Publications

This session, Minnesota policymakers are considering bills to bring our state’s driver’s licenses up to required federal Real ID standards.… Continue reading House version of Real ID costly, contains unnecessary language

Minnesota’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) reimburses child care providers so that parents with low wages can leave for work… Continue reading Updating child care assistance reimbursement rates important for parents

Recently, “local interference” laws, which prevent local governments from setting higher standards than state law, have popped up in a… Continue reading Local interference restricts local governments’ ability to meet needs of their residents

This is another story in a series that shares why small business owners believe it’s important to reinvest our budget surplus back… Continue reading Duluth business owners call for strengthening workforce with education investments

The Minnesota Senate’s 2016 supplemental tax bill released this week includes provisions that would make strong strides toward more Minnesotans being able… Continue reading Provisions in Senate tax bill make everyday Minnesotans the priority

The Minnesota House Health and Human Services budget includes a proposal that would add a counterproductive, complex layer of bureaucracy… Continue reading Asset tests for health care: A solution in search of a problem

With their conference committee about to begin, the House and Senate have put together their omnibus supplemental budget bills, which… Continue reading House and Senate have very different priorities in their supplemental budgets

This session, I’ve been hearing from some small business owners about their perspectives on what course state policymakers should take… Continue reading ‘Small business’ tax cuts miss the mark, would prevent investments in durable prosperity

The economic recovery has taken hold in Minnesota, but that’s news to the many Minnesotans who are not sharing in… Continue reading Some Minnesotans continue to struggle in the workforce

Last week, the Senate and House passed their plans for the Health and Human Services (HHS) portion of Minnesota’s budget,… Continue reading Breaking down the three health and human services proposals

It’s time to update a critical support for our state’s poorest kids that has been deteriorating for 30 years: the Minnesota Family Investment Program… Continue reading What’s missing in this chart?

Where are workers of color unemployed at over 2.5 times the rate of white workers? Where are households of color living… Continue reading Senate equity proposal strives to create more economic opportunity

Policymakers can build on Minnesota’s historic progress in increasing access to affordable health care by restoring eligibility for MinnesotaCare for a group of… Continue reading Two facts that make the case for restoring MinnesotaCare eligibility levels

A report from the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) finds Minnesota does well on many aspects of its Assets & Opportunity… Continue reading Assets and opportunity not reaching all communities in Minnesota

Holly Hatch-Surisook lives one mile from the successful restaurant she owns with her husband, Joe, in Northeast Minneapolis. Built from… Continue reading Creating a durable Prosperity: Why small business owners call for state investments

Today the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the lawsuit concerning President Barack Obama’s 2014 executive action which,… Continue reading Economic opportunity for unauthorized immigrants on trial today

This is the second story in a series that shares why small business owners believe it’s important to reinvest our budget surplus… Continue reading An entrepreneur’s take on Minnesota’s budget debate

The Minnesota Senate released its budget targets on Wednesday, which describe how they propose using the state’s projected surplus to make… Continue reading Senate targets prioritize sustainable tax changes, broader opportunity

A lot has changed in the 24 years since the Health Care Access Fund (HCAF) was created to expand access to health… Continue reading Preserving the provider tax is vital for affordable health care in Minnesota

The state’s latest economic figures show little change from what was measured in the February forecast. The state of Minnesota… Continue reading April Economic Update: Slight dip in revenues and economic growth, otherwise on track

Minnesota policymakers entered the 2016 Legislative Session with a projected $900 million surplus for the remainder of the current FY… Continue reading House budget targets give some answers and leave questions

If state policymakers fail to invest in child care assistance, fewer families will have access to affordable child care from a… Continue reading New issue brief highlights the need for action to support working families with Basic Sliding Fee

Health insurance is a basic necessity — and if you don’t have it, Minnesota’s nation-leading health care system might as well… Continue reading Smart policy interventions can shrink racial disparities: The example of health insurance

Policymakers from across the state have begun to pay more attention to Minnesota’s open secret: our economic success story often… Continue reading Voices for Racial Justice agenda maps out ways to make progress on racial equity

