SPRING 2015 VOLUME 22 MAKING PROGRESS AGAINST TAX REGRESSIVITY ver the last two years, local taxes than those in the middle O has made more prog- and bottom. And despite the widely ress than any other state in reducing acknowledged national crisis of the regressivity of growing overall eco- the state-and-local STATE & LOCAL TAX PER DOLLAR OF nomic inequality, tax IN THIS ISSUE tax system, accord- INCOME 2012 VS. 2017 regressivity in most ing to a Growth & states actually wors- 1 Making progress against tax Justice report au- ened over the last two regressivity thored this spring years. Minnesota was Competitiveness depends on by Policy Fellow one of just 10 states 1 workforce equity Jeff Van Wychen. that bucked this trend, reducing regressivity 1 North Star Summit Our report, and climbing from the “Minnesota’s 16th to 7th least regres- 2 From the President Progress Against sive state, the Growth Regressivity,” & Justice report shows. Rural Partnerships Gaining shows what ex- 3 Broad Support perts have long The sobering context, known, that as many have ob- Inequality Trends in Minnesota: almost every state has slightly to served, is that Minnesota’s tax system 3 A County-Level Analysis woefully regressive tax systems. remains regressive. Households in This means those at the very top the very top income brackets con- 6 Thank you 2014 donors! income levels pay a smaller per- tinue to capture a disproportionate centage of their income in state and share of economic growth and an continued on pages 4 & 5 COMPETITIVENESS DEPENDS ON WORKFORCE EQUITY NORTH STAR SUMMIT rowth & Justice is in strong The Twin Cities, despite robust ore than 250 people gathered agreement with the main job growth overall in recent at the Minnesota History Center Gthrust of a recent policy brief by years, ranks just above Detroit M in early December for the the highly regarded business-led and St. Louis, or 23rd among 25 North Star Summit, which focused Itasca Project: major metropolitan areas, in the on the future workforce needs of our employment rate gap between state and how to best address them. “Our regional competitiveness white workers and workers of Growth & Justice, the Minnesota depends on broadening oppor- color. The Itasca Project’s report Senate, and the Citizens League led tunities for a more diverse and is directed at private-sector man- the planning of this event, which inclusive workforce.” agers and employers themselves, included many co-sponsors, including and it implores them to acceler- the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, “Depends on.” Not “would im- prove with” or “might be better the Minnesota Business Partnership, with.” making personal commitments, Minnesota Education Equity atesetting diversification goals and making efforts, and by Partnership and the Bush Foundation. By 2040, about 40 percent of our implementing plans for a more Twin Cities metropolitan area inclusive workforce. The summit featured an extended workforce will be people of color, conversation with metro-area DFL and our state and region will not Growth & Justice is keenly fo- Sen. Terri Bonoff, the chair of the stay strong economically with cused on identifying and sup- Higher Education and Workforce the current racial disparities that porting public policies that Development Division of the Senate exist in employment and educa- advance workforce equity. We Finance Committee; Sen. Jeremy tion attainment. helped capture public atten- Miller, a Republican business owner tion and bipartisan resolve from Winona who is earning a continued on page 4 continued on page 5 SPRING 2015

otherwise ally with our work have FROM THE PRESIDENT helped turn both the tide of public all over the important details opinion and the ship of state picture,of new laws our fingerprintsand policy in are in Minnesota. Through timely Minnesota. Recommendations research projects and reports, and from our special projects on presentations to groups from one rural education partnerships and end of the state to the other, we workforce equity, in particular, have changed the dominant public policy narrative. books. (See more details on these aretwo finding projects their elsewhere way into in statutethis One recent example is our newsletter). “Equity” op-ed, which landed on the cover of the Sunday Star Progress toward equity is Tribune Op-Ex section on March underway but much more needs 27. The article describes the to be done, and