Candidate for governor, Democratic State Auditor Rebecca Otto wants Minnesota’s minimum wage increased to 15 dollars an hour over seven years, with a phase-in over five years in the Twin Cities, Rochester and Duluth. Otto says, “I was in Redwood County and there’s people working [for] eight bucks an hour, two, three jobs. They don’t have time to be home with their kids. They can’t support their kids’ homework. It’s creating real issues in our families.”
Otto proposes the state also provide the first two years tuition-free at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. She argues the 229-million-dollar cost every two years will give employers a better-trained work force. Otto is one of six Democrats and six Republicans currently running for governor. The election is just over a year away.