Capitol News
New studies tell a familiar story: Racial disparities in assets
Oct 19, 2011
Two new reports from a national think tank look at financial security and opportunity in Minnesota, and find that Minnesota as a whole does better than the national averages, but worse than national averages when it comes to communities of color....
State revenue and cash flow steady, but economic worries remain
Oct 12, 2011
First the good news. The State of Minnesota started out the first quarter of the FY 2012-13 biennium with higher-than-expected revenue. From July through September, the state collected $59 million above estimates, up about two percent from earlier...
Going full circle on the cycle of advocacy – tell your story
Oct 6, 2011
As the leaves fall, many of us are bracing for the next legislative session and continuing our advocacy for critical state services. But we also know that the cycle of advocacy is a complete circle—including raising awareness of the consequences of...
President Obama’s proposed jobs bill would support jobs, economic growth in Minnesota
Sep 27, 2011
The American Jobs Act proposed by President Obama could create or support more than 26,000 jobs and inject at least $1.5 billion into Minnesota, according to estimates by the Obama Administration. Those jobs include teachers, police, firefighters,...
Racial disparities grow in Minnesota as poverty increases, household income declines
Sep 22, 2011
Earlier this month, we learned the distressing (but not surprising) news that poverty is increasing and median household income is declining in Minnesota. The U.S. Census is out with another report showing even worse news. Minnesota has an...
Minnesota losing ground on poverty, income and the number of uninsured
Sep 16, 2011
It seems oddly appropriate (and a little inconvenient) that I was out of town at a conference on the day the U.S. Census Bureau released the latest statistics on poverty, income and health insurance coverage in the United States. It reminded me that...
State’s revenues on track, but forecast looks grim
Sep 13, 2011
The odds are increasing that Minnesota state government will face a new revenue shortfall when the Legislature reconvenes in February. This July, the Governor and Legislature passed a balanced budget for the FY 2012-13 cycle, which runs through June...
Unemployment rate is high, but still underestimates the challenges facing many Americans
Sep 2, 2011
As we approach Labor Day, it is sobering to remember that the national unemployment rate stands at 9.1 percent. For comparison, during the last two recessions, the rate never rose above 7.8 percent. Experts are predicting that unemployment will...
Proposed constitutional amendment would lead to more bad budgets
Aug 22, 2011
Minnesota is still reeling from a contentious legislative session and a state government shutdown. Now some policymakers are advocating for a constitutional amendment that would permanently undermine our ability to arrive at common-sense solutions...
