MAPE: Governor Dayton offers a pragmatic direction to restore budget stability to Minnesota

For Immediate Release                                                    Contact: Leslie Sandberg (651) 746-9767

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

 MAPE: Governor Dayton offers a pragmatic direction to restore

budget stability to Minnesota

Statement from Jim Monroe, MAPE’s Executive Director:

“After more than a decade of short-term gimmicks, borrowing and cutting services, it is clear that Governor Dayton’s budget will end the era of Minnesota’s chronic budget deficits.  

For far too long, Minnesota’s budget was balanced on the backs of the middle class.  It’s time to close corporate tax loopholes and have the wealthiest 2 percent pay their fair share.  New revenue is needed to invest in programs and services that will give relief to the middle class.  

In addition, MAPE is very supportive of the smart investment Governor Dayton has proposed in state services.  As part of a skilled statewide workforce, our members provide services and implement programs which help our seniors retire with dignity, our college students get a world class education, and help our jobless get the training they need to re-enter the workforce.  We know that when we take care of our seniors, help our neighbors get new jobs and educate our children, we are doing our best to improve the quality of life for this state.

By offering a balanced approach of tax fairness, investment in education and job creation, and ‘gimmick free’ budgeting, Governor Dayton’s has outlined a pragmatic direction to restore long term budget stability, while strengthening the middle class.”