progress made Dane Smith recent ascendance of the word “equity” in public policy discourse, defended. Our recent report on t Hamline University’s and the wrong-headed pushback alwaysMinnesota’s needs success to be fiercely in reducing Community Economic against it. We argue further that tax regressivity is an example DevelopmentA Symposium in this word is not just trendy, but of progress, while our report May, we were asked to be the that it is the very best word to on inequalities within the state, describe policies that invest county-by-county, shows that we Minnesota policy leaders. We were in human capital and human still have far to go. (See articles firstcharged presenter with providing on a panel an of opening five potential, and that build assets on both those reports in this overview of economic inequality for families and individuals on the newsletter). in Minnesota and how that relates wrong side of widening inequality. to workforce needs. We humbly and earnestly seek Striving for economic fairness and your continued attention, your I began our presentation by noting racial justice is righteous work, a that if you search the internet for form of civil rights advocacy for “Inequality in Minnesota,” links which Minnesotans can be proud. financialwin more support hearts and and minds your in to our work pop up near the top We Minnesotans have a legacy of unflaggingMinnesota for efforts an equity to help agenda. us of the page. I asserted that we more than 150 years of leadership had become “the keepers of the on this cause, from all our major political parties, going back to disparity in particular, and how early statehood and the Civil War. GROWTH & JUSTICE both of those conditions threaten flame” on inequality, and racial Growth & Justice is a research economic growth. Equity is not only about doing what’s right. It also makes and advocacy organization Our drumbeat of recent perfect business sense. A recent that develops innovative commentary and research Itasca Project report cites four public policy proposals based underscores that an “equity on independent research and agenda” must become the of a more diverse and equitable civic engagement. We believe when Minnesota makes smart driving force in public policy in specificworkforce: competitive stronger advantagesconnections Minnesota, supplanting a once to a more diverse customer base; investments in practical prevailing anti-government and less “groupthink” and better solutions it leads to broader anti-tax mentality. No other group decisions; increased innovation; prosperity for all. makes the business case for the GROWTH & JUSTICE equity agenda as effectively and the company bottom line. This 970 Raymond Avenue persistently as we do. andline frombetter the financial Itasca Projectresults onpolicy Suite 105 brief sums it up pretty well, as You, as supporters of Growth Saint Paul, MN 55114 an opportunity rather than a phone: 651-917-6037 & Justice, are helping us make problem: “We have yet to tap this happen, through both your [email protected] the full potential of our region’s growthandjustice.org contributions to us and your human capital.” attention to these issues. The individuals, foundations and many Newsletter design & layout by other partners that donate to us or nonpartisan framing of the big Mark Tundel Influential as we have been in 2 SPRING 2015 RURAL PARTNERSHIPS GAINING BROAD SUPPORT

rowth & Justice continues Although the immediate G to connect, nurture and fate of the legislation is uncertain as we go to in Greater Minnesota (the press, this progress is a publicize“Strive Five”) five thatcommunities are making positive step forward in real, measurable progress educating and familiarizing on collaborative community decision-makers about the partnerships that improve student depth and breadth of rural outcomes from cradle to career. educational partnerships Our efforts are building a spirit of in Minnesota, and their teamwork and cohesiveness and a importance to the students growing statewide awareness that in those communities. a rural student success movement Maureen Ramirez and Rep. Tim Kelly and other supporters of is underway. In addition, we are Rural Partnerships. establishing new connections times before House and with other partnerships in rural DaneSenate Smith committees testified about several As a result, new supporters Minnesota, including Grand the rural education partnership for community