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Statement on the December 5th Economic Forecast

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Rep. Ryan Winkler

Minnesota House of Representatives

District 46A (612) 991-4498 – rep.ryan.winkler@house.mn

553 State Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: 

Ryan Winkler-612-991-4498

December 5, 2013

 

Statement on December 5th Budget Forecast

 

The forecasted budget surplus is good news for Minnesota. We are fortunate that Minnesota continues to lead in economic growth, and that we have recovered the jobs lost in the Great Recession. For that, we can thank hard-working Minnesotans and generations of investment that have created an innovative, diversified economy.

But in the excitement of good budget numbers, we can’t ignore the reality that workers and families face in this economy. State-wide, 40% of the jobs pay less than a living wage. Minnesotans receiving public assistance are working—80% of them. Hard work and education are no longer guaranties of economic security. The greater benefits of Minnesota’s economic growth are flowing to fewer and fewer people. This cannot continue.   

The budget surplus creates an opportunity focus on raising wages and expanding opportunity for Minnesota workers. Making hard work pay should be the focus for the 2014 session, which is why we should raise the minimum wage to $9.50 by 2015. But our agenda should include more:

  • Expand the Working Family Tax Credit to reward work and help struggling families catch up;
  • Expand early childhood scholarships so that all kids have a chance to succeed and all families have high-quality childcare at an affordable price;
  • Increase funding for care providers, which are Minnesota’s fastest growing jobs and are among the lowest-paid;
  • Create incentives for businesses to hire workers at a living wage and train them to improve skills; and
  • Provide an additional cost of living increase for public workers state-wide, many of whom struggle with the same low wages afflicting the private sector.

We should also pass a number of policy changes to make our economy better reflect our values—that Minnesotans should have the dignity of being able to support themselves through work. Our budget surplus should be dedicated to making us all do better.

Ryan Winkler