State of Minnesota Archives: on Jobs
Heather Johnson:
Oppose increase in the minimum wage
Q: Do you support an increase in the minimum wage?A: No, I do not support an increase in the minimum wage. That is a temporary solution to a long term problem. Government and crony capitalism manipulation of the market have done more harm than good.
The free market should be a voluntary interaction between businesses and consumers, something is exchanged for something they need.
Items, goods, services, could be money, bitcoins; there is so much room for choice in a consumer driven market.
Look at utilities, they have a near monopoly and they can dictate price instead of a voluntary model where everybody has a say.
Source: News Examiner Q&A on 2014 Minnesota Senate race
Aug 11, 2014
Jason Lewis:
Supports local right-to-work laws, not national law
Q: Support "right to work" laws, eliminating the ability of unions to mandate dues for workers they represent?Jason Lewis: Yes. Supports local right-to-work laws, saying it shouldn't be a crime for someone not to join a union, but doesn't
believe they should be imposed nationally.
Tina Smith: No. Introduced bill to prevent states from passing right-to-work laws. Workers have the right to "join together for fair wages, benefits and improved working conditions."
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Minnesota Senate race
Oct 10, 2020
Jason Lewis:
Minimum-wage hikes cost jobs among least-skilled people
Q: Raise federal hourly minimum wage above current $7.25?Jason Lewis: No. "Minimum-wage hikes cause unemployment among the least-skilled people."
Tina Smith: Yes. Co-sponsored legislation to raise federal minimum wage to $15 by 2024, which would "raise the wages of nearly 40 million people."
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Minnesota Senate race
Oct 10, 2020
Jesse Ventura:
Make Agriculture Competitive Anywhere in the World
We are in a global economy whether we like it or not. As such, we can either bemoan those factors (i.e., prices) over which we have no control - or we can work together to make our farm families the most competitive we can by lowering the cost
of production or adding value to the raw products before they leave the state. We need to give attention to taxation policy, overly burdensome environmental regulations and land-use laws, access to capital, financing and organizational structuring
options, and adequate transportation infrastructure. We need to work to "level the playing field" in both international trade and national farm policies so that our farmers and agri-businesses can compete in a fair, competitive arena.
In addition, we need to improve and increase marketing opportunities, both domestic and foreign, not only for our major commodities, but also for unique specialty crops and products.
Source: The Big Plan: Minnesota: World Competitor
Dec 10, 2000
Jesse Ventura:
Training and retraining to resolve workforce shortage
Eight years of economic growth has done us a world of good. Minnesota's overall unemployment rate is lower than ever. But now we face a workforce shortage, which makes us less competitive in a global marketplace.
It's vital to our ongoing economic health that we have a well-trained, flexible, and healthy workforce that allows us to be quickly responsive to the opportunities that globalization presents. That means training and retraining constantly during
a person's working life. It means looking after displaced workers to get them back into the game with salable skills. It means providing adequate medical care and benefits to injured workers, so that they can return to
suitable work as soon as possible. It means finding new workers. When someone says, "We need good people who can do X, Y, and Z. Do you have them for us?" We want to be able to say, "You bet we do!"
Source: The Big Plan: Minnesota: World Competitor
Dec 10, 2000
Jim Newberger:
Opposes affirmative action
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Legally require hiring more women/minorities"?
A: Oppose.
Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Minnesota Senate candidate
Mar 15, 2018
Jim Newberger:
2014: Voted against raising state minimum wage to $7.75
Minimum Wage: Raise the federal minimum wage from the current $7.25/hr?Klobuchar: No current statement but voted in 2007 to increase to current $7.25 level.
Newberger: Voted against 2014 MN bill to raise state minimum wage to $7.75 over 3 years.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Minnesota Senate race
Nov 1, 2018
Karin Housley:
Prohibit cities from raising local minimum wage
Minimum Wage: Raise the federal minimum wage from the current $7.25/hour?Smith: Yes. Co-sponsored legislation to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2024.
Housley: No. In 2017 in MN Senate, voted to prohibit local governments from raising local minimum wage. Voted against raising MN minimum in 2013 & 2014.
