With Democrats firmly in charge, the 2023 Minnesota legislature passed an increased child tax credit for low-income families.  Democratic Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan states, “This is real money that’s going to provide stability for families. It’s a win, win, win in the short-term for families and in the long-term for the state of Minnesota.” Her exuberance to help Minnesota families is clear, “I told the governor that I would be willing to wear a sandwich board all across the state if that’s what it would take.”

According to MPR News, the new credit could reduce by 1/3 Minnesota’s child poverty rate. Households with children under 17 are eligible with no limit on the number of children, a key to fighting child poverty and hunger. The child credit applies to families making up to $90,000 a year, with staged reductions for higher-income levels. Nearly 300,000 families and 513,000 children qualify for the Democrat-led credit of $1750, 

This legislative victory is only the latest example of the Democrat’s determination to support Minnesota families.  The Democrat-led legislature also dedicated $5.5 million in emergency aid to food shelves in Minnesota to combat hunger.  The need is real: roughly 1 in 6 children in Minnesota is food insecure, and more than 5.5 million visits were paid to Minnesota food shelves by singles, families, and seniors in 2022.  

But while the Democrats have swung into action, Republicans seem unable to even see the problem.  While debating a bill to provide free school lunches, Minnesota Republican representative Steve Drazkowski claimed he had never met a hungry Minnesotan.  “I had a cereal bar for breakfast, I guess I’m hungry now,” Drazkowski said. “Maybe that’s the definition in the bill, I don’t know, I didn’t see a definition of hunger in the bill.” The bill was later passed and signed into law, supporting school lunch programs across Minnesota, and Drazkowski’s comments went viral as people all over the country saw more evidence of Republican indifference.

It seems Democrats have the issues of hunger and poverty squarely in their legislative sights, even as Minnesota Republicans mock and rebuff the idea that hunger exists.