EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL
Unemployment Down to 2.5%: Since 1993, the unemployment rate in Minnesota has declined from 5.3% to 2.5%. 386,600 New Jobs: 386,600 new jobs have been created in Minnesota since 1993 -- an average of 61,042 per year, compared to an average of just 38,625 jobs per year during the previous administration. 348,300 New Private Sector Jobs: Since 1993, 348,300 new private sector jobs have been created-an average of 54,995 jobs per year, compared to an average of just 32,525 private sector jobs per year in the previous administration. 37,800 New Manufacturing Jobs: 37,800 manufacturing jobs have been created in Minnesota since 1993 -- an average of 5,968 jobs per year. In contrast, an average of only 1,075 manufacturing jobs were created each year during the previous administration. 31,800 New Construction Jobs: 31,800 construction jobs have been created in Minnesota since 1993 -- an average of 5,021 jobs per year. In contrast, an average of 25 construction jobs were lost each year during the previous administration. 117,000 Have Received a Raise: Approximately 60,000 Minnesota workers benefited from an increase in the minimum wage-from $4.25 to $4.75 -- on October 1, 1996. They, along with about 57,000 others received an additional raise-from $4.75 to $5.15 -- on September 1, 1997. Poverty Has Fallen: Nationally, the poverty rate has fallen from 15.1% in 1993 to 13.3% in 1997. In Minnesota, the poverty rate has fallen from 11.6% in 1993 to 9.6% in 1997--down 2.0% under President Clinton. [Census Bureau] A $500 Child Tax Credit to Help Families Raising Children: To help make it easier for families to raise their children, the balanced budget included a $500 per-child tax credit for children under 17. Thanks to President Clinton, the Balanced Budget delivers a child tax credit to 519,000 families in Minnesota. Homeownership Has Increased In Minnesota: Homeownership in Minnesota has increased from 66.6% to 75.8% since 1992. Over $25,000 of Reduced Federal Debt for Every Family of Four: The national debt will be $1.7 trillion lower in FY99 than projected in 1993 -- that's $25,000 less debt for each family of four in Minnesota this year. EXPANDING ACCESS TO EDUCATION
Nearly 10,000 Children in Head Start: Nearly 10,000 Minnesota children were enrolled in Head Start in 1998. In FY99, Minnesota will receive $51.9 million in Head Start funding, an increase of $21.1 million over 1993. More High-Quality Teachers With Smaller Classes for Minnesota's Schools: Thanks to President Clinton, the final FY99 budget provides for the first year of the President's new initiative to hire 100,000 new, well-prepared teachers, to reduce class sizes in the early grades to a national average of 18. Minnesota receives $16.6 million in 1999 to hire about 428 new public school teachers. And, under President Clinton's proposal, Minnesota would receive $19 million in FY2000 to support a total of 519 teachers. $6.8 Million in Goals 2000 Funding: This year [FY99], Minnesota receives $6.8 million in Goals 2000 funding. This money is used to raise academic achievement by raising academic standards, increasing parental and community involvement in education, expanding the use of computers and technology in classrooms, and supporting high-quality teacher professional development. $4.8 Million for Technology Literacy: This year [FY99], Minnesota receives $4.8 million for the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund which helps communities and the private sector ensure that every student is equipped with the computer literacy skills needed for the 21st century. $88.8 Million for Students Most in Need: Minnesota receives $88.8 million in Title I grants providing extra help in the basics for students most in need, particularly communities and schools with high concentrations of children in low-income families [FY99]. This is an increase of $2.2 million over FY98 funding. $119.9 Million in Pell Grants: This year [FY99], Minnesota will receive $119.9 million in Pell Grants for low-income students going to college, an additional $5.6 million over last year. With this increase, a total of 66,800 Minnesota students will benefit. Expanded Work-Study To Help More Students Work Their Way Through College: The FY99 budget includes a significant expansion of the Federal Work Study program. Minnesota will receive $18.7 million in Work-Study funding in 1999 to help Minnesota students work their way through college. Nearly 2,500 Have Served in Minnesota through AmeriCorps: Since the National Service program began in 1993, 2,474 AmeriCorps participants have earned money for college while working in Minnesota's schools, hospitals, neighborhoods or parks. [through 11/98] Tuition Tax Credits in Balanced Budget Open the Doors of College and Promote Lifelong Learning: The balanced budget included the largest investment in higher education since the G.I. Bill in 1945 -- delivering a major victory for parents trying to pay for their children's college and for working people trying to upgrade their skills. It includes both President Clinton's $1,500 HOPE Scholarship to help make the first two years of college as universal as a high school diploma and a Lifetime Learning Tax Credit for college juniors, seniors, graduate students and working Americans pursuing lifelong learning to upgrade their skills. This 20% tax credit will be applied to the first $5,000 of tuition and fees through 2002 and to the first $10,000 thereafter. 116,000 students in Minnesota will receive a HOPE Scholarship tax credit of up to $1,500. 142,000 students in Minnesota will receive the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit. [fully phased-in FY2000 estimate] Expanded Job Training to Minnesota's Dislocated Workers: Thanks to President Clinton, the FY99 budget includes a significant expansion in the dislocated worker program. Minnesota will receive $9 million in 1999 to help 5,340 of Minnesota's dislocated workers get the training and reemployment services they need to return to work as quickly as possible. FIGHTING CRIME AND VIOLENCE
