Gov. Mark Dayton and our progressive leaders are committed to growing our state from the middle class out – making sure working families don’t shoulder the state budget burden when the richest and big corporations don’t pay their fair share.

This could be huge. Reuters writes:

Instead, Democratic Governor Mark Dayton’s Minnesota could become a touchstone in the national debate over how to bolster the middle class — an example of how solid growth and low unemployment can coexist with some of the highest income and corporate tax rates in the country.

As Minnesotans, we know that we live in a great state. Others are realizing that as well, including the director of economic policy at the Center for American Progress.

“Minnesota is a perfect example of the middle class economics story.”

However, there’s more work to do. We asked the rich and big corporations to pay their fair share, raised the minimum wage, and protected education funding, but now we must continue the fight and advocate for our shared priorities, including paid sick leave and protections for working families.