North Star Policy Action
@northstarpolicy.org
We're an independent research and communications institute that advances bold ideas that improve the lives of everyday Minnesotans.
Last night, we were honored to receive the CTUL Ally Leadership Award from our partners at El Centro de los Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha (CTUL). The award recognizes our shared work to end worker exploitation and wage theft in Minneapolis’s construction industry.
November 14, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Last night, we were honored to receive the CTUL Ally Leadership Award from our partners at El Centro de los Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha (CTUL). The award recognizes our shared work to end worker exploitation and wage theft in Minneapolis’s construction industry.
Minnesota's Republican Members of Congress voting to hurt tens of thousands of their constituents, so they can send even more money to their billionaire supporters. This is the real class warfare, and Minnesotans are losing.
September 8, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Minnesota's Republican Members of Congress voting to hurt tens of thousands of their constituents, so they can send even more money to their billionaire supporters. This is the real class warfare, and Minnesotans are losing.
Our State of Working Minnesota report shows the state’s Black unemployment rate is the lowest in the Midwest after being the region’s highest during the Great Recession. The gap between Black and white unemployment is at its lowest level in decades. There’s more work to do, but progress matters.
June 6, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Our State of Working Minnesota report shows the state’s Black unemployment rate is the lowest in the Midwest after being the region’s highest during the Great Recession. The gap between Black and white unemployment is at its lowest level in decades. There’s more work to do, but progress matters.
📉Our State of Working Minnesota report finds a major shift: fewer Minnesotans are earning poverty wages. In 2024, the share of workers earning below poverty wages dropped by more than 12%. Recent gains have been particularly strong in communities of color.
🔗 northstarpolicy.org/sowmn-2025/
🔗 northstarpolicy.org/sowmn-2025/
June 5, 2025 at 7:29 PM
📉Our State of Working Minnesota report finds a major shift: fewer Minnesotans are earning poverty wages. In 2024, the share of workers earning below poverty wages dropped by more than 12%. Recent gains have been particularly strong in communities of color.
🔗 northstarpolicy.org/sowmn-2025/
🔗 northstarpolicy.org/sowmn-2025/
Government services are good, actually.
May 15, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Government services are good, actually.
70% of Black children in Minnesota get their health care through Medicaid. 66% of American Indian/Alaska Native children do. Half of Latino children. More than a third of AAPI children. Almost a quarter of White children. This is who the GOP is stealing from so they can give that money to the rich.
April 24, 2025 at 7:44 PM
70% of Black children in Minnesota get their health care through Medicaid. 66% of American Indian/Alaska Native children do. Half of Latino children. More than a third of AAPI children. Almost a quarter of White children. This is who the GOP is stealing from so they can give that money to the rich.
Trump's Medicaid cuts will be especially devastating for rural Minnesota. Seniors, adults and children in rural Minnesota all depend on Medicaid at a higher rate than their urban counterparts, but the disparities among children are especially large.
northstarpolicy.org/medical-assi...
northstarpolicy.org/medical-assi...
April 24, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Trump's Medicaid cuts will be especially devastating for rural Minnesota. Seniors, adults and children in rural Minnesota all depend on Medicaid at a higher rate than their urban counterparts, but the disparities among children are especially large.
northstarpolicy.org/medical-assi...
northstarpolicy.org/medical-assi...
Who will be hurt most by cuts to Medical Assistance in Minnesota? Working families, rural communities, children, people of color, and women.
April 23, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Who will be hurt most by cuts to Medical Assistance in Minnesota? Working families, rural communities, children, people of color, and women.
Almost 1 in 5 Minnesotans receive their health care coverage through Medicaid, known as Medical Assistance in MN. That number has increased nearly 70% since 2008.
April 23, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Almost 1 in 5 Minnesotans receive their health care coverage through Medicaid, known as Medical Assistance in MN. That number has increased nearly 70% since 2008.
The Republican plan is nothing short of class warfare. In Minnesota, the bottom 20% of households would see their income decline by nearly $1,300 due to Medical Assistance cuts. Meanwhile, the richest 1% would gain $80,000. Other details push that number even higher.
April 23, 2025 at 5:05 PM
The Republican plan is nothing short of class warfare. In Minnesota, the bottom 20% of households would see their income decline by nearly $1,300 due to Medical Assistance cuts. Meanwhile, the richest 1% would gain $80,000. Other details push that number even higher.
There's also $56 million for state programs that is currently disrupted (as opposed to outright canceled). At a time when natural disasters are becoming more frequent and severe, these disruptions include freezing $11 million to help MN communities prepare for and recover from floods and tornados.
April 16, 2025 at 4:29 PM
There's also $56 million for state programs that is currently disrupted (as opposed to outright canceled). At a time when natural disasters are becoming more frequent and severe, these disruptions include freezing $11 million to help MN communities prepare for and recover from floods and tornados.
