Friends,
There was a lot of good news for St. Paul in the House DFL’s 2013 Omnibus Bonding bill. (HF270) on Tuesday.
The bill allocates $800 million in general obligation bonds for statewide infrastructure improvements and invests in higher education, transportation, housing, economic development, clean water and wastewater systems.
In District 67B, we’re slated to receive $31 million for a new science education center at Metro State University. Metro State will also benefit from $635,000 from Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement’s $50 million share of the bonding bill.
That just scratches the surface. The Minnesota Children’s Museum was awarded $14 million to expand and renovate its facilities. Once it completes the upgrades, the museum should be able to incorporate the latest research on early learning, allow for new state-of-the-art education facilities, and increase the capacity of visitors to galleries and programming areas.
There is $9 million for renovations to the Twin Cities Public Television building and $5 million for the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. All three projects need to raise an equal amount from non-state sources to get the bonding money.
The St. Paul Port Authority also is to receive $4.1 million for needed improvements.
Bonding bills are more than just bricks and mortar. They add much-needed jobs to an economy still struggling. There are estimates that the House DFL bonding bill could create 22,800 jobs, putting unemployed Minnesotans back to work with good wages. Now is the time to pass this bonding bill. With interest rates at a record low, it only makes sense. This bill will allow the state to stretch taxpayer dollars.
Education budget detailed
A world-class education system is the gateway to a world-class economy. That is why the House DFL budget education budget invests in our future and sets the goal of building the world’s best workforce.
To meet this ambitious goal, our proposal will reverse a decade of disinvestment in education and make historic investments in efforts and strategies with a proven record of closing the achievement gap, raising graduation rates, and improving student’s career and college readiness.
We make a commitment to fully funding all-day, every day kindergarten and investing $50 million in early learning childhood scholarships. All-day K and early childhood education are proven tools to improve test scores, close the achievement gap, and prepare students for future academic success.
Boost for higher ed too
The House Higher Education Omnibus Bill was also released this week. It would freeze tuition at both the University of Minnesota (U of M) and the Minnesota State Colleges and University system (MnSCU) and provide a nearly $150 million increases in higher education funding between the two systems.
Last year, the legislature made record cuts to higher education in the state budget. Tuition has nearly doubled at state colleges and universities of the past decade.
Over $120 million of the $150 million increase in funding will go towards tuition relief, which will benefit students across the state. There will also be $18 million allocated to the MnDrive research program at the University of Minnesota, and almost $11 million allocated to the Office of Higher Education to increase grants for access, choice, and debt reduction.
Education and the economy are inextricably linked. Minnesota will be paid 10-fold in the future for these investments today.
Stay in touch
Please feel free to contact me with your questions, suggestions and concerns. My office is room 549 in the State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-4201 and by email at rep.sheldon.johnson@house.mn. You can also monitor activities at the House, track bills, watch live video and sign up for my email update list by going to http://www.house.mn.
Sheldon