partnerships Marais and Alexandria, with an movement. In addition, rural and have been created throughout eye toward including them in this urban allies for the legislation Minnesota, with some legislators network. visited with dozens of legislators expressing an interest in starting from all over the state—rural, similar initiatives in their own A recent development in this urban and suburban—making districts. work is the formation of new the case for state support of both relationships between rural rural and urban partnerships. Strive partners and the Promise Neighborhoods in and St Paul. Growth & Justice, INEQUALITY TRENDS IN MINNESOTA: A COUNTY-LEVEL ANALYSIS led by Policy & Research Director Maureen Ramirez, was instrumental in initiating he 2014 election and the 2015 legislative session have brought a and forging a close alliance T new focus in Minnesota on regional inequalities between the Twin Cities metropolitan area and rural or Greater Minnesota. A new report by Tom Legg and Ngoc Nguyen provides important factual amongNorthside five Achievement partnerships Zone (Red context for understanding these disparities, for policymakers and for Wing,in Minneapolis, Northfield, and St. the Cloud, St. all Minnesotans concerned about the immediate and long-term damage Paul Promise Neighborhood) that growing regional inequity could do to our state. in support of the Minnesota Education Partnerships Fund. The In essence, the report paints a picture of three divergent Minnesotas, legislation proposes a state fund rather than simply a metro-rural divide, and shows how urban core and that would invest in Minnesota rural areas suffer most from inequality and poverty, while suburban communities that are establishing, and exurban counties are much more prosperous and more evenly so. building or sustaining educational partnerships aimed at This work builds on a previous Growth & Justice report which coordinating and collaborating for showed that Minnesota, as a whole, is indeed suffering from growing student success. The bill supports inequality that tracks with national trends. That report demonstrated cradle-to-career educational how inequality had worsened in Minnesota over time, and compared initiatives that are data-driven our measures of inequality to those in other states. and cross-sector, and establishes a competitive grant program for The latest report reveals how inequality varies among the 87 counties funding the work of the initiatives. across the state, and how these measure have been changing in recent The legislation advanced through years. While it’s long been known that the Twin Cities metropolitan several House and Senate committees but was not included the new report shows that poverty and inequality is greatest in the in its entirety in the K-12 omnibus areatwo urbanoverall core has significantlycounties of Hennepin higher incomes and Ramsey, than Greater and in theMinnesota, most education bill. continued on page 8

3 SPRING 2015 WORKFORCE EQUITY continued from page 1

by co-sponsoring a North Star funding to those that are most from low-income families. We sup- Summit for policymakers which effective. port proposals that move toward focused on these issues before the free or reduced community and 2015 session began. Early credits: Proposals to technical college, that freeze increase the variety of dual-credit tuition and reduce education Here are eight key types of policy courses offered in high school and debt, that increase need-based reforms and investments that we to expand opportunities for all student aid, and that restore basic and many other allied groups have ninth- and 10th-graders, not just state funding for public higher-ed advocated for during the 2015 gifted students in the higher grades, systems. legislative session, and which we must advance. will continue to emphasize: Full employment, at livable Statewide goals: Many other wages: Recent national research Career Pathways: Making higher states in recent years have set a highlights how workforce equity education and training available on specific goal for overall higher and dramatic gains for commu- a come-and-get-it basis is no longer education attainment—Growth nities of color really begins to enough. Young people need more & Justice has long advocated happen when full employment is help and support in this increas- for a 75 percent postsecond- reached, as was almost the case in ingly complex economy. A