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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Job Creation Takes Center Stage in Minnesota Budget Battle

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Thursday, May 26, 2011   

ST. PAUL, Minn. - A state government shutdown is looming as Gov. Mark Dayton and the Republican-controlled Legislature remain deadlocked on how to close Minnesota's budget deficit.

The GOP says Dayton's plan to raise taxes on the wealthiest 2 percent would kill jobs. Kris Jacobs, executive director of the Jobs Now Coalition, says the opposite is true since the state needs revenue to keep people working:

"Holding the line on taxes is the reason why we don't have jobs, and that's as plain as the nose on anyone's face. There's 10 job seekers for every full-time job opening in Minnesota, period."

In addition to the tax hike, Jacobs hopes the GOP will also compromise with Dayton and pass a bill to fund state building projects.

"The governor wanted to bond. The governor wants to find ways to put people to work right now doing stuff that needs to be done."

Jacobs disagrees with arguments that say protecting the wealthy creates jobs.

"No jobs have been created the whole time Tim Pawlenty was in office, so this 'no new taxes' thing, it's gonna kill us."

Dayton's proposed bonding bill was rejected during the regular session, but he says he would like lawmakers to reconsider during a special session. Jacobs says the state lost nearly 63,000 jobs during the past decade, and 194,000 Minnesotans are looking for work.

A breakdown on unemployment rates in Minnesota by county and city is online at positivelyminnesota.com.


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