Republicans suggest that taxing the rich, or increasing workers wages kills jobs and makes businesses leave the state. Minnesota governor Mark Dayton inherited a 6.2 billion dollar budget deficit and a 7% unemployment when he entered office in 2011 from his predecessor, Tim Pawlenty the Republican. He raised taxes on hi-income earners and raised minimum wage. By 2013 the economy was the 5th fasted growing economy, the ninth best state to do business with and more people entered the top tax rate and as of 2015 Minnesota has a 1 billion dollar budget surplus.