Friends,
On July 1, one of the landmark pieces of legislation from the 2013-14 legislative session – the Women’s Economic Security Act – became law.
This package of laws marks a milestone in closing the gender pay gap, strengthening workplace protections and flexibility for pregnant mothers and expanding employment opportunities for women in high-wage, high-demand professions.
WESA will:
For too long we’ve allowed women to be treated as second-class citizens in the workplace. We needed to address this disparity. Fairness demanded it. WESA will do that by ensuring women receive equal pay for equal work and aren’t punished in the workplace because of their gender or for being mothers. This legislation helps level the playing field.
WESA was part of a larger commitment to creating good paying, high quality employment opportunities. There are still folks looking for work, there are still families getting by with a little less, and there are still communities looking for ways to bring new jobs to main street.
That’s why, over the last two years, the Legislature has made bold investments in job creation initiatives across Minnesota. In addition to spending more than $100 million in General Fund dollars specifically on job creation efforts in last year’s budget, we cut business taxes by $350 million and made a critical down payment on statewide broadband internet expansion. We passed a package of Capitol Investment bills that will provide funding for local infrastructure projects in communities across the state.
Investing in Job Creation
The 2013 Jobs Bill appropriated $54 million for the Minnesota Investment Fund and the Job Creation Fund, which will be used to provide financial incentives to encourage out-of-state companies to set up shop in MN and for existing businesses to bring in new employees.
Cutting Business Taxes
Last year, the Legislature enacted the largest business tax cut in State history, reducing taxes by $350 million for Minnesota businesses by lowering Unemployment Insurance payments.
Investing in Job Training
We invested in customized job training and workforce development programs like FastTRAC and Twin Cities Rise. These programs are set up to give workers the training they need to get back to work. Set up through partnerships with local MnSCU campuses and organizations, these training programs can be customized to meet the needs of the businesses in their area.
Investing in our Infrastructure
A package of Capitol Investment bills that is estimated to create more than 30,000 jobs statewide by putting people to work repairing roads, bridges, schools, and local infrastructure in communities across Minnesota.
Investing in Greater Minnesota
We know the investments in Broadband Internet expansion will serve as a down payment for further funding down the road. And we know that we can do even more to tailor our 2 and 4 year degree programs to match the needs of 21st century businesses.
But these investments will make a significant impact on communities across Minnesota. Many of the infrastructure projects included in the general fund portion of the bonding bill may be able to break ground this year. The grants and loans available through the jobs creation funds at DEED have already helped create new jobs.
After years of slashing budgets, we took a more balanced approach this session. We made investments in proven job creation programs that can help local businesses set up shop and expand their operations.
If you have any questions about the investments we made over the last two years, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I look forward to talking with you this summer and fall.
Sincerely,
Sandy