Beyond cuts to state programs, MN also stands to lose out through cuts to federal programs that filter down to Minnesotans, including $179 million that's been used to support small businesses and affordable housing projects.
April 16, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Beyond cuts to state programs, MN also stands to lose out through cuts to federal programs that filter down to Minnesotans, including $179 million that's been used to support small businesses and affordable housing projects.
What do these cuts look like? How about $18 million taken away from MN farmers to provide local and nutritious food to schools. Or $27 million for mental health and substance abuse programs.
April 16, 2025 at 4:29 PM
What do these cuts look like? How about $18 million taken away from MN farmers to provide local and nutritious food to schools. Or $27 million for mental health and substance abuse programs.
⚖️ But that money doesn't appear out of thin air. Minnesotans pay taxes to the feds and then get that money back. But MN is one of 11 states that gets less back from the feds than it sends in. So new cuts really represent the federal government taking more of MN taxpayer's own money away from them.💸
April 16, 2025 at 4:29 PM
⚖️ But that money doesn't appear out of thin air. Minnesotans pay taxes to the feds and then get that money back. But MN is one of 11 states that gets less back from the feds than it sends in. So new cuts really represent the federal government taking more of MN taxpayer's own money away from them.💸
First, MN relies heavily on federal funding- roughly a third of state revenue. Much of that money goes to state health services, but a substantial portion flows to MN farmers and students.
April 16, 2025 at 4:29 PM
First, MN relies heavily on federal funding- roughly a third of state revenue. Much of that money goes to state health services, but a substantial portion flows to MN farmers and students.
Quick reminder.
April 15, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Quick reminder.
Over the nine years covered by the budget resolution, these healthcare cuts will cost Minnesota more than $13 billion in Medicaid funding, including more than $1 billion in each Congressional District.
February 28, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Over the nine years covered by the budget resolution, these healthcare cuts will cost Minnesota more than $13 billion in Medicaid funding, including more than $1 billion in each Congressional District.
These health care cuts will be devastating to every corner of Minnesota, with an estimated 197,000 Minnesotans losing coverage. No region will be spared. Tens of thousands will lose coverage in every single Congressional District, even those represented by Republicans who voted for this budget.
February 28, 2025 at 7:20 PM
These health care cuts will be devastating to every corner of Minnesota, with an estimated 197,000 Minnesotans losing coverage. No region will be spared. Tens of thousands will lose coverage in every single Congressional District, even those represented by Republicans who voted for this budget.
In Minnesota, everyone from the middle class and lower will lose out on income from these cuts under the Trump and GOP Budget.
February 28, 2025 at 7:20 PM
In Minnesota, everyone from the middle class and lower will lose out on income from these cuts under the Trump and GOP Budget.
This week in Congress, Republicans passed a reverse Robin Hood budget: stealing from the poor to give to the rich. The budget cuts billions of dollars from Medicaid and uses that money for huge tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.
February 28, 2025 at 7:20 PM
This week in Congress, Republicans passed a reverse Robin Hood budget: stealing from the poor to give to the rich. The budget cuts billions of dollars from Medicaid and uses that money for huge tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.
The real truth: PFML and ESST will help workers, boost businesses, and grow the economy
February 13, 2025 at 10:18 PM
The real truth: PFML and ESST will help workers, boost businesses, and grow the economy
Myth: Minnesota's faltering economy reflects a bad business climate
Fact: Minnesota's strong economy supports businesses
Fact: Minnesota's strong economy supports businesses
February 13, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Myth: Minnesota's faltering economy reflects a bad business climate
Fact: Minnesota's strong economy supports businesses
Fact: Minnesota's strong economy supports businesses
Myth: Small businesses are particularly hurt by PFML and ESST
Fact: Small businesses support PFML and ESST, and are thriving in Minnesota
Fact: Small businesses support PFML and ESST, and are thriving in Minnesota
February 13, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Myth: Small businesses are particularly hurt by PFML and ESST
Fact: Small businesses support PFML and ESST, and are thriving in Minnesota
Fact: Small businesses support PFML and ESST, and are thriving in Minnesota
Myth: Businesses are being chased out of Minnesota
Fact: MN businesses are expanding after passage of PFML and ESST
Fact: MN businesses are expanding after passage of PFML and ESST
February 13, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Myth: Businesses are being chased out of Minnesota
Fact: MN businesses are expanding after passage of PFML and ESST
Fact: MN businesses are expanding after passage of PFML and ESST
Today our research was the centerpiece of an important conversation about AI's impact on Minnesota's workers at the Minnesota Senate Labor Committee. AI adoption is moving faster than our public policies, and workers are already feeling the effects. northstarpolicy.org/progress-and...
February 11, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Today our research was the centerpiece of an important conversation about AI's impact on Minnesota's workers at the Minnesota Senate Labor Committee. AI adoption is moving faster than our public policies, and workers are already feeling the effects. northstarpolicy.org/progress-and...