Source: 2017-2018 Minnesota special election CampusElect.org Guide
Nov 1, 2018
Lori Swanson:
Prioritize decent jobs that pay the bills
Minnesotans have a great work ethic. But too many Minnesotans continue to be squeezed financially, with wages not keeping pace with the rising cost of health care, child care, college, and housing. Lori wants people who are willing to work to have
a shot at a decent job that pays the bills. She will prioritize job creation and an economy that works for all Minnesotans.Lori will work to create an infrastructure and workforce conditions that support a modern economy.
Source: 2018 Minnesota governor campaign website LoriSwanson.com
Jul 4, 2018
Mark Dayton:
Freedom To Farm Bill causes falling farm prices
We need to immediately pass a new farm bill! I will work hard to put profits and market prices back into American agriculture. I believe in reinstating an equitable system of price supports to give farmers the assistance they need to compete with
heavily subsidized grains from overseas. Commodity prices are falling because of drastic oversupply due to Freedom To Farm. I will target price support toward family-sized farms, not large corporate farms. And, I will raise loan rates and couple them
with deficiency payments to a set level, in order to provide price floors and income security for family farms. I will put value-added enterprises in place in local communities as supplements to help increase market prices and profits,
allowing family farmers to sell their crops in the form of higher-priced commodities like oil and meal. If elected, my first choice for a committee seat would be the Senate Agriculture Committee.
Source: Minnesota Newspaper Association Election Questionnaire
Jul 2, 2000
Mark Dayton:
Unemployment is down, but average family is poorer
In my first Inaugural Address, I said that my top priority was to bring more jobs to our state. When I took office in 2011, there were 202,000 Minnesotans unemployed. Since then, our growing businesses have added 255,400 jobs. Our state's unemployment
rate has been at or below 4% for the past 30 months. And there are more jobs in Minnesota now than ever before.Nevertheless, the Great Recession has had severe and lasting effects. Inflation-adjusted, real household income in Minnesota averages
$68,730 today, which is 22% above the national average. However, it is 8% less than it was at the turn of the century. To repeat, the average Minnesota family is relatively poorer than sixteen years ago.
From 2007 to 2015, the average real incomes of the richest 20% of Minnesotans increased. The average real incomes for everyone else fell. And the incomes of the wealthiest 5% increased the most of anyone.
Source: 2017 State of the State address to Minnesota Legislature
Jan 23, 2017
Mike McFadden:
Gender-based pay equality & minimum wage? "Wrong questions"
Mike McFadden avoided giving specific answers on a slew of key issues at a press conference. McFadden centered his comments on his plans to cut wasteful federal government spending, but he avoided giving yes or no responses when reporters began asking
him questions.The candidate wouldn't say whether he supports a state-based effort to increase Minnesota's minimum wage to $9.50 an hour. He called the vote concerning gender-based pay discrimination an election-year trick and said personhood
legislation, which seeks to give fetuses the same rights as people, is a "polarizing" issue that he wouldn't focus on. When asked about the minimum wage, he said it was "the wrong question."
"What I think is really important with politicians and with
leaders [is] you understand their overriding philosophies--how do they make decisions?" McFadden said. "And so I've been very specific in this campaign as to how I make decisions and it begins with my view of government, my philosophy of government."
Source: The Huffington Post on 2014 Minnesota Senate race
Apr 10, 2014
Norm Coleman:
Gut the USDA's milk marketing system
Coleman said he would gut the USDA's milk marketing system, which bases dairy payments on where farmers live. On the contentious issue of big farm feedlots, Coleman talked more broadly about government regulation: "Regulation needs to be based on sound
science," Coleman said. "And in addition you need to do some cost-benefit analysis, it can't be this absolutist approach. We're losing a lot of livestock producers because they spend more time dealing with the regulators than they do in the field."
Source: Minnesota Public Radio, Election 2002 coverage
Aug 6, 2002
Paula Overby:
Oppose affirmative action
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Legally require hiring more women/minorities"? A: Oppose--don't agree with this approach. Quota systems create a lot of unintended consequences. It also favors the idea of forcing women to work which
generally undermines women's roles in child rearing, education, health care, social organizing, elder care and all manner of social service. We need to value what women do. I believe in social investment over subsidies for wealthy monopolies.
Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Minnesota Senate candidate
May 13, 2018
Rebecca Otto:
Raise minimum wage
Across her statewide listening tour Rebecca met hard-working people who are under-compensated, making it hard to make ends meet.
