Members and supporters of Welfare Rights Committee stand in front of banner after April 15 "tax the rich" protest. (Fight Back! News/Kim DeFranco)

St. Paul, MN - Protesters assembled in the rotunda of the Minnesota state capitol here on April 15 for a rally to demand that the state government not “balance the state budget on the backs of working and low-income people.” The rally called on politicians to instead, “tax the rich.”

“In the midst of the greatest economic crisis in generations, the governor and legislature are preparing a budget that will put the worst effects of the economic crisis on the backs of low-income and working people. Cuts are being proposed that will have a huge impact on working people and low-income families and individuals. The rich created this economic crisis. Let them pay for it!” said Deb Konechne, of the Welfare Rights Committee, a member group of the Minnesota Coalition for a People’s Bailout, which organized the event.

The governor and state legislature are preparing a budget that will result in massive cuts to programs that provide needed services and jobs for many low income, disabled and working people across the state.

Jennie Eisert, a member of Minnesota Coalition for a People’s Bailout, said, “The wealthy have enjoyed years of state and federal tax breaks, which has led to an enormous concentration of wealth in this country. But what have the wealthy done with this bonus? They ran the economy into the ground. Now state and federal government are preparing huge budget cuts.”

“People are losing their jobs and homes. It is time the rich make up the difference and pay higher taxes so low income and working people get a break,” Eisert continued.

The MN Coalition for a People’s Bailout has been working for state legislation that would provide some basic protections for working and low-income people during the current economic crisis. Among the steps the coalition wants to see enacted are a moratorium on home foreclosures and evictions, an extension of the five-year limit for families receiving public assistance and an end to layoffs of public or University of Minnesota employees.