Every week, Alliance for a Better Minnesota will highlight the important work being done in the progressive community. Focusing on issues that impact Minnesotans’ lives, this important work helps Minnesota continue moving forward.

All Time High: A new poll revealed that support for same-sex marriage in Minnesota has hit an all time high, with over half of Minnesotans in favor of it. Same-sex marriage has been legal in our state for about a year.

Benefits For LGBT Couples: Last week, President Barack Obama announced regulatory changes to extend a wide range of marriage benefits to same-sex couples. The benefits include recognizing same-sex couples under federal immigration laws, marriage recognition from the IRS, and that all spouses of federal employees get health and life insurance.

SCOTUS Approves Most EPA Regulations: The Supreme Court approved most of the greenhouse gas regulations the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asked for this week. The EPA’s request to regulate 86 percent of all the greenhouse gases emitted from stationary sources nationwide was mildly reduced to 83 percent. “Today is a good day for all supporters of clean air and public health and those concerned with creating a better environment for future generations,” the EPA said in a statement.

Americans Not Blaming Poor For Poverty: A new poll from NBC News/Wall Street Journal reveals that nearly half of Americans say that poverty is caused by circumstances beyond individual control. The last time the question was asked, in 1995, less than a third of Americans believed people were in poverty because of issues beyond their control.