Good morning, and happy Wednesday.
Gov. Tim Walz wants a lot more spending for schools, child care, mental health services for children, and school nutrition.MPR’s Brian Bakst reports: “Our budget will ensure that the opportunities are there to make every single school the very best in the nation and every child to succeed for generations to come,” Walz said as he announced the plan at Adams Spanish Immersion School in St. Paul. The plan would add 4 percent to the per-pupil school funding formula this year and another 2 percent the following year then tie future spending increases to the inflation rate. Walz also wants to provide free meals to all students and bolster spending for special education. And Walz proposes creating a child tax credit for some families that would amount to $1,000 per child with a maximum credit of $3,000. The credit would apply to families earning $50,000 or less. The governor’s plan would expand access to child care subsidies, which he said would reduce costs for 100,000 Minnesota households. He also proposes expanding public pre-k programs to make them available to nearly 25,000 families. Walz also wants to create a new Department of Children, Youth, and Families to focus state government on the needs of students and families. The Department of Education would still oversee schools, Walz said, but some functions from the Department of Human Services (DHS), Education and the Corrections Department would go to the new agency.
While Democrats in the Minnesota Senate are generally on board with the governor’s approach, they say they hope to deliver a $500 million infusion to public schools this academic year to relieve pressure on district budgets. Their proposal would deliver the money based on costs tied to transportation, student meal needs, English language learner programs and special education expenses. It’s apart from the upcoming discussion over how much money schools should get from the state over the next two years. Senate Education Finance Chair Mary Kunesh said districts need financial help now. “This is something that we can bring to the schools in this moment,” the New Brighton DFLer said. “And they'll know that they'll have relief that they can use as a base. Looking forward to next year, imagine if they don't have to pink slip a whole bunch of teachers.”
Republicans were not excited about the Walz plan. “What the governor is putting out is pie in the sky,” said Rep. Ron Kresha, R-Little Falls, the top Republican on the House Education Finance Committee. House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth said children deserve better than the governor’s plan “House Republicans want to empower parents to make the best decisions for their family, whereas Governor Walz’s proposal proves that Democrats are more focused on expanding government bureaucracy in education than helping children,” Demuth said. “Improving our education system starts with funding that is fair and focused on academic success, better pay for better teachers, and a renewed emphasis on literacy in early learning programs. None of this requires a brand-new government agency, layers of new mandates, and state government micromanaging decisions that should be left to school boards in partnership with parents and their local community.”
Members of the Minnesota House are set to vote on a proposal to make Juneteenth a state holiday, reports MPR’s Dana Ferguson. A local government committee advanced the proposal on a voice vote Tuesday, teeing it up for a floor vote. The bill's author, Rep. Ruth Richardson, DFL-Mendota Heights, said it is important to commemorate June 19, the day that marks the end of slavery in the United States. "The celebration of Juneteenth provides space for all of us to reflect on a more inclusive definition of freedom. The end of chattel slavery in this country is an important milestone worthy of recognition and worthy of celebration. And it's a step in the right direction of truly living up to the promise of this nation, that all are created equal,” Richardson said. “It's an opportunity to acknowledge how far we've come and how far we have to go." A companion bill is moving through committees in the Minnesota Senate. Juneteenth is already recognized as a federal holiday.
MPR’s Sam Stroozas has a look at the Queer Caucus at the Minnesota Capitol: Sen. Scott Dibble was often the sole openly gay person in the room when he started out in politics. First elected to the Minnesota House in 2000, the Minneapolis DFLer was one of just three openly LGBTQ people at the time to serve in the Legislature. The three — including Allan Spear, one of the nation’s first openly gay lawmakers, and Karen Clark — never served together but jokingly referred to themselves as the Queer Caucus. Two decades later, the jokes are over. Twelve LGBTQ lawmakers came to St. Paul this month following historic elections. Minnesota House DFLers formed a real caucus, including the Capitol’s first transgender lawmaker and first nonbinary member. The legislators say they are prepared to flex some of that new political muscle to secure access to health care, protection against violence and other priorities for LGBTQ people. On Wednesday, a bill to prohibit conversion therapy will get its first hearing in the House Human Services Policy Committee.
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