Friends,
The House took action last week to set a new course for our state. We heard your call last year to end the budget tricks and put the state on stable economic footing again. You wanted more funding for programs that had been starved by Republicans the two years. And you wanted a tax code that was more fair and equitable. That’s just want we accomplished here at the Capitol.
The crown jewel of our program was the Omnibus E-12 Education Finance and Policy Bill. The bill was so good it even received Republican support!
This legislative session has been dubbed the ‘Education Session’ because the House DFL understands that a world-class education system is the necessary first step to a world-class economy. This bill makes long-term investments in our future and sets the goal of building the world’s best workforce. We’re going to accomplish this by providing the necessary resources to our educators so they can close the achievement gap and reach 100 percent high school graduation, 100 percent literacy by third grade and 100 percent career and college readiness — all by 2027.
The bill fully funds all-day, every-day kindergarten and invests $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.
In addition to increased funding for kindergarten and early childhood, the bill also increases the basic funding formula for K-12 schools by four percent over the biennium, an increase of over $315 million, or $209 per pupil.
The South Washington School District will see an increase of $2,021,168 in funding in 2014 and $7,719,669 in 2015.
Our kids deserve the best. After years of shortchanging their futures – and ours – it’s time that Minnesota renews its commitment to education.
Giving college students a break
The focus of our college students ought to be their studies, not scrambling to pay tuition and student loans. A four-year program all too often turns into a six-year program because they have to work at two jobs just to pay for books and housing. After graduation, they’re so burdened with college debt that every spare dollar goes to paying off student loans, not going into the economy.
Our Higher Education Omnibus bill addresses that situation. The bill freezes tuition at both the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and University system and provides a $150 million funding increase for higher education – the first funding increase in eight years.
This comes after eight years of indifference – or worse – toward higher education. In the era of continual budget deficits, higher education has spent more than its share of time on the chopping block. As a result, tuition and student debt have skyrocketed, pricing many students of a quality higher education.
I know families who struggle to send their kids to college. I’ve heard their stories. They make me worry about how I’ll be able to afford to send my two kids to school. A college education should be within reach of every person who wants to continue their education. This bill brings a college education within reach to more families.
Giving caregivers a boost
On Monday, following a marathon debate, the House of Representatives OK’d the Omnibus Health and Human Services bill by a 70-64 vote.
The bill reduces the HHS budget by $150 million over two years through targeted cuts, reforms, and re-prioritization within the budget yet still remains true to the mission of HHS – to protect our most vulnerable and ensure the highest quality of life for Minnesota.
In their 2011 budget, the GOP majority cut more than $1 billion from the HHS budget – about $500 billion coming on the backs of seniors and disabled Minnesotans. After years of cuts to the safety net that protects our seniors and disabled, we’ve finally produced a budget bill that will patch those holes.
I’m particularly glad to see our hard-working nursing home and long-term care workers get a raise after four years without any increase. I’m also glad we are making necessary investments in cost-preventive mental health initiatives for adults and children.
Paying the bills for a change
On Wednesday, we approved the Omnibus Tax Bill by a 69-64. Unlike previous legislatures, this bill closes the $627 million budget deficit without the use of school shift or other gimmicks. It gives us sound, structurally balanced budgets into the future.
It also pays back the $850 million owed to our schools and makes strategic investments in education, middle class tax relief and job creation.
This bill levels the playing field for Minnesota. We ask for a little more from those who can afford it to help us restore some of the devastating cuts made over the past 10 years. Our tax system will be more progressive, fair and honest. The message we’re sending is that we need to return to the idea of paying upfront for the necessary investments in Minnesota.
I’ve heard from you about the need to raise revenue to fix our repetitive state budget problems, lower our property taxes and invest in education. We’ve done just that. Critics of this bill offer no specific program cuts and no solutions to balance our state’s books. I’m willing to listen to any specific recommendations or alternative budget solutions. In the meanwhile, the House DFL has produced a bill that makes the necessary investments – and pays for them.
Contact me
I encourage constituents to contact me with any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas on any legislative topic. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-4342 or by email at rep.dan.schoen@house.mn. Constituents can also visit my legislative page and sign up for email updates.
Have a good week,
Dan