Here in Minnesota, this pandemic has impacted so many areas of our lives. Lots of us are struggling to keep our heads above water, so our elected leaders’ top priority should be to help our families, schools, and communities recover.
Conservatives, however, have another idea.
True to form, their budget proposes massive cuts to the programs Minnesotans rely on, all while protecting corporate interests. Rather than asking the wealthiest Minnesotans and hugely profitable corporations to pay their fair share in taxes, they’d rather force Minnesota families to do with less.
We can’t afford these cuts
Minnesota parents want to make sure that their kids can get caught up on their learning after this unusual year. That’s why we need to make sure that Minnesota teachers and school staff are well-equipped to give students the support they need when it’s safe to return to the classroom.
So why are conservatives proposing over $1 billion in cuts to E-12 education?
And that’s not all. They’re proposing $15 million in cuts to jobs and economic development, too.
If we let conservatives leave our schools and small businesses out in the cold, who knows how long it will take our state to recover from this crisis? It’s unfathomable that conservatives would attempt to shortchange our students and workers in a time like this.
Taxing the wealthiest Minnesotans: it works
When conservatives make a fuss about tax increases on the wealthiest Minnesotans and profitable corporations, they’re looking out for their corporate interests, not working families. They can use all the scare tactics and talking points they want, but facts are facts.
Let’s take a look at what happened in 2013 under Governor Mark Dayton…
In 2013, Governor Mark Dayton increased taxes on Minnesota’s wealthiest earners. Some conservatives warned it would chase Minnesota’s top earners from the state.
In fact, over 6,000 more Minnesotans filed in the top income tax bracket than expected in 2013.
By late 2013, Minnesota’s private sector job growth exceeded pre-recession levels and Forbes ranked Minnesota the ninth best state for business while Wisconsin came in at number 32 on the same list.
Two years after the tax increases on the wealthiest Minnesotans, Minnesota added more than 170,000 jobs, had the fifth lowest unemployment rate in the country, and had a billion dollar budget surplus.
In 2018, the Economic Policy Institute reported that, thanks to Governor Dayton’s progressive tax policies and governing philosophy, “by virtually every available measure, Minnesota’s recovery has outperformed Wisconsin’s.” MPR also reported in 2018 that Minnesota’s economy was “crushing it vs. Wisconsin.”
Why now?
Because while Minnesota families are struggling to pay their bills, the wealthiest Minnesotans and profitable corporations are thriving.
During the coronavirus pandemic, corporations like UnitedHealth Group saw their profits double. General Mills made a billion dollars just last quarter. And in December 2020, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reported that U.S. Bank plans to buy back up to $3 billion of its shares.
It’s only fair to ask the wealthiest Minnesotans and corporations to pay their fair share in taxes, especially when they’ve raked in billions of dollars in profit during a global crisis.
Make your voice heard
Minnesotans are resilient. We’re tough. We have each other’s backs through triumph, tragedy, and record-breaking snowstorms. We need our elected leaders to have our backs, too. Find out who represents you and tell them to reject conservatives’ cruel budget cuts. Instead, we must pass a state budget that puts students, working families, and small businesses first.
