St. Paul, Minnesota — State Representative Joe Radinovich (DFL – Crosby) was recently selected by House Speaker Paul Thissen to serve on the Speaker’s Select Committee on Living Wage Jobs. The select committee, chaired by Representative Ryan Winkler (DFL – Golden Valley), will research, investigate, report and propose legislation to address the decline of living wage jobs in Minnesota. Members of the select committee include Rep. Susan Allen (DFL – Minneapolis), Rep. Pat Garofalo (R – Farmington), Rep. Andrea Kieffer (R – Woodbury), Rep. Jenifer Loon (R – Eden Prairie), and Rep. JoAnn Ward (DFL – Woodbury).
“I believe that Minnesota succeeds when hard work pays off,” said Rep. Radinovich. “Hard-working Minnesota men and women should be able to provide for their family. Our poverty rates have doubled in the last 10 years and incomes are dropping. For long-term growth and success, we absolutely have to reverse these trends and ensure that every Minnesotan has economic opportunity and can earn a living wage.”
Minnesota’s median income was once near the top in the nation, but has dropped out of the top ten. In addition, fewer people are participating in our work force than any time in the last 30 years.
The Select Committee will investigate and research a number of issues areas, including wages, benefits, and cost of living; worker skills and training; regional, gender and race disparities; labor organizing, minimum wage and mandatory benefits; consumer demand, competitiveness, and economic growth. Rep. Winkler has said he plans to hold hearings at the legislature and in other regions of the state to gather ideas and input from workers, the business community, economists, and policy experts.
“We need to take a broad approach that considers all viewpoints and is research and fact based,” said Rep. Radinovich. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to bring forward good ideas that can grow and strengthen the middle class.”
Previous Speakers have appointed Select Committees to assess a variety of pressing issues such as the creation of a Select Committee to report on the recession of the early 1990’s. The Select Committee has been asked to report back with a report and draft legislation. This will conclude the duties of the committee and it will be terminated.