February 2, 2009: Legislative Report #11

H.F. #02: Budget Participation and Education

Carolyn Laine continues to boast a need for a new and increased K-12 funding source. With billions a year in state budget shortfalls projected for the next decade or more Carolyn Laine is fully supporting *H.F. 02. A program called the “Minnesota Miracle” introduced January 12 2009. With passage of this bill, or portions there of, K-12 education (currently 40% of state spending) will increase spending on K-12 education by $2.5 billion a year for multiple years.  

Education has a place in the Minnesota Constitution, the place is not to dominate state spending, consume large amounts of state resources. With the current budget shortfall, approaching $7,000,000,000.00 and K-12 education consuming 40% of state spending, education MUST participate in spending reductions. 

The time has arrived for education to self evaluate, regroup, and become a member of our budget process, not a consuming force asking for a 35% per year state spending increase. As I travel the halls of Minnesota State Capital, I see the powerful hand of education, a force crushing any accountability, reason, or resistance raised by anyone in elected office.