Politics & Government

Rep. John Benson: Report Finds a 'Skills Gap' in Minnesota

"Manufacturing businesses reported difficulty filling 45 percent of current vacancies – a third of which remain unfilled due to a lack of skilled labor."

Dear Neighbors,  

As you may have heard Gov. Dayton has dropped his proposal to use business-to-business sales taxes to help balance the state budget.

The ability to listen indicates real leadership. I am glad the governor listened to the public, the business community and legislators on this issue.

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Like many around the state, I have heard how this tax would have been a detriment to Minnesota’s business community and our state’s long-term economic competitiveness.

While the business-to-business tax proposal failed to garner much support, the governor, the vast majority of Minnesotans and I agree that Minnesota needs to make new investments in key areas like education, workforce development and public infrastructure.

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A recent study confirms that these investments are essential. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development reports finding a “skills gap” in our state: manufacturing businesses reported difficulty filling 45 percent of current vacancies – a third of which remain unfilled due to a lack of skilled labor.

The good-paying jobs of the future increasingly will require advanced skills and training. Making smart, targeted investments will help to strengthen Minnesota’s position as a leader in the global marketplace.

The governor’s supplemental budget proposes investing $1 billion in education and jobs across the state. It also supports making real reforms to ensure Minnesotans get the best possible government for their tax dollars.

The final budget that my colleagues in the legislature and I develop will be based around share values and priorities. This includes the values and priorities we share with the governor; those we share with Minnesotans across the state.

We are developing a budget that reflects middle class priorities like education: pre-kindergarten, all-day kindergarten and affordable college access. It’s also going to be a budget that invests in workforce development and residential property tax reduction. I am supporting these initiatives because they will help all Minnesotans thrive and ensure our state’s economy is competitive in the future.

There is still plenty of time to weigh in on the state budget process. If you have ideas, questions, or concerns please contact me.

You can reach me by telephone: (651) 296-9934, by emailrep.john.benson@house.mn, or send me mail to 417 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, Minnesota 55155.

Here is a brief update on some legislation I have been working on since my last newsletter:

Minnesota Principal Academy

“There are no high-performing schools without great principals," U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan told USA Today. Principals support students, teachers, set policies, and keep an entire school focused.

The University of Minnesota has a created a powerful resource for principals in our state. The University’s Department of Education houses the Minnesota Principal Academy, which takes best practices and education research to help principals from across the state drive positive change in their schools.

To support the academy’s efforts and ensure they are able to help principals in the future, I have introduced legislation (HF 818) to renew the program’s funding.

 

Monitoring the impact of pollution on Minnesotans

Birth defects are estimated to affect over 2,000 babies in Minnesota and more than 120,000 children in the United States every year. Birth defects are the leading cause of death in children less than one year of age. This is just one of the problems caused by air and water-based pollution.

The Minnesota Department of Health currently monitors the impact of pollution on people to help us better understand the links between pollutants and birth defects, cancer, and other negative health outcomes.

I have introduced legislation (HF 961) that provides continued funding for the program for the two years. Hopefully, it will help our state to better monitor pollution and protect Minnesotans from health risks.

Homelessness

Homelessness is a growing problem in Minnesota — especially among children. The most recent survey from the Wilder Foundation found that a total of 4,528 Minnesota children were homeless during a typical night during October 2009, a significant increase from the previous survey in 2006. As you might imagine, children who are homeless do worse in school than their peers, are more likely to be victims of abuse, suffer from mental illness, and be homeless as adults.

To combat homelessness, I am supporting efforts to continue funding long-term homeless support services. These funds will be used to pay for homelessness prevention programs, provide safe shelter, and heighten the ability of homeless households to secure and maintain stable, independent housing and economic self-reliance.

Reduce your home energy costs

Though winter hopefully will be over soon, blazing summer temperatures are just around the corner. One way you can reduce your home energy costs year-round is to identify where air is leaking out of your house—typically areas such as ceilings, walls, and the foundation.

These sources can cause up to one third of all heating and cooling losses in a typical home. Stopping air leaks is a great way to conserve energy, save money, and increase comfort.

The process of sealing air leaks requires a careful inspection of your home—via a home energy assessment using infrared camera scans to locate air leaks—and some inexpensive weather-stripping, caulking, and filler materials.

If you’re interested in learning more about preventing air leaks or other ways to make your home more energy efficient the Minnesota Department of Commerce has guide on their website.

Protecting against and recovering from identity theft

You may have read the troubling story in the Star Tribune about John Foster and Melony Micheals from Plymouth, MN who were victims of mortgage fraud and identity theft. Considering the prevalence of fraud and scams, here are some great tips from the Minnesota Department of Commerce on how to protect your personal information and what to do if you are a victim of identity theft:

Prevention

  1. Never give personal information over the phone or email. Most businesses that need bank account information, passwords or credit card numbers already have all the information they need and will not call or email a request for more information.
  2. Minimize the amount of personal information you carry. Do not store Social Security cards, passports or birth certificates in purses or wallets.
  3. Write down credit card names and numbers and store them in a safe place. It's important to cancel your credit cards immediately if they've been stolen.
  4. Only use secure Internet sites for e-commerce. Look for a small yellow "padlock" in the toolbar and "https" in the web address.

Recovering your identity

  1. Contact the fraud departments of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).Tell them that you're an identity theft victim, and request a "fraud alert" on your file. Ask creditors to call you before approving any new accounts or changing your existing accounts.
  2. Ask the bureaus for a copy of your credit report, which is usually free if the report is inaccurate due to fraud. Check the area that lists "inquiries," and if loan or credit requests appear that you did not make, ask that those inquiries be removed. 

    Order new reports in a few months to be sure that the information was removed, because it can negatively affect your credit score.
  3. Contact the credit card companies for any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Speak with someone in the security or fraud department of each creditor, and also notify them with a letter. Immediately close accounts that have been tampered with and open new accounts with new PINs and passwords. 
  4. File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place. Be sure to obtain a copy of the police report in case the bank, credit card company or others need proof of the crime. Even if the police can't find the identity thief, having a copy of the police report will be helpful when dealing with creditors.

Sincerely,

John Benson

State Representative (44B)

Minnetonka – Plymouth


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