Accessibility menu
State Representative Matt Dean
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-3018
For more information contact: Jodi Boyne 651-296-0640
NEWS RELEASE
“LET’S GO MINNESOTA!” ~Governor Delivers State of the State Address in Rochester~
ROCHESTER, MINN. - State Representative Matt Dean, R-Dellwood, applauded Governor Pawlenty's 2005 State of the State Address for showing vision and direction for Minnesota's future.
"I thought the governor gave a great speech," Rep. Dean said. "He showed that he not only knows where we need to be as a state, but he also has a plan for getting us there."
Rep. Dean said the governor's plan to increase funding for K-12 education shows his commitment to preserving Minnesota's quality schools. The governor also proposed a plan to give teachers more professional treatment by instituting a performance pay system, saying that if you pay for performance and results, you will get performance and results.
The governor also proposed what he calls the "Get Ready, Get Credit" initiative that will allow high school students to earn college credit in high school by taking college level classes.
"The 'Get Ready, Get Credit' plan lets motivated students start college ahead of the curve and in a better position to compete with other students," Rep. Dean said.
Rep. Dean also commended the governor for highlighting the real cause of the state's ongoing budget problems: runaway state spending. Governor Pawlenty again reiterated his campaign pledge to not raise state taxes in response to budget deficits, pointing out that governors in neighboring states have also ruled out tax increases as a way to solve budget deficits.
"We must fund our priorities within our means, just like families do" Rep. Dean said. The governor cited government health care spending as a major cause of the deficit and emphasized health savings accounts as a solution because they empower consumers and doctors with real health care decisions.
Governor Pawlenty gave his speech in the Mayo Clinic Superior Drive Support Center in Rochester. The center processes thousands of blood and tissue samples every day, but one year ago, the building sat empty after its previous tenant moved its 800 jobs overseas. Now, thanks to the Job Opportunity Building Zones program created in 2003, 700 of those jobs have been replaced and more are on the way. This is the first time the governor delivered his speech outside the State Capitol.
Full-text of the speech is available on the web at www.governor.state.mn.us.
-30-
News Items
- Childcare Unionization Bill Today - (Posted: May 18 2013 11:55AM)
- DEAN ISSUES STATEMENT ON GOVERNOR DAYTON’S BONDING PROPOSAL - (Posted: Apr 8 2013 2:40PM)
- News from Representative Dean 03-01-2013 - (Posted: Mar 1 2013 5:21PM)
- Archived News Items
- Subscribe to RSS News Feeds
- Read more about RSS.