career ary completion goal—as well as the 1990s, and when wages rise. pathways grant program, which long-term goals for ending racial Tens of thousands of Minnesotans will fund and expand a variety of disparities, and interim goals for are still unemployed, or under- innovative efforts to obtain faster reducing them. employed. Thousands more jobs, training and credentials for jobs most of them in the private sector, in high demand, must be ap- Cost reduction: The price tag and would be created with a larger proved. The “pathways” approach debt burden for credentials remains transportation funding bill, and a is a comprehensive and effective a prohibitive barrier for too many larger bonding bill for state infra- strategy that simultaneously pro- young people of color and those structure construction projects. vides skills instruction, job train- ing and support services. Remediation re- form: Disadvantaged students REGRESSIVITY continued from page 1 who are compelled to spend money and time on postsecond- ary remedial courses, for no even more lopsided share of as- Minnesota’s new marginal rates credit, seldom graduate. Creative sets and wealth. Recent national on top incomes still are not as proposals to break through that reports continue to document that high as they were as recently obstacle are advancing, led by this inequality trend, underway as the 1970s. Minnesota’s Tax the group Students for Education since the 1970s, is not relenting. Incidence Study shows that— Reform. even after the progress in reduc- State tax-and-budget policy alone ing tax regressivity resulting from Apprenticeships: Efforts like cannot solve this inequality crisis, the 2013 and 2014 tax legisla- the very promising Minnesota which generally is attributed to tion—state and local taxes per PIPELINE Project, modeled on the dynamics of global capital- dollar of income for the top one the widely admired German model ism, a technology revolution percent of Minnesota households of simultaneous employment and and federal policy-making. But a are 12 percent lower than they training, need to be funded and more progressive tax structure are for middle income families. expanded. can reduce the severity of these trends and enhance the purchas- The wealthiest Minnesotans thus Evaluation and performance ing power of low and moderate are still paying less in state and funding: MSPWin, a collaboration income households. In addition, a local taxes per dollar of income of foundations seeking workforce more progressive and ample rev- than any other group in the enue system will be better able to state. Their income and wealth is a variety of improvements in generate the resources needed to growing in part due to an envi- equityoutcome and reporting efficiency, and is evaluaurging- adequately fund schools, roads, able system of public investments tion of all the various higher-ed health care, economic security and workforce training programs, and other public services and in- with an eye on steering more vestments that reduce inequality. continued on page 5

4 SPRING 2015 that puts reduce the state’s progressive must also be factored in. But REGRESSIVITY Minnesota estate tax, to provide state income Minnesota, which has long had a continued from page 4 near the top tax breaks on Social Security more progressive tax system than on most measures of business income that would primarily the average state, has also fared growth, quality of life, and socio- better than most of those other economic health. and to cut the highly progressive states on most measures of well- benefitrenters high-incomeproperty tax households,refund. being. Backsliding again toward Numerous bills that advanced regressivity makes no sense at all, in the 2015 legislative session Fairness can’t be the only crite- and Growth & Justice will contin- would potentially erase this rion for decision-making on our ue speaking against policies that progress. Growth & Justice testi- state’s tax and budget policy. would allow this to happen. against proposals to dramatically and economic competitiveness fied before legislative committees Stability, revenue sufficiency,

NORTH STAR SUMMIT continued from page 1

