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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 01/10/2026

The state has real tools to bring down costs: tougher rate review, universal primary care, and cracking down on consolidation and private equity in health care, but it requires the political will to do so. Read more: northstarpolicy.org/soaring-premiums

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 01/10/2026

And it's about to get worse. Historic Medicaid cuts, passed to pay for tax breaks for billionaires, start taking effect at the end of this year. Up to 180,000 Minnesotans could lose coverage, driving $1 billion in uncompensated care.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 01/10/2026

This comes after 116,000 Minnesotans lost coverage in 2025, and some saw premiums jump by up to 250% after President Trump and congressional Republicans let enhanced federal subsidies expire.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 01/10/2026

Health insurance premiums are going up again for hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans 🚨 Final 2027 rates released today show average increases of 9.9% to 21.1% on the individual market and 10.6% to 21.4% for small businesses.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 23/09/2026

Yesterday, dozens of researchers, community leaders, and journalists came together for "Documenting the Impact of U.S. DHS in Minnesota," a full day of data, research, and conversations about the toll of this winter's federal immigration surge.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 22/09/2026

Our RD on how Operation Metro surge impacted the Minnesota economy and hurt working Minnesotans. You can read our latest report here: northstarpolicy.org/leisure-and-...

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 22/09/2026

Today we convened researchers, advocates, and community partners at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School to document the impact of DHS activity in Minnesota. Grateful to The Advocates for Human Rights and everyone in the room working to bring data and accountability to this moment.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 26/08/2026

So who's filling the gap? Property taxpayers. Per-pupil levies are up 163% since 2003, but unevenly. Some communities saw increases of 750%+, while nearly 40% of districts still have less total revenue today than in 2003.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 26/08/2026

State aid to public school districts remains 8.6% below 2003 levels. The 2023 school finance law cut that gap significantly but without further action, MDE projects 96% of districts will be behind 2003 funding by 2027 (up from 85% today).

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 06/08/2026

Some Minnesota schools are seeing extraordinarily high non-participation rates. At Farmington High School and Menahga High School, nearly 60% of students in the analyzed grade-level reading tests did not participate

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 06/08/2026

The share of grade-level reading tests failing to meet the federal 95% participation standard has more than tripled since 2019. By 2025, about 1 in 9 reading tests failed to meet the standard.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 06/08/2026

New report: our latest research finds rising student non-participation is making MCA scores a less accurate measure of school performance.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 07/07/2026

These four projects alone would generate 1,119 megawatts of electricity, enough to power more than 335,000 Minnesota homes. And Minnesota utilities have plans for at least 4,800 additional megawatts by 2030, all of which now faces uncertainty.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 07/07/2026

Since the Pentagon stopped processing routine national security reviews, four Minnesota wind projects have been stalled which the American Clean Power Association is calling a "de facto moratorium" on new onshore wind construction nationwide.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 07/07/2026

New North Star Policy Action research: the federal government's pause on onshore wind energy development is putting 1,200 Minnesota construction jobs and $1.6 billion in investment at risk.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 01/07/2026

And it's about to get worse. MNsure enrollees face a 54% average premium jump in 2026 due to federal cuts. For a rural couple in their 60s, premiums could go from 9% of their income to roughly one-third.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 01/07/2026

New from North Star Policy Action: health care costs are rising for working Minnesotans and wages aren't keeping up. Our new report breaks down what's driving the increase.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 02/06/2026

In the first three months of 2026, Operation Metro Surge’s targeted anti-immigrant enforcement cost Minnesota’s leisure and hospitality sector: • 4,600 jobs • 3.8 million working hours • $71 million in lost wages

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 02/06/2026

New report from North Star Policy Action and the W.E. Upjohn Institute: Operation Metro Surge had devastating impacts on Minnesota’s Leisure and hospitality industry.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 04/05/2026

The grades are in — Minnesota just got its ASCE Infrastructure Report Card, and the results aren't good. The MN Senate has a bonding bill on the table right now. This is how we change the grade. #MNLeg #MNSenate #northstarpolicyaction

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 24/04/2026

Minnesota’s construction industry during Operation Metro Surge saw the largest decline of any state in the country. Read the full report: northstarpolicy.org/metro-surge-...

