Minnesota Budget Bites

For the state’s economy to grow, Minnesota needs to invest in a strong and stable workforce. The entire state benefits when Minnesotans have better access to education, specialized training and stable housing. The House and Senate omnibus economic development bills propose new investments to strengthen the workforce through more jobs, training and affordable housing options.

When the House and Senate released their committee targets in March, we were surprised that the health and human services budget division was required to cut $150 million in the House and $153 million in the Senate. After years of reductions to critical services for Minnesota’s most vulnerable, including $1 billion in cuts in the 2011 Legislative Session, we believed this year would offer an opportunity to start making up lost ground investing in our state’s health and well-being.