Anoka Times

With approximately a quarter of Minnesota residents facing the unemployment crisis created by the response to COVID-19, Minnesota House of Representative Minority Leader Kurt Daubt (R-Crown) recently spoke out against a raise for state employees.

Daudt voted against House File 2768, which would give the 2.5% raise effective July 1, noting that the legislature regularly votes-in contractual raises for state employees.

“I want to thank each and every one of our state employees, without exception,” Daudt said. He went on to talk about employees continuing their regular work from home, as well as those dealing with the COVID-19 crisis first-hand.

“Right now, 640,000 Minnesotans have filed for unemployment,” Daudt said during discussion of HF 2768 that he posted to Facebook. He also noted that the state has gone from a projected $1.5 billion surplus to a $2.5 billions deficit due to the COVID-19 crisis.

“Does this bill say to Minnesotans that we’re all in this together?” he said.

The bill passed the state House in a 74-60 vote, and is pending discussion in the state Senate.