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State Representative Paul Thissen
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-5375
For more information contact: Ben Schweigert 651-296-5809
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REP. PAUL THISSEN AND SEN. SANDRA PAPPAS ANNOUNCE BILL TO BUILD A MORE EDUCATED WORKFORCE MEASURE WOULD STRENGTHEN MINNESOTA’S ECONOMY AND INCREASE WAGES
Rep. Paul Thissen and Sen. Sandra Pappas announced legislation today to create an innovative partnership between private businesses, their employees, and the State of Minnesota aimed at increasing the number of Minnesotans who earn college degrees.
The legislation provides a tax credit to employers who are willing to cover the costs of tuition and educational fees for employees pursuing a college education. Under the proposal, the state will cover 30% of an employer's expense up to $2000. The credit is targeted at education for employees who earn less than $12.00 per hour when they enter the program.
"This legislation recognizes that all Minnesotans have a stake in creating a highly educated workforce," said Rep. Thissen. "Employees plainly benefit. A college graduate earns almost two times as much as a high school graduate and is far less likely to be unemployed. Employers benefit from more productive, highly trained workers. And the state benefits from a strong and growing economy where more and more people are self-sufficient and actively contributing to their communities."
The link between a higher rate of post-secondary education and a strong economy is well established. For instance, a recent study, "The Changing Dynamics of Urban America" found that the best predictor of economic growth in a region from 1990-2000 was its proportion of adults that had college degrees.
"Minnesota ranks near the top in the percentage of residents with college degrees, but there are clouds on the horizon," said Rep. Thissen. "The state ranks only 17th in current post-secondary enrollment among 18 to 24 years olds and 29th in enrollment for adults older than 25. If we are going to continue to lead the nation economically, we need to do better."
The legislation grows out of a proposal made by the Twin Cities think-tank Growth and Justice in their 2004 Report "Workforce First." The report concluded that the best way to generate economic growth and grow worker's wages in Minnesota is to aggressively promote a better-educated, more skilled workforce.
Growth & Justice can be contacted at:
2324 University Ave. West Suite 201
St. Paul, MN 55114
Phone: 651-917-6037
www.growthandjustice.org
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