Paul Thissen: Innovation in Action

DFL: Jobs Are The Top Session Priority

Democrats in the Legislature are proud to stand with the Governor today united in our desire to make jobs the top priority in the 2012 legislative session. With 170,000 Minnesotans out of work and middle class families struggling to make ends meet – it’s the priority Minnesotans should expect and demand of us.

There are signs our economy is headed in the right direction, but that’s no excuse to sit on the sidelines. We owe it to Minnesotans to focus on the issues that really matter to them– and the best way we can do that is put jobs first.

This jobs plan is collection of good ideas to do a great thing – create jobs for Minnesotans eager to work hard, support their family, and live the American Dream. For the small business poised to start hiring but needs an extra boost, this will plan create jobs. For the worker striving for a new career, this plan will help them get retrained. And for the Main Street business struggling to compete with online competitors, this plan will level the playing field.

We can do this. But it requires us to do far more than simply talk a good game. As you might recall, last year Speaker Zellers called for a “laser focus” on jobs, but instead the Majority focused on constitutional amendments and other priorities. If we are going to work together and get something done on jobs we can’t have a “de ja vu” session where we say one thing and do another.

It’s time to put politics aside and work together to pass a meaningful jobs bill for Minnesota. Jobs are what Minnesotans care about, and it’s what we should care about.

Let’s all work together, and get Minnesotans back to work.