SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Today, the Minnesota House approved a bipartisan compromise to fully replenish the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and deliver $500 million worth of bonus pay for over 600,000 frontline workers, including health care workers, first responders, child care providers, food service and retail workers, and many more.
Rep. Julie Sandstede (DFL – Hibbing) issued the following statement:
“I’m incredibly proud we were able to come together to resolve these critical issues, particularly helping small businesses avoid a tax increase after they’ve experienced so many challenges throughout the pandemic. Any businesses that already paid their quarterly taxes will receive credits or refunds, holding them harmless.
“I’m also excited we were able to get frontline workers the premium pay they’ve been counting on for nearly a year. These are meaningful checks that will help Minnesotans at a time they can use the extra money in their pockets. I am, however, disappointed unemployment eligibility for hourly school workers, like paraprofessionals, food service workers, and bus drivers, was absent from this agreement. I’ll keep fighting to ensure these valued workers – who are absolutely critical to student success – can be supported in their jobs and have the economic security they deserve.”