of the Minnesota Education ages of 25 and 44, who hold Equity Partnership; postsecondary degrees or Steve Hine from the State Department of Employment least 70 percent by 2025. and Economic Development; certificates, to be increased to at and Larry Isek, president Growth & Justice’s commitment of the Minnesota Higher to a statewide attainment goal Education Compact. began with the Smart Investments in Minnesota’s Students project Responding to questions and in 2007. This year’s passage of policy options in real time statewide goal language marks with interactive “clickers,” almost 90 percent of and creates a unifying vision attendees said it was either afor significant the state andaccomplishment, institutions “absolutely necessary” or “important” that Minnesota Higher Education will work establish goals for higher toover work the toward.summer, The with Office input of education attainment, an idea from stakeholders, including A small group, including MnSCU Chancellor Growth & Justice, to address Steven Rosenstone and Senator Dave Justice in the foundational the measurement and interim Senjem, discuss setting goals for higher firstSmart advanced Investments by Growth in & benchmarks for the goal. education at the North Star Summit. Minnesota’s Students report. reputation for working across the The summit generated aisle; and Rep. Carlos Mariani, lively group conversations longtime leader of the Minnesota which produced dozens Education Equity Partnership, a of creative ideas and respected senior legislator and strategies for equitable champion of race equity policies, workforce development in and former chair of the House Minnesota. It also resulted Education Policy Committee. being advanced at the Participants heard a compelling inLegislature, specific proposals including a case for rethinking how to bill for setting a statewide accelerate specialized training postsecondary attainment and postsecondary credential goal. This attainment attainment, especially for our Left to Right: Representative Carlos Mariani, goal was passed as part Senator Terri Bonoff, Nate Garvis, and Senator fast-growing communities of of the Higher Education Jeremy Miller discuss statewide higher color. Presenters included State Omnibus bill and calls for education attainment at the North Star Demographer Susan Brower; the share of Minnesota Summit in St Paul on December 8. Jennifer Godinez, acting director residents between the

5 SPRING 2015

The Ekdahl Hutchinson Minnesota State College John Ditmore Fund of the Minnesota Faculty Joe & Genie Dixon Community Foundation Roger D. Moe Lynne Ekola-Harrington John & Thelma James Walter Mondale Linda Engberg James E. Johnson Don & Florence Ostrom Bill & Karen Erickson Kathleen A. Jones Fred & Gloria Sewell Walter W. Faster Thomas A. Keller III Emily Anne Staples Tuttle Charlie & Anne Ferrell Ted Kolderie Fund of the Minnesota Kevin Filter & Rosemary Daniel & Constance Kunin Community Foundation Kessler James Leinfelder & Jennifer Mark Steege David Fisher Woodland The Gary & Rita Stenson Tim & Susan Flaherty Monica Little & Mark Abeln Family Fund of The Saint John & Janet Fredell Becky Lourey Paul Foundation Bill Gabler Michael Markman Edward C. Stringer Karen J. Garvin Dick McFarland Donald M. Sullivan Enrique Gentzsch & Christopher McHugh & Mary K. Tambornino Suzanne Skorich Cheryl Smetana McHugh United Transportation Ken & Ellen Green Bill Moore & Mary Wagner Union Louis Newman & Amy Timothy Welsh David Alban Eilberg Betsey Whitbeck & Jim JoanMarilee Growe & Roger Griffin Jane Newman & Amy Lange Nelson Earl & Donna Gustafson Joyce S. Prudden and Ann Wynia Bill Hansen Michael D. Shoop Family William Hardesty The following is a list of contributions Fund of The Minneapolis $100 - $249 Jim Hart received in 2014. Foundation Patrick Henry & Patricia Paul & Rhoda Redleaf Anonymous Welter Mike and Toni Rosen Family Rev. Grant Abbott John Hetterick THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY! Fund of the Minneapolis Dave Anderson Beverly Jones Heydinger & Foundation Richard Heydinger Jennifer L. Martin Justice Paul Anderson Dick Sarafolean Joan Higinbotham Michael & Kathleen O’Keefe Anonymous $5,000 & ABOVE Alan & Janny Silver Gary Hill E. Thomas Binger & Jerry Waldman & Judi Anonymous Roberta Walburn Tom & Libby Horner Rebecca Rand Fund of The Belzer Ron DeHarpporte Per & Elaine Wickstrom Jerome M. Hughes Minneapolis Foundation Steve & Dixie Berg James Graves Medora Woods Ruby M. Hunt Congressman Martin Olav Janet Berryhill The Hayden Family Fund Paul Iverson Sabo Herman J. Birnberg of The Minneapolis Wayne Jennings Dane & Mary Smith $250 - $499 Rick & Kathleen Blake Foundation Dr. Robert C. Johnson Pete