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Legislative Update A Communication for Parents and Education Supporters in SEE Districts |
April 10, 2009 |
If this is your first Legislative Update from SEE - Welcome!
Brad Lundell, Executive Director for SEE, writes a blog on almost a daily basis. For up-to-date detailed information about what is happening at the capitol visit
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If this communication was forwarded to you, sign up to receive it directly by clicking on the box below: | |
What's Happening at the Capitol
It was a short week at the Capital as the legislators left on Wednesday for holiday break.
Prior to leaving, the Senate passed their E-12 Education Finance and Policy Omnibus Bill on the floor by a vote of 37-29. The Senate has one omnibus bill that includes policy and finance provisions for both Early Childhood and K-12 Education. The omnibus bill included a 3% cut to K-12 education funding along with other provisions that I discussed in last week's legislative update.
Next week the House will hear their K-12 Education Finance Omnibus Bill - HF2. (Right now the bill listed there is the Minnesota Miracle Bill. On Monday sometime, a "delete all" amendment will appear that will have the language of the House K-12 Education Omnibus Bill. You can see when the bill is posted by clicking on the "Bill Text" in the upper left and looking for an posted date of Apr 13, 2009) The omnibus bill will be heard in Committee on Tuesday, April 14 and Wednesday, April 15. The House target is to hold education harmless.
The House K-12 Policy and Early Childhood Omnibus bills are proceeding separately. At some point the bills will be combined with the House K-12 Finance Omnibus, as the Senate has done, before it makes its way to the House floor for a vote.
After the omnibus bills pass out of their respective bodies, an Education Conference Committee will be formed to reconcile the House and Senate versions into one. This final education omnibus bill must pass in the House and Senate before making its way to the governor's desk for signature into law or veto.
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Tax Increase Proposals
Both the House and the Senate are proposing $1.5 to $2 billion, respectively, in tax increases in their budget proposals. Details of how they will raise taxes are still sketchy but will become clearer as the various finance bills are finalized in time to meet the fast approaching committee deadlines. | |
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What You Can Do
It will be a very busy week at the Capitol. The deadline for the finance bills to be heard in committee is Thursday, April 16.
Sit in on the House K-12 Finance Committee as they hear the Education Finance Omnibus bill. The committee meets from 2:45 - 4:15 (check locations below) You could also meet with your legislators before. If you are able to come to the capitol, don't hesitate to contact me and I can help arrange short meetings with your legislators. I would be happy to accompany you. Meeting parents and education supporters and helping them negotiate their way around the capitol is one of my favorite things to do.
Communicate with your legislators. Decisions will be made that will impact our children and their schools for years to come. The Senate in particular needs to know if their proposal of a 3% CUT to education is supported by their constituents. It's as easy as writing a simple short email letting them know how important education is to you and how concerned you are about cuts to your school's funding. Click here to see who represents you. |
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If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Working together, we can make a difference.
Deb Griffiths
Director of Communications and Community Outreach
Schools for Equity in Education
612-309-0089
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Upcoming Scheduled Education Committee Meetings
These committee meetings were current when published but schedules are very fluid at the legislature. If you plan on visiting a committee meeting, verify the agenda by clicking on the links below.
In the Senate . . .
None scheduled at time of publication. Click on the link above for updated information.
TUESDAY, April 14, 20092:45 PM Room: 10 State Office Building Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling Agenda: HF2 (Greiling) Omnibus K-12 Finance bill - information only (The delete everything amendment will be available on Monday, April 13) WEDNESDAY, April 15, 2009
*** Note: *** Change in meeting time 1:45 PM *** Note: *** Change in meeting room Room: 5 State Office Building Chair: Rep. Mindy Greiling Agenda: HF2 (Greiling) Omnibus K-12 Finance bill
None scheduled at time of publication. Click on the link above for updated information. |
Committee Deadlines
Deadlines Set: It may seem like minutae, but the legislative deadlines often play a huge role in how the business of the legislature unfolds, especially near the end of session. This year, with the major budget challenges facing the state, the deadlines will likely take on even greater importance.
The deadlines are as follows:
First Deadline--Friday, March 27: Last day for policy committees to act favorably on bills in the house of origin (in English, last day for Senate policy committees to act on Senate Files and House policy committees to act on House Files).
Second Deadline--Tuesday, April 7: Last day for policy committees in either body to act favorably on bills or companions of bills that met the first deadline in the other house (in English, House policy committee may act upon HF XX if SF YY met the first deadline in the Senate).
Third Deadline--Thursday, April 16: Last day for House and Senate budget divisions to act favorably on omnibus education funding bills (This is the one the education community watches most closely, as Senator Stumpf and Representative Greiling will have to have the omnibus K-12 bills out of their divisions no later than this day).
Fourth Deadline--Wednesday, April 22: Last day for Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee to act favorably on an omnibus appropriations and tax bills.
Fifth Deadline--Thursday, May 7: Conference committee reports on omnibus appropriations and tax bills must be reported to the floor. This is new for this year and will give the Legislature nine working days to pass their major funding and tax bills and send them to the Governor for signature or veto. | |
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