St. Paul, MN – “Hey Pawlenty, here’s the fix! Tax the rich! Tax the rich!” is a chant that will ring though the Minnesota state capitol building on Jan. 4, 2005. The Welfare Rights Committee and the Minnesota Welfare Rights Coalition is organizing their annual protest for the opening day of the Minnesota legislative session. Welfare Rights Committee (WRC) members are going to the welfare offices in groups and gathering thousands of signatures for their mailing and phoning lists. Meanwhile, they are working on their bill to undo some of the worst healthcare and welfare cuts in Minnesota history.

St Paul, MN – “Hey Pawlenty, here’s the fix! Tax the rich, tax the rich!” chanted 100 protesters who rallied at the state capitol building April 15. Organized by the Minnesota Welfare Rights Coalition, low-income demonstrators made a big splash when they unfurled a massive banner on the capitol steps.

Saint Paul, MN – Low-income Minnesotans waged a powerful battle at the Minnesota state legislature this year that resulted in poor and working families making gains in healthcare and welfare. Organized by the Twin Cities-based Welfare Rights Committee, a movement of poor people kept up the heat from Jan. 4 – the opening day of the legislative session – through a government shut down and right up until the closing day, July 13.

St. Paul, MN – “We are here to speak as the poor and working people. Our message to the Minnesota politicians and Governor Pawlenty is clear: ‘Fund children’s needs, not rich people’s greed!’” declared Tracy Furney of the Welfare Rights Committee. She was addressing a crowd of over 200 people from around the state of Minnesota on the front steps of the state capitol building at the Minnesota Welfare Rights Coalition’s protest on March 2.

St. Paul, MN – Low-income people from the Twin Cities and Duluth came to the governor’s mansion, July 19, to serve an eviction notice. “It is time for Pawlenty to leave the mansion and it is time for Pawlenty to leave the governors office. We say: Minnesota’s poor cannot take four more years,” declared Tracy Furney of the Minnesota Welfare Rights Coalition.

St. Paul, MN – The Welfare Rights Committee is working on outlawing workfare in the state of Minnesota.

St. Paul, MN – The Senate Business, Industry and Jobs Committee voted to outlaw workfare – forced, free labor performed by welfare recipients. The bill, authored by David Tomassoni (D-Chisholm), was initiated by the Twin Cities-based Welfare Rights Committee.

St. Paul, MN - Undocumented workers and their supporters will take to the streets here May 1 to demand an end to the raids and deportations and for legalization. Protest organizers of the May 1 Coalition announced that marchers will assemble at 2 p.m. in downtown Saint Paul at Kellogg and Robert, and march to the State Capitol building.

St. Paul, MN – 1000 people marched to the Minnesota State Capitol on May 1, International Workers Day, in support of immigrant and workers’ rights. Marchers demanded a stop to the immigration raids and deportations that target immigrant workers and families. They also called for legalization for all undocumented workers. The rally started in a park overlooking the Mississippi River, marched through downtown Saint Paul and ended at the State Capitol.

St. Paul, MN – Over 1,000 people marched on the West Side of Saint Paul on Labor Day to demand legalization for immigrant workers and workers' rights for all. The West Side is one of the main centers of Latino immigrants and Chicanos in the Twin Cities.