Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Legislative News and Views - Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL)

Back to profile

Negociations Breaking Down over Education Funding

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Dear Neighbors,

While it’s common to be at the Capitol the weekend before adjournment, we are passing a disappointingly low amount of bills in these final days.  Yesterday negotiations stalled because many legislators including myself, can’t support a final budget with such a small increase in education funding – especially when the state has an anticipated $2 billion surplus. 

Budget Negotiations Update

Leaders of the Republican-controlled House and the DFL-led Senate have agreed to joint budget targets.  It's unclear if any policies have been agreed to at this point, or how we can finish the work of the legislature before midnight tomorrow.  What is clear is that I cannot support the education budget House and Senate leaders have agreed to.

I stand with Governor Dayton and his call for an investment of $550 million in the E-12 Education Budget.  He has threatened to veto the education bill unless it contains adequate funding and I agree with him.  We have a projected surplus of nearly $2 billion.  Shortchanging our children isn’t what you sent me to the Minnesota House to do.

Click here to see a letter my colleagues and I sent supporting the Governor's call for more education funding.

I will update you as things progress, contact by email at rep.carlos.mariani@house.mn or by phone at 651-296-9714.

 

Thanks again to all of you,

Carlos