ST. PAUL, MN – On Thursday, House Republicans released budget targets that would put Minnesota into a budget deficit, ignore needed investments to support low-income children and families, and do little to address racial disparities. State Representative Rena Moran (DFL – St. Paul) released the following statement on the future of her racial disparity proposals:
“Frankly, I’m embarrassed for my Republican colleagues, because the budget targets their leaders announced today are disgraceful and will do nothing but continue to hinder any upward movement of Minnesota families of color. We have an opportunity to help working parents and children and if we don’t act this session to increase racial equity, we will be failing thousands of Black, Hmong, Latino and American Indian families throughout the state. ”
“My GOP colleagues seem convinced that school vouchers are the silver bullet to all racial inequality problems in Minnesota, but they are ignoring the need to make child care more affordable and increase the quality of early childhood programs. School vouchers won’t raise wages to help save for the future, they won’t remove discriminatory practices in our school systems, they won’t help women of color get loans to start businesses, and they certainly won’t reduce poverty in communities of color throughout the state. I expected more from them and I’m disappointed.”
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