Murder Rate Falls in St. Paul: Between 1992 and 1997, murder in the city of St. Paul has declined 27%.[1992 and 1997 UCR] Juvenile Arrests Down in Minnesota: Minnesota's juvenile murder arrests have decreased 29% between 1992 and 1997. [FBI, Uniform Crime Report, 1992 and 1997] 1,227 More Police: The President's 1994 Crime Bill has funded 1,227 new police officers to date in communities across Minnesota. [through 7/99] Nearly $3 Million to Combat Domestic Violence: Through the Violence Against Women Act, Minnesota received $2.9 million in federal funds in FY98 to establish more women's shelters and bolster law enforcement, prosecution and victims' services. Reducing Crime with Drug Courts: Working to reduce drug-related crime in Minnesota, the Clinton Administration has awarded a Drug Court grant to the community of Minneapolis. Drug courts use the coercive power of the criminal justice system to combine drug testing, sanctions, supervision and treatment to push nonviolent, drug-abusing offenders to stop using drugs and committing crimes. $1 Million in Grants for Battered Women: In FY98, Minnesota received approximately $1 million in HHS's Family Violence Prevention Program grants to assist women and children fleeing domestic abuse, an additional $180,000 increase over FY97. $6.3 Million to Keep Drugs & Violence Out of Minnesota's Schools: Minnesota receives $6.3 million in FY99 for the Safe & Drug Free Schools Program, which invests in school security and drug prevention programs. MOVING MINNESOTANS FROM WELFARE TO WORK
53,496 Fewer People on Welfare: There are 53,496 fewer people on welfare in Minnesota now than there were at the beginning of 1993 -- an 28% decrease. [through 12/98] Child Support Collections Up 109%: Child support collections have increased by over $207 million-or 109% -- in Minnesota since FY92. [through FY98] Encouraging Responsible Choices-Preventing Teen Pregnancy in Minnesota: Since 1993, President Clinton and Vice President Gore have supported innovative and promising teen pregnancy prevention strategies, with significant components of the strategy becoming law in the 1996 Personal Responsibility Act. The law requires unmarried minor parents to stay in school and live at home or in a supervised setting; encourages "second chance homes" to provide teen parents with the skills and support they need; and provides $50 million a year in new funding for state abstinence education activities. Efforts are making a difference, adolescent pregnancy rates and teen abortion rates are declining. And between 1992 and 1997, teen birth rates declined 11% in Minnesota. $27.9 Million for Minnesota Welfare-to-Work: In 1998, Minnesota received $14.5 million in Federal welfare-to-work state formula grants (the state matched $7.3 million in funding), helping Minnesota welfare recipients get and keep jobs. In addition, $5.0 million in competitive grants were awarded to Minnesota localities to support innovative welfare-to-work strategies and Native American tribes in Minnesota received $1.2 million in Federal funding. Part of the President's comprehensive efforts to move recipients from welfare to work, this funding was included in the $3 billion welfare to work fund in the 1997 Balanced Budget Act. Helping People Get to Work: Through the Access to Jobs initiative, the Clinton-Gore Administration is working with communities across the country to design transportation solutions to help welfare recipients and other low-income workers get to and from work. Minneapolis, St. Paul, and St. Cloud have received a total of $1.47 million this year to fund innovative transit projects. INVESTING IN MINNESOTA'S HEALTH
Health Care for Uninsured Children: The balanced budget included the largest single investment in health care for children since the passage of Medicaid in 1965 -- an unprecedented $24 billion over five years to cover as many as five million children throughout the nation. This investment guarantees the full range of benefits-from checkups to surgery -- that children need to grow up strong and healthy. It ensures that prescription drugs, vision, hearing, and mental health coverage now offered at the state level are extended to millions of uninsured children. To expand health coverage to more uninsured children in Minnesota the Balanced Budget provided $28.4 million in 1998. This compares to the 1995 Republican plan vetoed by President Clinton that would have denied health coverage to 38,400 children in Minnesota. Helping Over 93,000 Minnesota Women and Children with WIC: The Clinton Administration is committed to full funding in the Special Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). In FY98, Minnesota received $48 million in total WIC grant funding, helping 93,500 women, infants and children in need receive health and food assistance. More Toddlers Are Being Immunized: As a result of the President's 1993 Childhood Immunization Initiative, childhood immunization rates have reached an historic high. According to the CDC,by 1996, 90% or more of America's toddlers received the most critical doses of each of the routinely recommended vaccines-surpassing the President's 1993 goal. In Minnesota in 1997, 96% of two-year olds received the vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis; 