Publications

With an eye on learning from the past and preparing for the future, Senate leadership today released their budget targets, charting… Continue reading Senate targets focus on education, more limited tax target

For a large number of Minnesotans, the daily activities we do to support our families, like getting to work safely,… Continue reading Driver’s license bill would expand opportunity for Minnesotans

All Minnesota families should be able to afford child care that meets their needs. Affordable child care allows parents to… Continue reading Kids Can’t Wait Day of Action for affordable child care

Minnesota has recently turned the corner after more than a decade of frequent budget deficits, and now has a $1.9 billion… Continue reading House budget plan sets Minnesota on the wrong course

Last week many concerned Minnesotans testified on the needs of our state at the House Ways and Means Committee hearing on budget resolutions.… Continue reading Legislators preparing to set budget priorities

There’s more evidence that the efforts Minnesota has taken to more equitably share the responsibility for funding schools, roads, nursing… Continue reading Minnesota’s tax system fairer; proposed legislation would take us backward

Governor Mark Dayton today released the outline of his supplemental budget. We’re looking forward to seeing the details, but here’s our… Continue reading Dayton’s supplemental budget focuses on children, broadening economic security

American workers earning the least saw wage gains from 2013 to 2014. Those gains were largely in states where the minimum… Continue reading Federal data affirm Minnesota’s choice to raise the minimum wage

In our final bite on Governor Mark Dayton’s budget proposal, we look at how he seeks to strengthen the state’s… Continue reading Dayton makes investments in workforce development, supportive housing and transit

Governor Mark Dayton’s budget proposal for health and human services would improve access to vital services for some of Minnesota’s… Continue reading Dayton’s health and human services budget invests in critical supports to Minnesota’s most vulnerable

The state’s February 2015 Economic Forecast released today shows good news for three budget cycles. After years of deficits and cuts in services, these… Continue reading February forecast’s strong surplus creates opportunity to invest

We’ve been sifting through Governor Mark Dayton’s budget. Previously we analyzed his tax and child care proposals, and now we’re looking into his education proposals. In his… Continue reading Governor Dayton invests in Minnesota’s students

The economic security of tipped workers in Minnesota is threatened by House File 1027, which passed the House Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy… Continue reading Tip penalty threatens economic security for Minnesotans

To make Minnesota a state where every child can thrive, we must make efforts to support children directly, but also invest… Continue reading Governor Dayton’s budget invests in children

Poverty is more common among Minnesota children than adults, and child poverty is highest in rural counties. This information is presented… Continue reading Child poverty map demonstrates need for more state investment in economic opportunity

We’ve been digging into the details of Governor Dayton’s budget proposal, and I’ve been looking at the tax portion. It follows… Continue reading Affordable child care, transportation are focal points of Dayton’s tax proposal

All Minnesota parents should be able to go to school or work with the knowledge that their children are in a… Continue reading Seven reasons to invest in Basic Sliding Fee this session

Governor Mark Dayton’s state budget proposal released today provides new investments for our state, and particularly focuses on getting our youngest Minnesotans started on the… Continue reading Governor’s budget continues to invest in a strong future for Minnesota

Time is running out to make sure members of our communities find their way to affordable health care coverage. February… Continue reading Still time to get health insurance

Minnesota ended the 2014 calendar year on a high note. State revenues came in higher than expected for November and December,… Continue reading Minnesota’s January Economic Update brings good news for right now

More than 600,000 households in Minnesota face very high housing costs when they pay their mortgages or sign their rent checks.… Continue reading Housing costs stretch budgets across the state

In some parts of our state, 1 in 3 children live in poverty, more than 1 in 3 households have high housing… Continue reading Mapping Minnesota’s Future to Shared Opportunities

The state’s November 2014 Economic Forecast released today has positive news over three budget cycles. The forecast projects a $556 million positive balance… Continue reading Budget surplus should be used to keep Minnesota moving forward

Public policies like Social Security, refundable tax credits and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cut poverty in the U.S. nearly in half in… Continue reading Policy choices cut poverty nearly in half

Minnesota’s most recent revenue collections are about 1 percent below projections, but the overall picture isn’t so bad, according to… Continue reading October Economic Update brings mixed news for the state budget

As Minnesota’s job market continues to improve after the recession, not all Minnesotans are sharing in the state’s progress. Our… Continue reading Some groups of Minnesotans struggle more to find jobs

Minnesota is among the top ten states in terms of incomes, but that above average performance is not reaching all… Continue reading Minnesota beats national figures, but prosperity still out of reach for many

New Census information released today gives a snapshot into the economic recovery’s reach in 2013. The good news is that the… Continue reading Poverty down nationally, Minnesota takes steps for further progress

Minnesota passed two high-impact strategies for making work pay this year: increasing the Working Family Credit (our state’s Earned Income… Continue reading Minnesota takes steps to make work pay

Minnesota ended the recent budget year stronger than expected, according to preliminary analysis from Minnesota Management & Budget. Their July Economic Update finds… Continue reading Minnesota ends budget year on a high note

Minnesota’s new minimum wage will increase the incomes of 325,000 Minnesotans, but there’s still more to do for all Minnesota… Continue reading Too many Minnesotans find affordable housing is “out of reach”

Minnesota’s economic growth has outperformed the majority of other states, according to a recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Economic… Continue reading Minnesota’s economic growth beats national average while Wisconsin lags

It was announced yesterday that since September, the number of uninsured Minnesotans has fallen by over 40 percent. That means that… Continue reading Number of Minnesotans without health insurance drops dramatically

After more than a decade of frequent budget deficits, a state budget surplus opened up the opportunity for different kinds… Continue reading Where the surplus went

More than 220,000 Minnesotans now have quality, affordable health insurance, thanks to the Affordable Care Act and MNsure, our state-based health… Continue reading MNsure makes a difference for more than 220,000 Minnesotans

While Minnesota is one of the healthiest states in the nation, our state also has some of the worst disparities… Continue reading Legislature invests in health equity

The supplemental budget (House File 3172) approved by the Legislature last Friday and signed by Governor Dayton this morning makes some key investments… Continue reading Supplemental budget invests in Minnesota’s future

Payday lending can trap Minnesotans in a cycle of debt, and advocates are championing legislation that would reform the practice and help ensure… Continue reading Payday lending reforms would protect consumers

Late Wednesday night, the Tax Conference Committee put together the second major tax bill of the session, House File 3167. Throughout… Continue reading Omnibus tax bill includes Renters’ Credit increase

Legislators and advocates have been working hard this session to build opportunity for all Minnesotans through closing the achievement gaps in education, improving… Continue reading Women’s economic security on the move

On Sunday, the Tax Conference Committee got a second look at a proposal to increase support for Minnesota families with… Continue reading Governor Dayton’s dependent care credit proposal merits another look

This week, Minnesota policymakers continue to shape the final major budget bills of the session. Targets set late last week… Continue reading Legislature works to complete budget bills

MinnesotaCare plays an essential role in Minnesota’s health care system, even after the creation of MNsure. As we note in our… Continue reading MinnesotaCare works for working Minnesotans

Last year, Minnesota made some much-needed improvements in affordable higher education by restoring some of the funding cut during the Great… Continue reading Minnesota begins to re-invest in affordable higher education