Dear Neighbors,
It’s common to be at the Capitol around the clock the weekend before adjournment. We are passing a historically low amount of bills in these final days. On top of that, negotiations have stalled because many legislators can’t support the idea of ending this session with such a small increase in education funding when the state has an anticipated $2 billion surplus. I am one of those legislators because I believe this is a missed opportunity.
Despite a $2 billion budget surplus, House Republicans are failing Minnesotans - all because of their insistence on massive tax giveaways for corporate special interests.
MISSED OPPORTUNITY: We came into session with momentum for Minnesota’s future, but Republicans are failing to build a better future for Minnesota kids and families by failing to fund education.
DON’T LEAVE OUR KIDS BEHIND: With a $2 billion surplus, Republicans are failing Minnesota’s kids: They are refusing to invest in our youngest learners, shortchanging our schools, and raising tuition on college students.
WE STAND WITH GOVERNOR DAYTON ON EDUCATION: Governor Dayton is fighting for Minnesota kids. We agree that if would be a failure this session to finish with a budget that didn’t invest in a better future for our kids – from our youngest learners to college students.
THE JOB IS INCOMPLETE: Finishing session on-time is a good outcome for Minnesotans only if we complete our job, but it would be a failure if Republicans left session with our work undone – without investments in education, without a comprehensive transportation plan, without improving economic security for hardworking middle class Minnesotans.
WRONG PRIORITIES: All session Republicans have made corporate special interests their top priority and those wrong priorities have continued to be a roadblock to progress for Minnesotans.
REFUSING TO COMPROMISE ON TRANSPORTATION A FAILURE: Republicans promised to fix our state’s roads and bridges, but have failed to offer a real plan, failed to compromise, and failed to get the job done.
I can be reached by phone at 651-296-7158 or by email at rep.linda.slocum@house.mn.
Still hoping for the best,
Linda
P.S. We did take some time this week to honor Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page as he retires. Justice Page is truly an amazing man. One of the things he has done that I really admire is he and his wife founded the Page Educational Foundation, which has awarded $12,000,000 in scholarships to 6,000 students of color at Minnesota’s postsecondary schools. Justice Page will be missed on our supreme court.