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State Representative Duane Quam
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-9236
For more information contact: Jason Wenisch 651-296-2317
NEWS COLUMN
WHICH HIGH PROFILE BIPARTISAN BILLS WILL GOVERNOR DAYTON SIGN?
Despite recent claims that he would only sign bipartisan bills this session, Governor Dayton vetoed another one this week.
House File 1467 is a comprehensive self defense bill that received strong bipartisan support. Some of the provisions included removing the duty to retreat for people who are having a crime committed against them, as well as preventing victims from facing a lawsuit from their attacker because they chose to defend their life. It also would have prohibited gun confiscation during a declared emergency, and would have recognized the Right-to-Carry permits secured by law abiding citizens in other states who happened to be travelling through Minnesota.
This is the most visible, high profile bill Governor Dayton has vetoed this session. The right to self defense is fundamental to our Constitution, not to mention the founding of our nation. Once again, Governor Dayton has said one thing and has done another in terms of alleged bipartisanship, as he previously vetoed four lawsuit abuse bills that had Republican and Democrat support, and has now shot down legislation dealing with self defense and gun rights.
I’ve been getting a lot of correspondence from teachers lately complaining about the decision last session to increase the level of school payment shifts enacted by previous legislatures as a way to help balance the budget.
A brief review: Last session the Legislature and Governor agreed to a 60/40 school payment shift. This means schools receive 60 percent of their expected revenue during the current year, and 30 percent the past year. Then 40 percent from this year, paid a quarter into next year, and 60 percent next year. Basically, they receive the full 24 months funding, paid across 28 months, and have received the 30 percent from 2010 already.
Prior to the budget agreement, Governor Dayton proposed a 50/50 shift before the state shutdown. After hearing the clamor for compromise - though we found this provision distasteful - lawmakers agreed to half of the shift increase he proposed, again before the shutdown.
For a couple of decades there has been a payment shift, but traditionally it has been a 90/10 breakdown. It’s worth noting that in 2010, the DFL-led legislature instituted a 70-30 split, which accounts for $2 billion of the current $2.7 billion shifted.
Fortunately, the reforms we passed into law last session have turned our economy around. With our latest $323 million surplus, we were able to send $318 million back to the schools. In essence, the shift amount is now a 64.3/35.7 split, decreasing the shift to $2.4 billion - nearly half of the new shift covered in just a few months.
It also shows that acting on a reform agenda is what’s going to fix this constant cycle of budget deficits. We've faced more deficits than surpluses this century, but the past two budget forecasts have ended this downward spiral and Minnesota now has a projected $1.2 billion surplus for this biennium, and we've whittled away a part of the projected deficit for the next biennium.
We did enact a school funding shift increase. But we are doing something new: Paying it back early. If the economy continues to improve, we'll soon be tackling the $2 billion enacted by the former leaders.
Speaking of education, I recently listened to testimony in the House Education Finance Committee from people across the political spectrum who are concerned with the quality of their children’s education. Specifically, they want teacher quality to be part of the equation when a school district decides what teachers to keep if they are faced with decreased enrolment or other cuts. Presently, seniority is the only criteria, in law, for retention.
Most schools are doing great, but some are having trouble with open enrollment losses. This leads to a declining student population, and eventually, teacher cuts. When this occurs, teacher quality is not taken into account before eliminating staff, which I believe contributes to the achievement gap that too many schools face today.
Dedicated administrators and school board members should be able to keep the best of the best when making important decisions for our children’s education. A bipartisan bill was recently approved by the House and Senate that would end the seniority only policy for teacher retention. One of these times, Governor Dayton is going to keep his word and sign a high profile, bipartisan bill into law. This teacher quality legislation would be a good place to start.
News Items
- Quam Statement on HF956 - Omnibus Energy Bill - (Posted: May 8 2013 9:14AM)
- Capitol Update from Rep. Duane Quam - (Posted: May 3 2013 12:00AM)
- House Moves Ahead with Damaging Changes to Education and Taxes - (Posted: Apr 26 2013 12:00AM)
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