This is hurting our families, our communities, and our way of life. Rebecca Otto supports increasing the minimum wage and indexing it to inflation.
Source: 2018 Minnesota Gubernatorial website RebeccaOtto.com
Nov 1, 2017
Steve Carlson:
Continue and improve Trump initiatives to create jobs
We need to continue to create jobs as Donald Trump has been leading us to do. This includes smart trade, continue and improve the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and related Trump initiatives. We need to reverse the growth of the federal deficit
by shifting the power and the revenue back from Washington to the states, including merging and eliminating federal departments and agencies.
Source: KROC 1340-AM/96.9 FM on 2018 Minnesota Senate race
Jul 5, 2019
Tim Pawlenty:
Jobs Creation Bill: R&D tax credit; 20% corporate tax cut
I urge the legislature to pass my Jobs Creation Bill that has six vital parts:- A 20 percent reduction in the corporate tax rate;
- A 20 percent exclusion from taxation for small businesses;
- An angel investment tax credit;
-
A supercharged research and development tax credit;
- A capital gains exclusion for qualified investments; and
- Incentives for companies to invest in Minnesota small businesses.
Source: Minnesota 2010 State of the State Address
Feb 11, 2010
Tim Walz:
Push back against right-to-work legislation
Q: Enact right-to-work law, eliminating the right of unions to mandate dues for workers they represent?Jeff Johnson (R): Yes. Supports making Minnesota a right-to-work state.
Tim Walz (D): No. Opposes "assaults on our right to collective bargaining,
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Minnesota Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Tim Walz:
Supports $15 minimum wage for Minnesota
Q: Raise the minimum wage?Jeff Johnson (R): No. Says it would lessen options for young & least experienced people.
Tim Walz (D): Yes. Supports $15 minimum wage for Minnesota.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Minnesota Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Tina Liebling:
Don't permit employers to pay non-sustaining wages
A person who works full time should be able to meet the basic needs of her family, but many can not. When employers are permitted to pay non-sustaining wages, taxpayers must fill the gap with food support, housing support, and other needs.
This is a subsidy for employers and undermines the dignity of the worker.
I'm proud to have voted to raise Minnesota's minimum wage and to have it apply equally to tipped employees, but we must continue to raise the minimum wage until all full-time work in Minnesota pays a living wage. We must also strengthen other
workplace rights, such as earned sick time and paid family leave. Let's allow everyone the dignity and security to get better at home or have the time to visit a physician then return to work healthy and productive.
Source: 2018 Minnesota governor campaign website TinaLiebling.com
May 2, 2017
Tina Liebling:
Defend the right to organize and bargain collectively
Unions created the middle class by organizing for better wages and working conditions, but union membership has eroded.
I support and defend the right to organize and bargain collectively, because this is one of the best tools we have to raise work standards and give Minnesotans a chance at a better future.
Source: 2018 Minnesota governor campaign website TinaLiebling.com
May 2, 2017
Tina Smith:
End federal contracts if employer mistreats employees
Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) is pushing to prevent companies that mistreat their employees and repeatedly flout workplace protection laws from receiving taxpayer-funded federal contracts. In legislation introduced this week, Sen. Smith would also expand
other workplace protections for those employed by large federal contractors. Her legislation is largely similar to a President Obama Executive Order that was repealed last year."It's pretty simple, taxpayer-funded government contracts should go to
companies that follow the law and treat their workers fairly. Unfortunately, today, too many federal contracts are being awarded to companies with egregious and repeated violations of worker protection laws," said Sen. Smith. "While most contractors
treat their workers fairly, we should be cracking down on the bad actors that put workers' lives and livelihoods at risk."
The Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Act would also ensure that taxpayer funds aren't used for union-busting activity.
Source: 2017-8 Minnesota special election website smith.senate.gov
Jun 15, 2018
Tina Smith:
Raise federal minimum wage to $15 by 2024
Minimum Wage: Raise the federal minimum wage from the current $7.25/hour?Smith: Yes. Co-sponsored legislation to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2024.
Housley: No. In 2017 in MN Senate, voted to prohibit local governments from raising local minimum wage. Voted against raising MN minimum in 2013 & 2014.
