Dutcher: Restoring Minnesota’s Promise

07/11/2006

July 10, 2006

Dear Editor:

Minnesota is a state that has a long and proud history of accomplishments:

*In 1971, Minnesota was the first state to ensure that all its children received a quality education by establishing an equitable method of statewide financing.

*Minnesota’s medical technology and health care industries were cutting-edge, with the first open heart surgery and the first bone marrow transplant in the country performed at our own University of Minnesota.

*Innovation and entrepreneurship were encouraged. Minnesota became home to Rollerblades, Tonka Trucks, “Milky Ways” and “Snickers” bars, the snowmobile, Wheaties and Scotch tape.

During the Pawlenty years, Minnesota continued to receive national attention. But for all the wrong reasons:

*In a 2004 study, Minnesota was identified as one of just 12 states that outsourced state contracts to companies with offshore operations.

*After operating in Minnesota for 82 years, Ford Motor Company announced the closure of the St. Paul Ford plant, resulting in future job loss for 1,900 Minnesotans.

*The New York Times covered the first government shutdown in Minnesota’s 147-year-old history after Governor Pawlenty failed to reach a budget agreement with legislators.

It’s time to return Minnesota to its status of the “state that works.” We can do this by encouraging innovation and investing in medical and bioscience research. We need to make sure that our higher education system is affordable and relevant to our economy so that students are trained to fill jobs that pay sustainable wages. We must take the steps necessary to create an environment where both opportunity and innovation flourish. And we must use our own workforce to get the job done.

To do this, we need to work together. Please consider making an online contribution of $100, $50 or whatever you can afford to Hatch for Governor .

With your help, we can make our memories of Minnesota a reality once again.

Sincerely,

Judi Dutcher