DFL48 | Restoring Common Sense Minnesota Values

Mar/14

4

How taxpayers subsidize low-wage workers

In a March 3, 2014 post on Minnpost.com, Steven Dornfeld writes about the University of California-Berkeley study that concluded that front-line fast food workers earn so little that 52% are enrolled in one or more public assistance programs costing taxpayers almost $7 billion a year.

This article also links to a Children’s Defense Fund of Minnesota online model that allows researchers and policy makers to examine the interaction between wages and public assistance programs that provide a measure of economic stability for working families.

Bridge to Benefits Director Elaine Cunningham with the Children’s Defense Fund, says the public assistance the above family of four only gives them a “bare bones budget” that doesn’t include utilities, school expenses, internet access (needed for school and to get a better job), cellphone service or interest on the debt the family has incurred.

Read the full article here.

 

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©2014 DFL SD 48. Prepared and paid for by Senate District 48 DFL, Sharon Borine, Chair, 18285 Croixwood Ln, Eden Prairie, MN 55347