Shutdown threatens growth of green economy

Labor, environmental leaders: Shutdown threatens growth of green economy

7 July 2011 - Labor and environmental leaders are warning that gridlock at the state Capitol poses a grave threat to Minnesota’s economic competitiveness, particularly when it comes to the emerging green-energy economy.
Minnesota’s government has been shut down since July 1, after the Republican-controlled Legislature and DFL Gov. Mark Dayton failed to reach an agreement on a biennial budget for 2012-13.

The shutdown means layoffs for nearly 23,000 state workers, but the long-term effect of budget cuts included in the Republican budget bills – vetoed by Dayton – would be much worse for Minnesota, according to local supporters of the “Jobs21!” campaign, a partnership of unions and environmental-advocacy organizations working to grow quality jobs in the green-energy economy.

“More than 20,000 state workers are laid off right now, but the Legislature’s budget would make 5,000 of those layoffs permanent,” Jobs21! Co-Chair Tarryl Clark said Wednesday. “Instead of offering any kind of a jobs plan, the plan the Legislature crafted and the governor vetoed was a firing plan.” read more>>>