Winkler: State subsidies should help jobless

A DFL lawmaker says he thinks all future economic development subsidies provided by the state should come with strict requirements for training and hiring people who are currently unemployed.

State Rep. Ryan Winkler of Golden Valley suggested the legislative remedy Thursday, following a hearing of the House Select Committee on Living Wage Jobs, which he chairs.

Winkler said the state needs to do more to help people who are struggling to get out of poverty and into the workforce.

"If we focus on raising people up into better employment situations than they have now, we can move low-wage workers into living-wage jobs," Winkler said. "We can help to reduce the disparities on racial grounds, the race disparities in employment and income in Minnesota, which is among the worst in the country."

Winkler's panel plans eight more hearings throughout the state in preparation for next year's legislative session. The event was held at the Sabathani Community Center in Minneapolis.