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State Representative Paul Thissen
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-5375
For more information contact: Carrie Lucking 651-296-4169
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State of the State: House DFL focused on job creation, education
In just a few moments, House Minority Leader Paul Thissen will attend the State of the State with two distinguished guests: Thomas Trehus, a student at the University of Minnesota, and Mari Simmons, an unemployed Operating Engineer who lives in Minneapolis. The distinguished guests illustrate the House DFL’s focus on jobs and college affordability, topics the Governor is likely to address in his State of the State address.
“I’m honored to attend the State of the State with 2 Minnesotans who have a real stake in the Governor’s vision for our state." Thissen said. “It’s not just in what the governor says, but in what we do as legislators to enact his vision that will impact Mari, Thomas, and all Minnesotans.”
Simmons has been unemployed since October. Since being laid off, she’s been working on improving her skills through job training. Just yesterday, she drove over 2 hours to attend job training north of Hinckley.
“Every Minnesotan deserves the dignity that comes with earning a paycheck,” Thissen continued. “Governor Dayton has a plan to create immediate jobs that will put people like Mari back to work. She is doing everything she can to get a job. The state needs to be a partner in building the kind of Minnesota where there are good-paying jobs for Mari and every other hard working Minnesotan.”
Trehus is a sophomore at the University of Minnesota. He grew up in Spring Grove, in southeastern Minnesota. Trehus says that he decided to attend the U because “traditionally it has been the most affordable, respected school in Minnesota.” However, in the past ten years, tuition has gone up 134%. In fact, last year one of Trehus’ friends was forced to drop out of school because of the high cost of tuition. (See MN Daily article http://www.mndaily.com/2011/01/26/cuts-hit-poor-students-hardest)
“High tuition is a hidden tax that my family and countless other Minnesotans pay. Those who most need a good education in order to be competitive are also most hurt by high tuition,” Trehus added.
“Thomas and Mari are 2 reasons why we cannot continue down the failed roads of the past. I look to Governor Dayton to signal a way forward to broad prosperity for Minnesotans in today’s State of the State. That way forward is filled with opportunities for Minnesotans like Thomas and Mari, not obstacles,” Thissen concluded.
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Representative Paul Thissen is House Minority Leader. He represents Richfield and part of Minnesapolis in the Minnesota State House of Representatives.
News Items
- Speaker Thissen to Establish Select Committee on Controlled Substances and Synthetic Drugs - (Posted: May 29 2013 1:15PM)
- Minnesota House Finishes 2013 Session with Balanced Budget, Historic Investments in Education, Job Creation, Property Tax Relief - (Posted: May 21 2013 12:44AM)
- Governor Mark Dayton & DFL Legislators Hold Invest in Education “Pep Rally” with Minnesota teachers, parents and students - (Posted: Apr 21 2013 4:21PM)
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