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 24/04/2026

Additional findings: Minnesota’s unemployment rate increased by 0.3 percent between Dec-Feb, 2026. That’s the second largest increase of any state in the country, while the national unemployment rate declined by .1 percent.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 15/04/2026

The impact isn’t equal: Rural communities, children, and communities of color rely more heavily on Medical Assistance, meaning they are hit hardest by these cuts.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 15/04/2026

Here’s what that means for Minnesotans: -Working families lose critical access to health care - The bottom 20% of households see real income losses - The richest households walk away with tens of thousands in tax benefits

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 15/04/2026

This Tax Day, we’re thinking about how working families are paying the price for Trump’s massive tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, offset by nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 13/04/2026

“Most of the human cost of the past few months cannot be undone through state assistance. But the economic damage from Operation Metro Surge provides an opportunity for the state to take meaningful, reparative action.” 👏👏👏 — @aaronrosenthal.bsky.social, Research Director at NSPA Source: WCCO

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 07/04/2026

The hardest hit? The industries most impacted by immigration enforcement. ➡️ Leisure & hospitality lost 4,000 jobs in one month ➡️ 3,300 from restaurants & food service The largest non-pandemic drops since 2007.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 07/04/2026

For the first time since 2007, Minnesota’s unemployment rate has surpassed the national rate.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 07/04/2026

NEW REPORT: State data confirms that Operation Metro Surge had a damaging impact on Minnesota’s economy, particularly for workers and businesses in the Twin Cities. northstarpolicy.org/metro-surge-...

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 26/03/2026

We testified in the MN Senate today in support of commonsense protections for workers as AI rapidly reshapes the workplace. Our research shows that though 1 in 3 Minnesota workers are at high risk of exposure to generative AI, women and workers in low-union occupations still face the highest risk.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 24/03/2026

Today we’re testifying in support of a bill to ban surveillance-based wage discrimination in the Minnesota House. Here’s what that means:

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 17/03/2026

Despite the rapid adoption of AI across industries, with nearly 80% of U.S. companies now using AI and more than 70% using Generative AI, Minnesota currently has no laws governing the use of AI in employment decisions or workplace surveillance.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 17/03/2026

Our research shows that more than 800,000 Minnesota workers, roughly one in three, are employed in jobs with high exposure to Generative AI, meaning AI tools could perform more than half of the tasks currently done by workers in those roles.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 24/02/2026

Innovation and technology can’t come at the expense of working people. Read the full report: northstarpolicy.org/generative-ai/

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 24/02/2026

Despite accelerating adoption of generative Ai and rising worker anxiety, Minnesota has passed no laws governing AI’s use in the workplace. At the same time, federal actions have sought to limit states’ ability to regulate AI.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 24/02/2026

The impacts aren’t evenly distributed. Women and workers in low-union occupations face greater GenAI exposure.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 24/02/2026

NEW REPORT: Rapid AI expansion is outpacing worker protections in Minnesota.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 20/02/2026

The damage compounds: • Missed paychecks reduce consumer spending. • Child care disruptions prevent parents from working. • Housing construction declines worsen affordability. • Food processing slowdowns affect Minnesota farmers.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 12/02/2026

Operation Metro Surge may be ending but the long-term human and economic impacts are still unfolding. Federal officials have announced that immigration enforcement in Minnesota will draw down, but ICE activity remains in the state and it’s not yet clear how conditions on the ground are changing.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 27/01/2026

Things we could do in MN with the $18 million a week it costs taxpayers to fund Operation Metro Surge: - Provide Medicaid coverage for 5,000 Minnesota children - Fund a full week of SNAP benefits for every eligible Minnesotan - Cover the annual salaries of 225 school mental health professionals

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 22/01/2026

Our report estimates that taxpayer expenses total at least $18 million per week: - $8.9 million in ICE and CBP personnel compensation - $4.5 million for lodging + meals for federal agents - $1.6 million in detention costs - $3 million in local police overtime

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 14/01/2026

Minnesota Republican lawmakers have largely remained silent on the documented economic strain facing local businesses and workers, even as enforcement actions escalate statewide.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 14/01/2026

Major Minnesota employers including Target, General Mills, Caribou Coffee, Best Buy, 3M, UnitedHealth Group, Ecolab, and Hormel have yet to comment on the federal surge of immigration enforcement despite workforce impacts, economic harm, and traumatized communities.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 14/01/2026

Businesses along key corridors in Minneapolis and St. Paul are closing, with sales down 50–100 %, while businesses in Rochester, Wilmar, Alexandria, and St. Cloud are also experiencing impacts.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 14/01/2026

Minnesota is experiencing an unprecedented surge of ICE and DHS activity, bringing thousands of federal agents into immigrant communities. Local reporting shows business closures, canceled events, workforce shortages, and fear keeping workers and customers home.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 09/01/2026

Minnesota Republicans are siding against Minnesotans:

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 09/01/2026

In the days leading up to her death, Donald Trump and Minnesota Republican leaders amplified false and inflammatory claims about Minnesotans that were later used to justify a dangerous and unprecedented federal enforcement surge. In the aftermath, that disinformation has continued.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 09/01/2026

FACTS: Here's what we know about ICE in Minnesota and the tragic killing of Renee Nicole Good Read the full fact sheet: northstarpolicy.org/ice-in-minne...

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 14/11/2025

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.

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North Star Policy Action @northstarpolicy.org · 08/09/2025

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.

Research showing how many Minnesotans in each Congressional District will lose health care coverage as a result of the passage of the Republican Budget bill.

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