Children benefit when their parents have a stable immigration status, according to a report from the Migration Policy Institute. The findings show… Continue reading More evidence that stable status is good for families and the economy

Undocumented immigrants play a vital role in Minnesota’s economy and paid $87 million in state and local taxes in 2012,… Continue reading Undocumented immigrants contribute $87 million in Minnesota taxes, more expected with immigration reform

Undocumented immigrants play a vital role in Minnesota’s economy and currently pay $77 million in state and local taxes, according to a new… Continue reading Undocumented immigrants contribute $77 million in Minnesota taxes, more with immigration reform

A group of small-business owners kicked off the 2016 Legislative Session with a message for policymakers: Large tax cuts aren’t… Continue reading Small businesses call for strategic investments in a durable prosperity for Minnesota

In the tax portion of his supplemental budget proposal released today, Governor Mark Dayton continues to prioritize sustainable tax choices that move… Continue reading Governor Dayton’s 2016 tax proposal focuses on everyday Minnesotans through Working Family Credit, Child & Dependent Care Credit

Governor Mark Dayton today released his supplemental budget, which focuses on making key investments to expand opportunity in Minnesota. The supplemental budget describes… Continue reading Governor Dayton’s 2016 supplemental budget focuses on expanding opportunity, narrowing disparities

A new report out today relies on an incorrect use of IRS data to make claims about income leaving the… Continue reading IRS data doesn’t show that money walks

According to last week’s state budget forecast, Minnesota’s Basic Sliding Fee Child Care Assistance is projected to serve 4,598 fewer families every month in… Continue reading The big, important number in the forecast for working families with kids

The new state budget figures released today reflect the overall strength of Minnesota’s economy and demonstrate that some resources are available for policymakers to invest… Continue reading February Forecast shows surplus, but need for caution

The $900 million state budget surplus projected in today’s state February Forecast in part reflects the fact that our state economy is… Continue reading Fair and sustainable tax decisions are essential to build a future of shared prosperity

When a family falls on hard times, the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) can provide some vital, basic resources to… Continue reading Minnesota’s most basic support for families is stuck in a 30-year-long time warp, and it’s hurting 64,000 of our kids

When the lottery of life leaves a Minnesotan injured or ill, they should have affordable access to Minnesota’s first-rate health care system… Continue reading Health Care Finance Task Force ends with a bold statement for a healthier, more equitable Minnesota

Three research projects making a big splash in the social sciences last year build a strong case for addressing the… Continue reading Why 2015 should be remembered for research that strongly supports Basic Sliding Fee

Looking over the 2015 blogs garnering the most reads over the last year provides a road map of sorts for… Continue reading Most popular blogs of 2015 forecast issues of 2016

Minnesota collected slightly more than expected revenues, and the U.S. economy is expected to continue to grow, according to a… Continue reading January Economic Update shows Minnesota on track

With a successful Senate vote earlier today, Congress has now approved a broad tax and budget deal that includes crucial… Continue reading Federal budget deal does right by 111,000 hard-working Minnesota families

Minnesota has the resources to get one step closer to being a state where every family knows they won’t have… Continue reading Top takeaways for Health Care Finance Task Force from this month’s Health Care Access Fund update

I recently attended a Summit on Economic Reality for Black Minnesotans, where black community leaders talked about policy changes for addressing the… Continue reading Policymakers should prioritize building a state economy that works for all Minnesotans

Undocumented immigrants already contribute to the national economy in many ways. Many of them work and pay taxes, and nationally… Continue reading Inclusive policies that expand opportunity also improve the economy

Last month, a federal court set another delay for President Barack Obama’s executive action that would allow millions of undocumented immigrants in the… Continue reading Economic opportunity delayed for 30,000 Minnesotans

Today’s Minnesota November 2015 Budget and Economic Forecast shows positive news for two budget cycles, and shows once again that Minnesota has… Continue reading Positive budget forecast offers chance for broader prosperity, greater fairness in tax system