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Ann Kaner-Roth, Executive Director of Child Care WORKS, discussed efforts to press state lawmakers to protect Minnesota's human infrastructure, at a recent state capitol press conference. She is flanked by (left to right) State Reps. Paul Thissen and Tom Rukavina, and Kris Jacobs Executive Director of the Jobs Now Coalition, and CDF Minnesota Director Jim Koppel.
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CDF Minnesota and "Working Family Initiative" Partners Press Lawmakers to Protect Investments in "Human Infrastructure"
CDF Minnesota along with its partners in the "Working Family Initiative," (Child Care WORKS, and the JOBS NOW Coalition) led a recent State Capitol press conference to press the governor and state lawmakers to protect investments in Minnesota's "human infrastructure" during the 2008 state legislative session, saying the long-term cost-effectiveness of ensuring the health and well being of Minnesota's working families will pay dividends far into the future.
They were joined by key state legislators, who laid out specific legislative proposals to improve the economic stability of thousands of Minnesota families.
"Since 2003, when our state cut tens of thousands of children off of health care and child care assistance, we have seen a huge increase in the number of children without health coverage, and thousands of families on the child care waiting list," said Jim Koppel, CDF Minnesota Director. "Now we are facing another budget deficit and some are suggesting targeting health care, child care and anti-poverty efforts for more cuts. With the number of families and children living in poverty growing significantly, we think there is a better vision. There are specific proposals before the legislature to give children and their families the wages, the health care and the child care they need to succeed."
Evidence of Falling Behind
The groups pointed to evidence that is already threatening the stability of Minnesota families, such as:
- More than 1 million jobs in Minnesota now pay less than a family-supporting wage of $12.24 per hour (less than $25,500 per year).
- In 2006, there were 86,000 families in Minnesota living in poverty (income of less than $20,650 for a family of four). Three fourths of those families have one or more worker.
- More than 152,000 Minnesota children now live in poverty, an increase of 35 percent since 2000. And the number living in extreme poverty (half the poverty rate) has doubled in that time.
- Nearly 70 percent of Minnesota's children under age 6 have both parents (or their single parent) in the workforce. But quality child care services, a key ingredient in keeping people in the work force and off of welfare, are becoming less affordable and less accessible across the state, particularly for low-income working parents. Currently 4,000 families are on a waiting list for Child Care Assistance.
- In 2001, the State estimated 56,000 Minnesota children without health coverage. Today, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, that number has grown to 85,000. Health coverage is a key indicator of whether or not a child will succeed in school and in the future work force.
Key Lawmakers Lay Out Plans
Lawmakers at the event presented specific legislation that would help working families become more stable, including plans to provide health coverage all Minnesota children, a raise in the minimum wage, and further investment in child care assistance for Minnesota families.
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