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State Representative Pat Garofalo
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-1069
For more information contact: Austin Bleess 651-296-5529
NEWS RELEASE
REP GAROFALO BILL WOULD STOP CHARGING KIDS FOR CAPITOL TOURS
ST. PAUL – State Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-Farmington) announced today he has introduced legislation that would prohibit the Minnesota Historical Society from charging students for guided tours of the State Capitol in St. Paul. Right now, tours are free to the general public, but students are assessed a $2 fee as part of school group visits.
“The Capitol building is a state treasure and should be open to all at no cost,” Garofalo said. “Touring the Capitol, seeing the legislative process, is a great educational experience. We should not be charging kids for this.”
Each year, thousands of school children from all over the state make a field trip to St. Paul to tour the Capitol complex. Garofalo said is s not unusual on any day to see dozens of yellow school buses ringing the Capitol grounds during the school year. The Society instituted the fees a few years ago as a result of budget reductions when the state faced a massive $4.5 billion budget deficit.
The Capitol tour program offers a variety options for different visitors depending on their interests, whether it be a broad overview or an emphasis on art, architecture, government or Minnesota history. For students, there are specially designed interactive lesson plans for different age groups, beginning with pre-school. There are also half-day seminars on governing for high school students.
While the Society rightly charges fees for other state-owned historical exhibits, Garofalo says an exception should be made for students and the Capitol program. Rep. Garofalo, who is vice chair of the House Jobs & Economic Development Committee, said he is optimistic that the committee will include his proposal in its omnibus jobs and economic development finance bill.
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