In his speech Wednesday before legislators and guests in the House of Representatives chamber, Dayton pledged to present a state budget that would solve the projected $6.2 billion shortfall fairly, by raising taxes on the wealthiest residents and increasing funding for K-12 education. He also vowed to avoid a state government shutdown and urged legislators to do the same.
“He presented the vision that we always believed about Mark Dayton,” said Ed Reynoso, political director for Teamsters Joint Council 32. “In order to stop cuts to vital public services, the reality is we need a fair tax system. We need a system that charges people based on ability to pay.
“He wants to work together regardless of party affiliation, crossing the aisles . . . to get the state back into shape.”
Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson lauded Dayton’s focus on creating jobs.
“Governor Dayton laid out a bold vision for shared prosperity in Minnesota today,” she said. “He recognizes that we can have a prosperous future if we invest in Minnesotans now. He showed that vision last week in his jobs bill proposal and showed it again this afternoon.”
Dayton’s plan to bond for $1 billion in state projects would create 28,000 jobs and spark economic growth, she said.
“Under failed policies that allowed some of Minnesotan’s wealthiest citizens to shirk their responsibility to others, the health of our population has suffered,” said Linda Hamilton, president of the Minnesota Nurses Association. “We support Governor Dayton’s measured plan to balance the state budget fairly and responsibly.”
Dayton\'s focus on education drew a positive response from Tom Dooher, president of Education Minnesota.
“We are grateful for a leader who recognizes the reform and innovation already happening in our schools, and we’re encouraged by his promise to work with teachers on making our strong system of public education even stronger," Dooher said.
In addition to creating jobs and investing in education, transportation and the environment, Dayton said state government must undergo a transformation. He praised the efforts of public workers and said they should be treated with respect. Leaders of the state’s public employee unions said they are eager to partner with the new governor.
“On behalf of our membership, I want to thank Governor Dayton for his inclusive approach to reforming state government,” said Jim Monroe, executive director of MAPE, the Minnesota Association of Public Employees. “Public employees take great pride in serving their fellow Minnesotans and have waited for a leader who will work with them to ensure that Minnesota’s state services remain top notch for years to come.”
“How Minnesota responds to the recession will define who we are as a people,” said Eliot Seide, director of AFSCME Council 5. “Gov. Dayton knows we can fix the budget with fairness and compassion if the richest Minnesotans pay their fair share of income taxes. It’s simply wrong to continue shifting their share onto the working class, the jobless and the vulnerable.
“The choice is clear. We can tax workers out of their homes, or we can tax the rich. We can lock libraries and parks and lose police and fire protection, or we can tax the rich. We can make college unaffordable for working families, or we can tax the rich. We can cut child protection, or we can tax the rich. We can abandon the elderly and disabled, or we can tax the rich.”
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In his speech Wednesday before legislators and guests in the House of Representatives chamber, Dayton pledged to present a state budget that would solve the projected $6.2 billion shortfall fairly, by raising taxes on the wealthiest residents and increasing funding for K-12 education. He also vowed to avoid a state government shutdown and urged legislators to do the same.
“He presented the vision that we always believed about Mark Dayton,” said Ed Reynoso, political director for Teamsters Joint Council 32. “In order to stop cuts to vital public services, the reality is we need a fair tax system. We need a system that charges people based on ability to pay.
“He wants to work together regardless of party affiliation, crossing the aisles . . . to get the state back into shape.”
Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson lauded Dayton’s focus on creating jobs.
“Governor Dayton laid out a bold vision for shared prosperity in Minnesota today,” she said. “He recognizes that we can have a prosperous future if we invest in Minnesotans now. He showed that vision last week in his jobs bill proposal and showed it again this afternoon.”
Dayton’s plan to bond for $1 billion in state projects would create 28,000 jobs and spark economic growth, she said.
“Under failed policies that allowed some of Minnesotan’s wealthiest citizens to shirk their responsibility to others, the health of our population has suffered,” said Linda Hamilton, president of the Minnesota Nurses Association. “We support Governor Dayton’s measured plan to balance the state budget fairly and responsibly.”
Dayton\’s focus on education drew a positive response from Tom Dooher, president of Education Minnesota.
“We are grateful for a leader who recognizes the reform and innovation already happening in our schools, and we’re encouraged by his promise to work with teachers on making our strong system of public education even stronger," Dooher said.
In addition to creating jobs and investing in education, transportation and the environment, Dayton said state government must undergo a transformation. He praised the efforts of public workers and said they should be treated with respect. Leaders of the state’s public employee unions said they are eager to partner with the new governor.
“On behalf of our membership, I want to thank Governor Dayton for his inclusive approach to reforming state government,” said Jim Monroe, executive director of MAPE, the Minnesota Association of Public Employees. “Public employees take great pride in serving their fellow Minnesotans and have waited for a leader who will work with them to ensure that Minnesota’s state services remain top notch for years to come.”
“How Minnesota responds to the recession will define who we are as a people,” said Eliot Seide, director of AFSCME Council 5. “Gov. Dayton knows we can fix the budget with fairness and compassion if the richest Minnesotans pay their fair share of income taxes. It’s simply wrong to continue shifting their share onto the working class, the jobless and the vulnerable.
“The choice is clear. We can tax workers out of their homes, or we can tax the rich. We can lock libraries and parks and lose police and fire protection, or we can tax the rich. We can make college unaffordable for working families, or we can tax the rich. We can cut child protection, or we can tax the rich. We can abandon the elderly and disabled, or we can tax the rich.”