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State Representative Kathy Lohmer
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4244
For more information contact: House GOP Communications 651-296-5520
HOUSE BRIEFS
E-Mail Update: Education Reform and State of the State
Dear Neighbors,
This week the Legislature passed reform initiatives to enhance our public school system.
A national study confirms that reforms are necessary to improve our state’s teacher policies. The National Council on Teacher Quality gave Minnesota a ‘C’ for both delivering well-prepared teachers and retaining effective teachers. House File 1770 and House File 1870 are the first steps to remedying our substandard ratings.
House File 1770 will ensure we educate and hire teachers who are the best of the best. Current law allows teacher candidates to receive a teaching license even if they fail a basic skills exam. This bill would require a candidate to pass the test before leading a classroom. All legislators in the House agree that this is an important step to closing the achievement gap, and the bill passed unanimously.
On Thursday the house passed House File 1870 that would eliminate the state-mandated “Last In/First Out” (LIFO) policy that prioritizes seniority over teacher performance in the unfortunate event of staff layoffs.
We have all witnessed our best and brightest teachers lose their jobs because they were some of the “last in” the door, and consequently the “first out.” This bill would allow schools to consider teacher performance along with seniority in making retention decisions.
Putting students first in this respect is gaining popularity around the state. Our LIFO reform bill has been endorsed by the Minnesota Business Partnership, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Students First, MinnCan, Minnesota School Boards Association, and Put Kids First. In addition, supportive editorials have been released in the Star Tribune, St. Paul Pioneer Press, Duluth News Tribune, and Fergus Falls Journal.
I encourage the Governor to sign these important bills into law. A well-educated student population will translate into a highly-valuable workforce.
State of the State
Representative Andrea Kieffer and I hosted several of our finest local officials for Governor Dayton’s State of the State address on Wednesday evening, including Washington County Commissioner Lisa Weik, Lakeland City Councilmember Richard Glasgow, Representative Kathy Lohmer, and Washington County Commissioner Gary Kriesel.
Although the Governor and I agree that job creation is the number one priority this session, I respectfully disagree as to the measures the state government needs to take in order to revive our economy.
Over the past year, Republican legislators have traveled the state to hold town hall meetings with local residents, business owners, and civic leaders. Time after time, Minnesotans have expressed their desire for less government interference (such as decreasing excessive taxes and burdensome regulations) in order to grow jobs and expand business. Our Reform 2.0 agenda contains initiatives that echo our citizens’ voices – our legislation is your legislation.
The Governor would like to take a different approach. Instead, he would rely on taxpayer dollars to institute temporary stimulus spending. In the same breath that he called for “no more borrowing,” he recommended three jobs proposals that would do just that.
First, he would like to borrow $775 million (plus interest) to spend on local infrastructure projects or Capitol renovations. Second, he wants the public to fund hundreds of millions of dollars for a Vikings stadium. And third, he is calling for $3,000 tax credits for businesses that hire certain individuals. While this latter provision is commendable, our economic climate needs far more than a $3,000 credit to spur businesses to hire on the scale Minnesotans want and need.
I hope that you will take a look at our Reform 2.0 bill tracker so that you can learn more about our pro-jobs and pro-business bills. Our sincere goal is to secure long-lasting economic recovery instead of temporary fixes.
Capitol Conversations
I will be holding my first “Capitol Conversations” beginning Friday, February 24, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Please call Melissa Hackenmueller at 651-296-9471 to set up a 15-minute appointment in the district at Gorman's Restaurant in Lake Elmo.
This is your opportunity to share any concerns or ask questions regarding state government on a one-to-one basis. “Capitol Conversations” will take place every other Friday: March 9, March 23, April 6, and April 20.
Please feel free to contact me about any of your ideas for reform legislation. I always welcome your calls and e-mails. Together we can craft the government we deserve.
Have a great weekend,
Kathy
News Items
- Legislative Update (May 24, 2013) - (Posted: May 24 2013 6:53PM)
- Legislative Update (May 17, 2013) - (Posted: May 17 2013 3:13PM)
- Legislative Update (May 10, 2013) - (Posted: May 10 2013 1:50PM)
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