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State Rep. Jim Davnie: Education Budget Cuts Harm Students, Families, Communities

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

SAINT PAUL, MINN — Tuesday night, the Minnesota House passed a Republican education finance package on a 72-59 vote. House DFL Representatives strongly opposed the measure for funding levels that would fail to keep pace with inflation and cause cuts in Minnesota school districts. State Rep. Jim Davnie (DFL-Minneapolis), House DFL Lead on the Education Finance Committee, released the following statement:

“Minnesotans all place a high value on the education of our children, because it’s the foundation of our future success. They also place a high value on government that is accountable and responsive. This education budget is not accountable to the needs of our kids, because it doesn’t even keep pace with the rate of inflation for the cost of providing education in our schools. This budget was developed behind closed doors to meet the political needs of Republicans, not to be responsive to the educational needs of our students and their families.

“It is clear to me, and it should be clear to Minnesotans, that Republicans are using education funding as a bargaining chip to get the tax cuts that they want, because they know Democrats care deeply about strong public schools. Minnesotans have long supported strong public schools.  Republicans shouldn’t be playing political games with the future of our kids.”

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