Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bill McCarthy issued the following statement in response to the February state budget forecast:
“While it’s encouraging to see Minnesota’s financial situation improving, the state budget has been underfunded for over 20 years. Understaffed classrooms, crumbling infrastructure, and inaccessible healthcare won't be solved by one February forecast.
“Lawmakers should realize that while working Minnesotans have sacrificed more than ever, the rich and big corporations have become richer over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When it comes to measuring whether working families can put food on the table, if our students and teachers have the classroom resources they need, the strength of our infrastructure, and our persisting racial and economic inequities; Minnesota still has a serious deficit.
“Minnesotans believe in caring for one another and we have the resources to build a more just an equitable state for everyone without any exceptions.
“It’s time for lawmakers to join working people and Governor Walz in calling for the richest Minnesotans and big corporations to finally pay their fair share in taxes.”