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State Representative Ryan Winkler
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-7026
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
NEWS COLUMN
REP. WINKLER COMMENDS GOVERNOR PAWLENTY FOR RECOGNIZING POTENTIAL OF KEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES
It’s time the governor puts forward a positive agenda rather than the same old tax cuts wrapped in a green bow.
Thirty years ago, our state was leading the nation in the production and manufacturing of innovative products. Those industries created thousands of jobs for Minnesotans. Now, our state’s unemployment rate is outpacing the national average, and 30,000 Minnesotans are expected to be unemployed by next year. Over the last six years, Governor Pawlenty has done little to address the problem.
I am glad to see Governor Pawlenty has decided to come on board this year to finally begin addressing the underlying issues adversely affecting Minnesota’s lagging economy. After decades of neglecting the need to help small businesses in new industry ventures, Minnesota’s economy hasn’t kept pace with the rest of the country. The governor’s attention to our economy, rather than his national political prospects, is long overdue.
I introduced legislation last session to create a better tax and investment climate for early-stage technology companies. These initiatives would have:
1. Allowed an individual income and corporate franchise credit for investing in Minnesota high technology businesses (HF3143);
2. Limited the jurisdiction to tax persons investing in certain entities (HF3144); and
3. Requested that the Minnesota State Board of Investment partner with venture capital companies investing in Minnesota (HF3142).
Last year, the governor opposed these important job growth initiatives. Now his proposed economic development effort unveiled today includes several of these economic stimulus tax credits and long-term investments.
Still, Pawlenty's initiative is only one small part of what Minnesota’s economy needs. Leading economists agree Minnesota's workforce is the key to our economic health. Even in tough budget times, we need to remember our long-term needs.
Currently the governor has no plan to increase the number high school graduates, the number of Minnesotans who get a degree beyond high school, and his cuts to the U of M and other universities have been detrimental to workforce development. Special tax breaks and lofty rhetoric is not good enough. Minnesota's economy needs a comprehensive plan to rebuild and renew our economy.
News Items
- Statement on Budget Forecast - (Posted: 2012-12-05 00:00:00)
- Statement on Final I-35 W Bridge Settlement - (Posted: 2012-11-13 00:00:00)
- Rep. Winkler: Tea Party Activists Can’t Be Trusted to Reform Our Elections - (Posted: 2012-11-01 00:00:00)
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