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Minnesota Budget
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Minnesota Taxes
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Federal Tax & Budget
Economic Self-Sufficiency
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Minnesota Budget Bites
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ABOUT USThe Minnesota Budget Project is an initiative of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits.
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Table of Contents:This press release reports that roughly one in twelve Minnesotans
lacked health care coverage in 2007-08, according to Census Bureau
data. That number was even higher among certain populations, including
children, Hispanics and Blacks. The report also shows that there
has been a long-term decline in job-based health care coverage in
Minnesota. Overall health insurance coverage has remained stable,
however, because public health care has picked up the slack. The
numbers are most likely to get worse in 2009, since these figures
do not reflect the full impact of the current economic recession.
Related materials include our
blog entry and the original Census
Bureau report.
Federal Poverty Threshold and Guidelines,
August 2009
This web page provides a quick explanation of the difference
between the two major federal poverty measures, provides poverty
guidelines for families of various sizes, and links to more information.
Reducing Poverty in Minnesota,
September 2008
This fact sheet outlines recent trends in poverty and median income
in Minnesota, as well as what Minnesota's congressional delegation
can do to alleviate poverty. Both in Minnesota and the nation, poverty
levels and median household income never recovered from last recession.
Expanding Health Care Coverage
in Minnesota, September 2008
Lack of health care coverage is harmful both for the patient and
for society as a whole. This issue brief outlines the trends in
health care coverage in Minnesota and what the Minnesota congressional
delegation can do to expand health care coverage. Over the last
five years, the number of Minnesotans without health care coverage
has increased. Great disparities between racial groups in Minnesota
continue, with Hispanic and black Minnesotans much more likely to
be uninsured than whites.
Economic Recovery was a Bust, New U.S. Census Data Finds,
August 2008, HTML and
PDF This series of fact sheets provides an overview of census data
for Minnesota, comparing Minnesota to the national average on poverty
rates, household income, unemployment and the percentage of people
lacking health insurance.
New research shows that over one-fifth of Minnesotans live in working
families with incomes below what is needed to afford basic needs.
And at least 50% of Minnesotans in families with incomes inadequate
to meet basic needs do not qualify for valuable work supports. This
issue brief details the gaps in eligibility and ability of Minnesotans
to access work supports. This web page has links to Minnesota-specific findings from Bridging
the Gaps as well as a national study comparing results from ten
states. Wage Outlook in Minnesota Labor Day 2004, September 2004,
HTML or PDF
Though it has been nearly three years since the recession officially ended,
wage trends in Minnesota remain disappointing. In addition to comparing
the wage trends of this decade to those of the 1980s and 1990s, this issue brief
examines some of the causes of the current stagnation in wages for the state's
workers. It also discusses public policy choices that could help bring
about strong wage growth for all working Minnesotans. This issue brief and
press release are part of a collaborative project of the JOBS NOW Coalition and
the Minnesota Budget Project. MFIP Families and Sanctions: A Call for Services, January 2003, Minnesota
Budget Bites This issue
of Minnesota Budget Bites reprints the executive summary of a report by Legal
Services Advocacy Project. The report describes the number of Minnesota
Family Investment Program (MFIP) participants who have been sanctioned, how this
population compares to the overall caseload, and explores successful sanction
resolution and prevention strategies.
Research Review: Unemployment, November 2002, Minnesota Budget Bites
The November 2002 article describes the
recession's impact on unemployment. It also describes how federal
assistance to unemployed workers is both insufficient considering the need and
pales in comparison to assistance provided during past recessions. The
January 2003 article provides an update on federal legislation.
Minnesota Legislature Provides Additional Assistance to Unemployed, June
2002, Minnesota Budget Bites
This article describes the
improvements to the state's dislocated worker program and unemployment insurance
extensions included in the 2002 Jobs Bill. Prepared by Carrie Thomas,
JOBS
NOW Coalition.
The State of Working Minnesota 2001 (full
report), September
2001 The State of Working Minnesota 2001 is the second in a series of Labor
Day reports that shed light on how economic trends affect Minnesota's workers.
Policymakers, advocates, and concerned citizens should find the data in this
report useful in understanding the extent to which Minnesota's workers are able
to support their families through their participation in the labor force and the
geographic disparities that exist within the state. This information is
also summarized in the November 2001 edition of Minnesota
Budget Bites. Nonstandard Jobs and Flexible
Work, December 2000, Minnesota Budget Bites
This article reviews two
research reports on nonstandard jobs. It reports that 29% of Americans
were employed in nonstandard work arrangements in 1997, and notes that the most
common types of nonstandard work pay lower hourly wages than similar standard
jobs. It also discusses the availability and trade-offs for flexible work
schedules.
