Iron Range. It keeps economic development money dedicated to the region that paid for it. It would be the only time we have asked a group of local property tax payers to pay for Edina’s and Eden Prairie’s schools, roads and services. This is a blatantly partisan move that hits an area of the state with high unemployment.”
Mahoney noted that the fund shift from Unemployment Insurance funds to the General Fund would hit dislocated workers from the biosciences like Boston Scientific, to engineers at Lockheed Martin and Hutchinson Technology all the way to Joe’s Garage. “The Republicans squeeze the people key to economic recovery,” Mahoney explained. “It takes aim at middle class, working class people.”
The proposal cuts the State Trade Office, located in the Department of Employment and Economic Development. “These piled on cuts aren’t even penny wise,” continued Mahoney. “Democrats realize that we live in a global economy and I welcome my Republican friends to join us in preparing Minnesota to compete in that world. Elimination of funding to the Science and Technology Authority and cutting the State Trade Office will do little to balance the budget but do much to harm Minnesota’s future.”
Mahoney promised, “Democrats remain committed to protecting jobs, helping big and small businesses grow across Minnesota. Our proposals to grow high wage jobs and prepare our workforce for the future economy are the recipe for what’s needed.”
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News Items
- DFL Legislators Introduce the “Contraceptive Equity Act” - (Posted: 2012-03-07 00:00:00)
- DFL Jobs Initiatives to be Heard in House Jobs and Economic Development Committee - (Posted: 2012-02-29 00:00:00)
- REP. MAHONEY, DFL LEGISLATORS BUILD ON DFL JOBS PLAN WITH NEW INITIATIVES - (Posted: 2012-02-01 00:00:00)
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