Source: 2017-2018 Minnesota special election CampusElect.org Guide
Nov 1, 2018
Tina Smith:
Sponsored bill against states passing right-to-work laws
Q: Support "right to work" laws, eliminating the ability of unions to mandate dues for workers they represent?Tina Smith: No. Introduced bill to prevent states from passing right-to-work laws. Workers have the right to "join together for
fair wages, benefits and improved working conditions."
Jason Lewis: Yes. Supports local right-to-work laws, saying it shouldn't be a crime for someone not to join a union, but doesn't believe they should be imposed nationally.
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Minnesota Senate race
Oct 10, 2020
Tim Walz:
Paid leave and paid sick days
To make Minnesota the best state for workers, Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan established paid leave, ensured paid sick days, banned non-compete agreements, and increased protections for workers in
Amazon warehouses, construction sites, hospitals, nursing homes, and public schools.Governor Walz has invested millions in workforce development to connect
Minnesotans to high-growth, high-demand career fields like manufacturing, education, and public safety. To lower costs and grow Minnesota's workforce, Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor
Flanagan provided free college for students with a family income under $80,000. They also invested over $1 billion in child care and early learning opportunities.
Source: 2022 Minnesota Governor campaign website mn.gov/Governor
Aug 6, 2024
Tim Walz:
Vetoed minimum wage for rideshare drivers
Gov. Walz today issued Executive Order 23-07, commissioning a study and convening a working group of drivers, riders, rideshare companies, members of the disability community, and labor to issue recommendations for rideshare legislation next year.
The Governor also issued a veto of the rideshare legislation in its current form."Rideshare drivers deserve fair wages and safe working conditions. I am committed to finding solutions that balance the interests of all parties, including drivers and
riders," said Governor Walz. "This is not the right bill to achieve these goals. I have spent my career fighting for workers, and I will continue to work with drivers, riders, and rideshare companies to address the concerns that this bill sought to
address."
To allow time to find solutions that balance the interests of all Minnesotans, Governor Walz vetoed Chapter 65, House File 2369 as passed by the Minnesota legislature.
Source: Minnesota State voting records Chapter 65, House File 2369
May 25, 2023
Tim Walz:
Minnesota Miracle: expanding workers' rights
[The 2023] state legislative session saw the passage of the most sweeping pro-labor legislation in state history. The "transformational and historic" session came on the heels of a Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) trifecta victory.The new
legislature wasted no time passing laws expanding workers' rights, reproductive rights, voting rights, gun safety, clean energy, and the social safety net. The "Minnesota Miracle" [included] nearly every item of the Minnesota AFL-CIO agenda.
For nearly
a decade, Minnesotans for Paid Family Medical Leave fought for the landmark legislation that grants up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave. The legislature passed other bills to massively expand labor rights, including protections against wage
theft, and an expansion of public sector collective bargaining.
The laws also boost possibilities for union organizing. A stronger labor movement, allied with the DFL, can defend and grow legislative majorities.
Source: People's World on 2022 Minnesota Gubernatorial race
Jun 14, 2023
Jeff Johnson 2018:
Make Minnesota a right-to-work state
Q: Enact right-to-work law, eliminating the right of unions to mandate dues for workers they represent?Jeff Johnson (R): Yes. Supports making Minnesota a right-to-work state.
Tim Walz (D): No. Opposes "assaults on our right to collective bargaining," & wants to push back against right-to-work legislation.
Source: CampusElect.org 2018: Minnesota legislative voting records
Oct 9, 2018
Jeff Johnson 2018:
Minimum wage increase lessens options for young
Q: Raise the minimum wage?Jeff Johnson (R): No. Says it would lessen options for young & least experienced people.
Tim Walz (D): Yes. Supports $15 minimum wage for Minnesota.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Minnesota Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Angie Craig:
Reintroduced Protecting the Right to Organize Act
Representative Angie Craig of Minnesota helped reintroduce the bipartisan "Protecting the Right to Organize Act" this week. The act would protect workers' right to organize and collectively bargain for for higher wages, better benefits, and safer
working conditions. The PRO Act achieves this by enforcing penalties on employers who violate workers' rights, strengthening support for victims of retaliation, ensuring workers can collect "fair share" fees, and more.
Source: KAAL-TV, "Worker's rights", on 2026 Minnesota Senate race
Mar 7, 2025
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026