Saint Paul, Minnesota - Speaker Paul Thissen and House Majority Leader Erin Murphy released statements tonight following Governor Dayton’s State of the State address:
Speaker Paul Thissen:
“We agree with Governor Dayton – and Minnesotans- that our state is better off and that Minnesota is headed in the right direction.
Our economy is better off. We have recovered all of the jobs lost in the recession, businesses are expanding and more jobs are being created. Our schools and children are better off. We have fully funded all-day kindergarten and made it more affordable for students to go college. And middle-class families are better off. Property taxes are going down for the first time in a decade, we have made further tax cuts for more than one million Minnesotans, and raised the minimum wage.
Most importantly, we praise Governor Dayton for his vision for the future. Because while Minnesota is certainly doing better, there is more we can do - this session and into the future. We can and should continue to build on our momentum with priorities that put the economic security of middle-class Minnesotans ahead of wealthy special interests.
That is why we aim to finish this session as we started - investing in priorities that help all Minnesotans in all corners of the state. That means passing the Women’s Economic Security Act, passing a statewide bonding bill and funding broadband infrastructure to grow jobs in Greater Minnesota, and providing further tax relief to Minnesota homeowners, renters and small businesses.
Now is not the time to rest or retreat – it’s time to keep moving forward.”
Majority Leader Erin Murphy:
“Governor Dayton delivered an optimistic speech tonight that captured the pride that most Minnesotans see in our state. And contrary to the doom-and-gloom attitude what we’ve heard from Republicans, Minnesotans have a positive outlook about the progress we’ve made and the progress we must continue to make.
After years of deficits, our budget is in balance. We’ve created thousands of jobs and see more signs of economic progress by the day. And we can make more progress if we focus on the investments that will build on Minnesota’s strengths – world-class schools, innovative businesses, and policies that put economic security for middle-class Minnesotans ahead of wealthy special interests.
In particular, I applaud Governor Dayton for his focus on early education. All-day kindergarten is a significant achievement of this legislature and so is our state’s down payment on early education for our preschool children. Continuing to invest in our earliest learners is exactly the kind of forward-looking investment that will keep Minnesota strong for a generation to come.
Minnesota’s brightest days are ahead, especially if we make investments in our future.”