Swenson & Pamela Amy Blumenshine & Mike Joel & Laurie Kramer Frank Altman Robert Johnson Jewson Troutman Fund of the Minneapolis Bell Family Charitable Gift Walter H. & Harriet W. Think Again MN Karen Boros Foundation Fund Johnson Jennifer Jewell Thomas & Thomas R. Breckenridge Lee Lynch and Terry Saario Thomas & Margit Berg Drs. Charles & Sally David D. Thomas Bernard & Phyllis Brommer Fund of The Minneapolis Fawn Bernhardt Jorgensen Ralph Wyman Bob Brown Foundation Doug Britton & Nancy Ken & Janet Joslyn (MD, Tennant Foundation Julie Bunn & Marlon George Muellner Odden Gunderson MPH & RN MFC) Tony Carideo Joel Carlson Shirley Kaplan $500 - $999 Mary & Bob Cecconi Bill & Pat Kelly $1,000 - $4,999 Philip Carruthers Mike Christenson Robert & Suzannah Ciernia Marilyn Kemme David & Debra Andreas Debbie Danielson & Steve Scott & Cara Croonquist Jay Kiedrowski Hildy Bowbeer, in memory Sally Anson Johnson John Crosby Kim & Garry Kieves of Michael Metz Peter Bachman & Janet Rice Paula & Cy DeCosse Sally & John Cuningham Sen. & John Allan & Lou Burdick Scott & Sarah Burns Fund of James Dorsey Tane Danger Bessler Cambio Education LLC The Saint Paul Foundation Lois & Joseph Duffy William Davidson Dag Knudsen Mike & Ann Ciresi Richard W. and Jean Illsley Rondi C. Erickson & Guilford Margaret (Meg) DeLapp Daniel Knuth Ruth & Bruce Dayton Clarke Fund of The Lewis Jack Ditmore Fred Krohn Chuck Denny Minneapolis Foundation Barbara Forster The John F. Eisberg & Jay & Page Cowles Roger Franke Susan Kline Charitable Peter D’Ascoli Janice Gepner & Eric 2014 FOUNDATION SUPPORT Fund of The Minneapolis Wendy & Doug Dayton Newman Foundation Jim & Joy Erickson Chris & Val Jackson Dr. Robert & Linda Fisher Ron and Barb Fraboni Matt Kane & Liz Conway • Elmer L. & Eleanor J. Andersen Hal Freshley Family Fund Will & Claudia Kaul Vernae & Michael Carol Freeman Paul Knutson Foundation Hasbargen Lew & Angelyn Freeman James Kujawa • Blandin Foundation Thomas C. & Marlene C. Lou & Carol Frillman Pat Lamb and Ele Hansen Kayser The Robert J. Hunt and Foundation Fund of the • The McKnight Foundation Susan Kinder & David Timothy M. Heaney Minnesota Community Vealitzek Charitable Account Foundation • Jay and Rose Phillips Family Kinder-Vealitzek Fund of Anne & Peter Heegaard Jan Malcolm & Kris Carlton Foundation of Minnesota the Women’s Foundation Family Fund of the Larry Margolis of Minnesota Minneapolis Foundation William C. Melton • Travelers Foundation

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7 GROWTH & JUSTICE NON-PROFIT ORG STAFF 970 Raymond Avenue U.S. POSTAGE Suite 105 PAID DANE SMITH TWIN CITIES, MN President Saint Paul, MN 55114 PERMIT NO. 30308 MAUREEN RAMIREZ Director of Policy & Research JENNIFER WEDDELL Director of Finance, Operations & Publications MARK TUNDEL Communications Manager MATT BYRNE Development Specialist FELLOWS PAUL ANTON Policy fellow on economics MARSHA BLUMENTHAL Senior Policy Fellow on Economics CHUCK BROWN Senior Policy Fellow on Rural Issues MIKE CHRISTENSON Policy Fellow JAY COGGINS Policy Fellow JACK DITMORE Policy Fellow on Economics LOUIS JOHNSTON Senior Policy Fellow AMY LANGE Policy Fellow on Health Care TOM LEGG Policy Fellow PIA LOPEZ Policy Fellow INEQUALITY continued from page 3 DON OSTROM Senior Policy Fellow JEFF VAN WYCHEN Senior Policy Fellow rural counties of northern Minnesota. In contrast, the Twin Cities’ outer suburban BOARD OF DIRECTORS and exurban counties enjoy high levels MARLANA BENZIE-LOUREY of poverty, and relatively low rates of FAWN BERNHARDT-NORVELL ofinequality. homogenous affluence, low rates TANE DANGER DAVID FISHER, SECRETARY- This research challenges the notion TREASURER that the geographic inequality divide in LINDA FISHER Minnesota is essentially between the JIM GRAVES Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota. VERNAE HASBARGEN, VICE CHAIR Rather, this divide is better understood H.B. “BUD” HAYDEN JR. HUBERT H. “BUCK” HUMPHREY IV suburban and exurban ring, and the less VIVIAN JENKINS NELSEN asprosperous, a chasm between more unequal an evenly places affluent inside THOMAS C. KAYSER and outside that ring. NEKIMA LEVY-POUNDS Growth & Justice is committed to KIMBERLY LOWE maintaining a strong focus in our research LOUIS PORTER II and advocacy on reducing overall WALTER “ROCKY” ROCKENSTEIN, BOARD CHAIR economic inequality and unsustainable MARTIN OLAV SABO PETE SWENSON disparities whether by geographic region, by race, or by gender.