Improving Access to Unemployment Insurance, updated October 2000,
HTML or
PDF In a time when more low-income families are relying on their work efforts to make ends meet, the
Unemployment Insurance (UI) system should
provide a temporary means of assistance for persons out of work. Unfortunately, many low-income
families are excluded from the UI system in Minnesota, despite the fact that their employers are paying into the system on their behalf.
This issue brief describes UI, the barriers that exist, and policy options to
improve access. An earlier version of this material is presented in the
February 2000 edition of Minnesota Budget Bites. Evaluation of the Minnesota Family Investment Program, September 2000 This fact sheet summarizes the findings from the Minnesota Department of
Human Services' longitudinal studies of families participating in the Minnesota
Family Investment Program. This material is also presented in the
September 2000 issue of Minnesota Budget Bites. Making a Living? The State of Working Minnesota
(full report), September 2000
Consolidation
of Child Care Programs, September 2000, Minnesota Budget
Bites This article
reports on a Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning analysis of
options for consolidating the state's Basic Sliding Fee, MFIP, and Transition
Year child care assistance programs.
Poverty Despite Work in Minnesota - full report, June 2000 This research report demonstrates that not everyone is enjoying the benefits
of a strong economy. The report looks closely at three serious challenges
in our country. First, poverty rates are higher among children than any other
age group. Second, thousands of working parents are unable to reach economic
self-sufficiency; that is, they cannot obtain an adequate standard of living for
their families. Third, despite the strong value our culture places on work, work
often does not provide a way out of poverty. Under these conditions, it is
important to understand the extent of poverty among working families, the
economic trends that contribute to poverty, and the characteristics of working
poor families. A fuller picture of the state of affairs for working poor
families suggests policy changes to help more families achieve economic
self-sufficiency. The findings of this report are summarized in the June
2000 edition of Minnesota Budget Bites. From
Jobs for Workers to Workers For Jobs, February 2000, Minnesota
Budget Bites This article reviews a report by the Citizens League called From
Jobs for Workers to Workers for Jobs,
which takes a closer look at Minnesota’s shortage of skilled workers for high
tech jobs. It argues that future economic growth in Minnesota requires
more attention to workforce development.
Economic Subsidies, December 1999, Minnesota Budget
Bites This edition of
Minnesota Budget Bites reviews two publications on economic subsidies.
Good Jobs First's report Economic Development in
Minnesota: High Subsidies, Low Wages, Absent Standards, looks at over 550 economic development reports
covering $176 million in loans, grants, and tax increment financing (TIF) by cities, regional bodies, and state
agencies. As the title implies, their research found that in many cases, the public did not
appear to be getting a good value for their investments in economic development
deals, and the report includes recommended changes. The
Corporate Welfare Activist Handbook
produced by the Minnesota Alliance
for Progressive Action (MAPA) clearly describes and explains all types of
corporate subsidies and provides action steps for those wanting to get involved
in this issue.
Minimum Wage Resource Page, updated December 2009
This web page summarizes the 2009 federal minimum wage changes. It explains
when the federal minimum wage applies to Minnesota workers and when
the state minimum wage applies, and also provides links to additional
minimum wage information.
Testimony in Support of an Increased in the Minimum Wage, March 2001, HTML or
PDF The Minnesota Budget Project testified on legislation that would raise the
state's minimum wage. The testimony discusses how the minimum wage has
failed to keep up with inflation, discusses who would benefit from an increase
in the minimum wage, and argues that an increase in the minimum wage would not
lead to job losses. 91,120 Minnesota Workers Would Get A Raise
Under Proposed Federal Minimum Wage Hike, February 2001
This issue brief reports on an analysis by the Economic Policy Institute that
shows that a proposal to increase the federal minimum wage would benefit 91,120 Minnesotans, or 4% of the state’s total
workforce. Female, African American, and Hispanic workers would be
disproportionately helped by such an increase.
Income Inequality in Minnesota 2006, January
2006 Growing income inequality contradicts some of our country's most deeply
held values. Americans believe that hard work should pay off, that people
who work full-time should be able to support their families, and that everyone
deserves an opportunity to succeed. This analysis finds that the financial
rewards of strong economic growth in Minnesota have not been broadly shared.
Income Inequality in Minnesota, January 2000, HTML or
PDF The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute
has released Pulling Apart: A State-by-State Analysis of Income Trends,
which analyzes Census Bureau data on family incomes from the late 1970s, late
1980s, and late 1990s. This report finds that despite the strong economic growth
and tight labor markets of recent years, income disparities in most states are
significantly greater in the late 1990s than they were during the 1980s and the
1970s. The first document listed above is a one-page fact sheet on income
inequality in Minnesota based on the data from Pulling Apart. The second
document is a press release that discusses the
main policy issues the income gap raises for the 2000 legislative session.
This information is also presented in the February 2000 edition of Minnesota
Budget Bites. |
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