Union: MN Budget Surplus Should Help Working Families

By: Veronica Carter - Minnesota News Connection | December 20, 2016

A group that represents working Minnesotans is asking the state Legislature not to blow the budget surplus on tax breaks for billionaires and big business.

AFSCME Council 5 has called on lawmakers to focus investment on economic security. The group’s executive director, Eliot Seide, said the surplus is fairly modest, $1.4 billion, but it should go to help the state’s working families.

“Our economy is uncertain with the new Trump administration,” Seide said. “So, what we think needs to happen is that Minnesotans ought to be able to expect that they can have a better future, no matter where they are or where they live. Families are on tight budgets, with rising costs on health care, child care and college tuition.”

Gov. Mark Dayton is expected to release his budget in late January. Seide said it should emphasize fair taxes, decent wages, responsible investments in better transportation, smarter students, healthier families, safer communities and cleaner water for everyone.

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