Mark Dayton Response
2
Question 2: Overall, Minnesota's economy is the
strongest it has been in years. On the agenda are issues such as
living wages, labor shortages,
welfare-to-work, and the changing economy in Greater
Minnesota. What do you feel the most pressing challenges will be?
How will you address them?
Minnesota's pressing economic problem today is not lack of jobs--it's
lack of good jobs. A good job provides affordable health insurance. A
good job provides a pension. A good job provides safe working
conditions. A good job provides the chance to advance professionally.
Tragically, far too many Minnesotans are being forced to work menial
jobs, in substandard conditions, for lousy wages, and with no benefits
or security. Many are forced to work two or more of these jobs,
trying to survive financially.
Too many working parents have too little time for their family and
community activities. Those who profess concern for the American family
should realize that the economic rat race is the prime destroyer of
families.
As Governor, I would take several actions to boost family incomes.
First, we need a Living Wage Law requiring all state and local
government agencies and all organizations that receive public funds to
pay living wages. A living wage should be enable one wage earner,
working a 40 hour week, to support a family of four above the poverty
level.
Second, we should require every Minnesota employer to offer health
insurance to every Minnesota employee, with full coverage for full-time
workers and pro-rated coverage for part-time employees. I would
establish a state fund which utilizes the purchasing power of a large
state system to make low-cost insurance available to small employers
and their employees.
Third, state and local governments need to provide the best possible
education systems, highways and public infrastructure, and essential
public services. These ingredients attract and retain the good and
growing businesses upon which any state must depend to provide the
majority of desirable jobs in a healthy economy.
I served twice as Minnesota's Commissioner of Economic Development
for our state's greatest "Jobs Governor," Rudy Perpich. I learned
that Minnesota's #1 competitive advantage is the quality of our
people. Our work ethic, responsibility, intelligence, education, and
training are the cornerstones of Minnesota's economic vitality.
Mark Dayton
www.daytonformn.org
