In The Know: Governor Mark Dayton & Lt. Governor Tina Smith

Governor Mark Dayton & Lt. Governor Tina Smith

Gov. Mark Dayton

Farm buffers, ditches dominate Waseca County Board discussion, Waseca County News

Critics Blame Gov. Dayton For Traffic Congestion, WCCO

Tax cuts on the way for some Minnesotans; opponents say they are too expensive, directed at wealthy, Star Tribune

Mark Dayton reread the Constitution, then vetoed legislative funding, Now it goes to court, Pioneer Press

After seeing ‘horrifying’ Yanez video, Dayton says ‘everyone is not treated equally’ in Minnesota, Duluth News Tribune

Lt. Gov. Tina Smith

Tina Smiths Trip to Cuba Plants Seeds for Future Ties, Star Tribune

Republicans work to undo two years of DFL progress in two days

In the span of two days, the Republican majority in the Minnesota House of Representatives proposed to erase two years of progress for working families secured by Gov. Mark Dayton and DFL legislators.

“In a 48-hour time period, House Republicans put Minnesotans on notice that they are recycling their failed policies of the past,” said DFL Chairman Ken Martin. “This is a far cry from Gov. Mark Dayton and DFL legislators plans to invest in children, students and families for long-term success.”

House Republicans finally acknowledge that Gov. Dayton is correct and that Minnesota is facing a multi-billion dollar, multi-year fix for our deteriorating roads and bridges, yet they still haven’t figured out how to honestly pay to get the job done.

“Reminiscent of years past, Republicans want to shift money around to meet financial obligations,” Martin said. “They want to take money from the general fund to pay for roads and bridges, all so they can maintain a rigid ideological approach to governing."

 

“The two largest areas of the general fund pay for educating our children and caring for our most vulnerable students. The Republicans are pitting street repairs against students and safe bridges against seniors. This isn’t a game where the Republicans get to pick who the winners are. Unfortunately under the Republican proposals all of Minnesota would end up losing.”

 Later the same day, House Republicans passed a tip penalty bill to repeal last year’s minimum wage legislation for workers who earn tips. A tip penalty would set a new, lower minimum wage and eliminate indexing for workers who earn tips.

“Why is it that the Republicans always try to balance budgets on the backs of the hardest working people in our state?” Martin said. “The minimum wage is set to be a floor and tips are rewards for good service and shouldn’t be used as an excuse for employers to pay servers less. This proposal is a direct blow to families’ economic security because 70 percent of servers are women, many who care for family members.”

Republicans rounded out the two-day assault on working Minnesotans with a budget proposal that recycles failed policies from the past. Rather than using the state’s budget surplus, which was created by more Minnesotans working at higher wages than at any other time, to ensure all Minnesotans are taking part in the economy recovery, Republicans slash care for the disabled and seniors; pit University of Minnesota (U of M) and Minnesota State College and University (MnSCU) students against each other; and cut economic development programs aimed at creating jobs in rural communities. Republicans said they want to see $2 billion in tax cuts, but they did not specify who would benefit from their plan.

“We don’t have to skip to the last chapter of the book to know how this story ends; tax cuts do not build economic prosperity,” Martin said. “What will move Minnesota forward is Gov. Dayton’s proposals to provide free pre-school for all 4-year-olds to ensure they get a great start to their education; freezing college tuition for both U of M and MnSCU students; and expanding the Child Care Tax Credit for working families.”

In the coming days, the DFL majority in the Minnesota Senate will provide its budget targets which will highlight a sharp contrast between the House and Senate plans with an honest budget from DFL leaders.

“Luckily for Minnesotans, the Senate plan should align more with Gov. Dayton’s vision on how to build an even better Minnesota for all,” Martin said. “While the GOP sticks to failed policies of the past to protect special interests, Gov. Dayton and DFL legislators remain committed to preparing for the state’s future economic success for working families.”

