Restoring work as a means out of poverty.
Streamlining public assistance and focusing it on people’s capacity not destitution
Helping Minnesotans build assets not just increase incomes.
Revitalizing communities -- the infrastructure as well as the possibility for relationships
Modernizing education from early childhood through post-secondary

These are the five key strategies that could help Minnesota end poverty, according to the final report from the Legislative Commission to End Poverty in Minnesota by 2020.  The Commission also calls for a new and more accurate measure of poverty, calling the current federal poverty measure "seriously flawed."  The Commission adopted the final recommendations on Jan. 20 and our friends and allies at a Minnesota Without Poverty gave those recommendations a public launching on Jan. 21.  More than 300 people attended that launching at the Landmark Center in St. Paul, where religious, business, political and community leaders signed commitments to advance those recommendations. In order to focus the energy and will to ensure that action is taken on those recommendations, the Commission also recommends that there be an ongoing structure to monitor Minnesota's efforts to end poverty.The economic crisis is all the more reason for Minnesota to undertake this mission, according to the Commission’s executive committee:  “As we work to rebuild our economy, we need to recognize that poverty is an indicator of whether we are succeeding,”  according to the cover letter from the four executive committee members.  “We must build an economy that is stronger and meets the needs of all people.”In response to the urgency of the current economic crisis, the Commission's executive committee points to five recommendations deserving immediate attention:

• An emergency jobs program that would use wage subsidies to help businesses regain their footing and employ out-of-work Minnesotans;
• Direct federal infrastructure dollars to respond to unmet transportation needs that have isolated people and hampered economic growth;
• Respond vigorously to predatory market practices;
• Develop a state-federal partnership to restore work as a means out of poverty by expanding and increasing income tax credits and fully funding child care assistance;
• Repair the broken health care system.

Text of the final report is still being finalized.  The executive summary and a letter from the bipartisan executive committee that provided leadership to the Commission are available on-line at the Commission’s website.The Legislative Commission to End Poverty was authorized by legislation in 2006 and members were appointed in 2007. The bipartisan commission included 18 legislators appointed by legislative leadership and two citizens appointed by the Governor.  Its leadership was Co-chairs Sen. John Marty, Rep. Carlos Mariani and serving with them on the executive committee: Sen. Claire Robling and Rep. Morrie Lanning. Other members included:

Senate Members
Scott Dibble (D)
Steve Dille   (R)
Michael Jungbauer (R)
Paul Koering (R)
Tony Lourey (D)
Mary Olson (D)
Sandy Pappas (D) 

House Members
Jim Abeler  (R)
Bruce Anderson (R)
Frank Moe (D)
Bud Nornes (R)
Mary Ellen Otremba (D)
Nora Slawik (D)
Neva Walker  (D)

Citizen members
(Non-voting members appointed by the Governor)
Michael Hawton
Donna Bauer