Minnesota families could pay a lot more for utilities if two separate rate hikes are implemented.
A request by Minnesota Power is currently going through the public utilities process, and would raise bills for the average consumer by more than 6 percent – which equals about $225 a year.
Buddy Robinson, staff director for Minnesota Citizens Federation, says his group has been fighting rate-hike proposals for more than 40 years. He says there are many people who just can’t afford it without sacrificing other necessities, such as food.
“Especially in Minnesota Power’s territory, most of the northeastern part of the state, where economically things are much much worse than in the Twin Cities metropolitan area – very high poverty rate, so a lot of people just can’t shoulder it,” he explains.
Second rate hike already approved by legislature
People who got health coverage under the Affordable Care Act – including some who credit it with saving their lives – are watching the U.S. Senate carefully, as its version of ACA "repeal and replace" legislation is being drafted.
Alicia Donahue says she was inspired by the organizing work she did for the Women’s March in St. Paul that drew more about 100,000 people. She says the “momentum” of that event is one of the reasons she “decided I’m ready to take that fight to Washington.”
Millions of Americans are bullied at work or are aware of toxic behavior on the job. Advocates in Minnesota are working to make it as taboo as other forms of abuse.