A New Year, A Renewed Commitment to Our Neighbors in Need

A New Year, A Renewed Commitment to Our Neighbors in Need
by Senator John Marty January 7, 2014
This month marks 50 years since President Lyndon Johnson declared a "war on poverty." There were huge victories in that war during the following decade, but after that, the federal government reversed course, cut anti-poverty programs, and our national government effectively surrendered.  A half century later, as Minnesota and the nation pull out of the recession, some families are doing better economically, and some are doing incredibly well. Yet there are working people and their families staying in homeless shelters because they cannot afford housing. Countless people with mental health or physical health challenges cannot get even basic care. As many as one in three children are growing up in families that cannot afford basic needs.  Children raised in poverty are stripped of the opportunity we want for all young people - they are more likely to suffer from asthma and other health problems, their brain development and academic potential is compromised. Some overcome the odds and succeed, but many more do not. We are not proud of this. Sometimes we'd rather just ignore this ugly reality. But despite the federal government's long-ago surrender in the war on poverty, people haven't stopped caring, and many community and religious leaders continue pushing to end poverty. About 10 years ago, some Minnesota faith leaders drafted a "Common Foundation" which stated,  "We believe it is the Creator's intent that all people are provided those things that protect human dignity and make for healthy life: adequate food and shelter, meaningful work, safe communities, healthcare, and education.... We are all called to work to overcome poverty, and this work transcends any particular political theory or party and any particular economic theory or structure." Minnesota, through its legislature, took up the cause in 2008 with a bipartisan commission to map a route to end poverty. Recognizing it is not something we can change overnight, the commission's charge - reflected in its name - was the "Legislative Commission to End Poverty in Minnesota by 2020."  2014 marks the half-way point to the target date for accomplishing the goal. In 2008, one in ten Minnesotans lived in poverty. Now, it is slightly worse, and for some populations, much worse - almost half of African American children live in poverty.  Fortunately, there appears to be new momentum. Last year, the state began addressing early childhood education needs. In 2014, it looks like the legislature will significantly increase the minimum wage. And the Dayton administration recently spelled out a bold plan to prevent and end homelessness in Minnesota.  But even if we get a phased-in hike in the minimum wage to $9.50/hour, that's not enough to live on. Many low income parents work at two, or even three, jobs to make ends meet. And, even if we do end homelessness, we must ensure that health care, and childcare, and food, and other necessities are affordable.  The challenge is great, but 50 years after our nation declared war on poverty, there are signs of hope. Pope Francis has been outspoken about the moral obligation to end poverty, "A way has to be found to enable everyone to benefit from the fruits of the earth, and not simply to close the gap between the affluent and those who must be satisfied with the crumbs falling from the table, but above all to satisfy the demands of justice, fairness and respect for every human being."  There has been a positive, bipartisan response. Even Newt Gingrich has taken note of the problem of income inequality, calling on fellow politicians to "embrace the pope's core critique that you do not want to live on a planet with billionaires and people who do not have any food."  Most of us recognize that poverty is morally unacceptable; many also understand ignoring the problem hurts our economy. We can use 2014, the halfway point in Minnesota's timeline, to recommit our state to building an economy that doesn't leave people behind, and doesn't rob so many children of their potential.  It's an ambitious agenda - providing living wage jobs, increasing the earned income tax credit, strengthening the childcare assistance program, delivering health care for all - but the well-being of all Minnesotans matters. Paul Wellstone was right: "We all do better, when we all do better."

First Congressional District DFL's Autumn Dinner

First Congressional District DFL's

Autumn Dinner

with Governor Mark Dayton

and Congressman Tim Walz

When:

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Social Hour - 5:00 p.m.

Dinner and Program - 6:00 p.m.

Where:

Owatonna Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)

135 Oakdale Street

Owatonna, MN 55060

( map )

Dinner:

Choice of Chicken or Vegetarian

Suggested donation of $30.00 per person.

RSVP:

Please RSVP to Lori Sellner, Chair - First Congressional District DFL

at lorisell@gmail.com

by Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013 with your dinner choice.

* Live and Silent Auctions * Guest Speakers * Cash Bar

Prepared and paid for by the First Congressional District DFL, www.cd1dfl.org

A Must Read: The five best things about Dayton’s budget

Governor Mark Dayton went big and bold this week. He took on the most powerful special interests in order to fix Minnesota’s chronic structural budget deficit problem. Recent Minnesota Governors haven’t had the guts to do that. This governor did. The nitpickers are busily picking nits in Dayton’s proposal, and it’s not a perfect proposal. But when you focus on the big picture, there is much to admire:

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