93% received the vaccine for polio; 92% received the vaccine for measles, and 93% received the vaccine for Haemophilus influenzae B, the bacteria causing a form of meningitis. Increased Funding for Ryan White by $14.6 Million: Between 1993 and 1998, Minnesota communities received $14.6 million in Ryan White formula and other HIV/AIDS program funds. This funding provides people living with HIV and AIDS medical and support services, including the AIDS Drug Assistance Program which helps those without insurance obtain much needed prescription drugs. [HHS, Health Resources and Services Administration, 12/98] Tobacco Plan Will Cut Smoking and Premature Deaths by 36% in Minnesota: The Clinton Administration's tobacco proposal, combined with the recently enacted state tobacco settlements, will cut youth smoking and resulting premature deaths 36% in Minnesota by 2004. Between 2000 and 2004, 51,100 of Minnesota's youth will be kept from smoking and 16,400 will be spared a premature tobacco-related death. [Treasury Dept., 2/99] 2,390,000 Americans in Minnesota Cannot Be Assured They Have Patient Protections: Even if Minnesota enacted all the protections in the Patients' Bill of Rights, 2,390,000 people in Minnesota cannot be assured they have the comprehensive patient protections recommended by the President's Advisory Commission. This is because the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) may preempt state-enacted protections. That is why the President has called on Congress to pass a federally enforceable patients' bill of rights so that everyone enrolled in managed care may have a basic set of protections. Notably, 1,120,000 Minnesota women are in ERISA health plans and are therefore not necessarily protected. Women are particularly vulnerable without these protections because they are greater users of health care services, they make three-quarters of the health care decisions for their families, and they have specific health care needs addressed by a patients' bill of rights. PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
19 Toxic Waste Sites Cleaned Up: Since 1993, the EPA has completed 19 Superfund toxic waste cleanups in Minnesota. The sites are located in Fairview Township, Brainerd/Baxter, Hampton, Brooklyn Center, Fridley, Alexandria, St. Louis Park (2), St. Paul, Long Prairie, Oak Grove Township, Oakdale, Oronoco, Perham, Inner Grove Heights, Andover (2), Rosemount, and Hermantown [through 6/99]. This is in contrast to the twelve sites cleaned up in Minnesota during the previous twelve years combined. $14.8 Million in Safe Drinking Water Funding: This year [FY99], thanks to President Clinton, Minnesota will receive $12.4 million for the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds to provide low-interest loans to municipalities to build, improve, and prevent pollution of drinking water systems. In addition, Minnesota will receive $2.4 million in Public Water Supply Supervision grants to help monitor drinking water quality and enforce health standards. Brownfields-Revitalizing Communities in Minnesota: As part of the Clinton-Gore Administration's efforts to clean up Brownfields, the EPA has awarded grants to the State of Minnesota, as well as Hennepin County and the St. Paul Port Authority for environmental clean-up and economic revitalization. These projects are intended to jump-start local clean-up efforts by providing funds to return unproductive, abandoned, contaminated urban properties to productive use. SPEARHEADING URBAN RENEWAL EFFORTS
Revitalizing Minnesota's Communities: Minneapolis and St. Paul were both designated Enterprise Communities in December, 1994 and were awarded $3 million each to create more jobs, housing, and economic opportunity. In 1999, Minneapolis was named a New Urban Empowerment Zone. Expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Will Help Develop 2,800 To 3,300 New Affordable Housing Units in Minnesota Over the Next 5 years: Last year, the President and Vice President pushed for a 40-percent expansion in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. This year, the President and Vice President will try again to enact tax incentives to develop affordable housing. In Minnesota alone, this proposal would mean an additional 2,800 - 3,300 quality rental housing units for low-income American families during the next five years. PROVIDING DISASTER RELIEF
Over $440 Million in Federal Emergency Assistance: Since 1993, Minnesota has received $440 million in disaster relief. This includes $53.7 million in assistance to those suffering from severe storms, tornadoes and straight line winds. [FEMA, 12/98] EXPANDING FUNDS FOR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT
Over $1.8 Billion in Federal Highway Aid: Since 1993, Minnesota has received over $1.8 billion in federal highway aid. Included in this funding is $13.9 million for emergency relief in response to natural disasters and $3.36 million for scenic byways. These funds have helped generate 75,878 jobs. [through FY98] Over $164 Million in Aviation Funds: From FY93-FY98 Minnesota received over $164 million in Airport Improvement Program funds to help build and renovate airports, and, when necessary, to provide funds for noise abatement to improve the quality of life for residents who live near airports. Approximately $196 Million in Transit Funds: The Federal Transit Administration has provided approximately $196 million of funding from 1993 to date to support mass transportation in Minnesota. Saving Lives and Property: In 1997 the United States Coast Guard saved 1 life and $472,000 of property in Minnesota.
Last Updated July 1999
![[Return to map]](images/footer.gif)