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State Representative Patti Fritz
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-8237
For more information contact: Sandy Connolly 651-296-8877
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Rep. Fritz votes against House Republican Education Finance bill Cites inadequate funding and property tax increases as part of the problem
SAINT PAUL— Representative Patti Fritz (DFL-Faribault) voted against the House Republican Education Finance Bill today, calling it another attack on education.
"We have got to stop the cuts to education," said Fritz. "Under this bill, teacher layoffs will continue, class sizes will increase and property taxes will rise."
Fritz compared this bill to digging a 10-foot hole, putting five feet of dirt back in and calling it filled.
"School funding was slashed by $185 million over the past two years, the first time in state history. While this bill has some money in it, it just isn't enough to fill that hole."
Fritz said she could not support a bill that will increase property taxes by nearly half-a-billion dollars over the next three years.
"The blinders are off, everyone knows that instead of paying less, we are really paying more," said Fritz. "The gimmicks and shifts they have been using have resulted in higher fees, higher property taxes and a lower quality of education for Minnesota students."
Last week, Fritz joined her fellow House Democrats in announcing their own school funding plan, one that she believes does a much better job for Minnesota's kids.
"Our Strong Schools plan includes $843 million total in new education spending and avoids the property tax increases and heavy reliance on shifts found in the House Republican plan," said Fritz. "Our plan would increase per pupil funding by 5% in each of the next two years, two percent higher than proposed by the House Republicans."
In addition, the Democratic plan will provide an additional 5% for special education in the second year of the biennium, dedicate funding for gifted and talented programs, and fund voluntary all-day kindergarten beginning in 2007. It also focuses much of the funding on the area where it can do the most good, early childhood education.
"Their plan is very short on funds for early childhood," said Fritz. "Our youngest citizens need a good start in life and our plan provides for that."
The Republican plan does not include any aid for special education and any funding increase in FY07 will come from property taxes.
The DFL plan uses a balanced approach to revenue increases that includes a top income tax rate adjustment for Minnesota families earning over $250,000 a year, cutting bureaucracy in state government, and closing foreign operating corporation loopholes. The plan also incorporates the Governor's revenue changes that the Senate passed as part of SF1209.
The Republican plan protects the income tax cuts that were given to the upper income bracket in 1999.
Fritz said that she has heard from teachers, school administrators and parents about this bill, saying it does not provide enough basic funding for schools.
"We need to do a better job for our children," said Fritz. "
The House plan passed by a vote of 70 to 63. It now will meet the Senate Education Finance Bill in Conference Committee, where differences between the two bills will be worked out before it moves to the Governor for his signature.
News Items
- STATE REP. PATTI FRITZ PARTICIPATES IN START OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION - (Posted: Jan 9 2013 3:32PM)
- Rep. Fritz: Homeowners, Farmers Need Property Tax Relief - (Posted: 2012-05-01 00:00:00)
- Rep. Fritz: Let’s Vote on a Bonding Bill that Benefits All - (Posted: 2012-04-19 00:00:00)
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