Legislative Update
A Communication for Parents and Education Supporters in SEE Districts		May 7, 2010
If this is your first Legislative Update from SEE - Welcome!
For those who have been with us through the years - Thank you!
SEE publishes this Legislative Update weekly during the legislative session.
 
 Brad Lundell, Executive Director for SEE, writes a blog on almost a daily basis.  For up-to-date information about what is happening at the capitol visit Brad's Blog.
In This Issue
What's happening at the capitol
The education omnibus bills and 'Race to the Top'
So how could this impacts our schools?
What you can do
Sample letters
Quick Links
Join Our Mailing List
What's happening at the capitol \
 
So much for that smooth ending of this legislative session . . . where the legislature and the governor must erase what they thought was a $994 million deficit by May 17, just 9 days from now. The plan was taking shape.  The legislature made $459 million in reductions through a supplemental budget bill and a General Medical Assistance Care compromise.   The Health and Human Services bill which is making its way through the process contains another ~$130 million in cuts.  And, finally, both the governor and the legislature were counting on Minnesota receiving $408 million from the federal government in extended enhanced Medicaid matching funds to reduce a third of the deficit.  It looked like it would all work out, nice and orderly.  However, recent developments blew that plan apart.

 

The $408 million in federal funds slated for Minnesota is being tied up in Washington.  It is still possible that Minnesota will receive the funds, but it will NOT come before the end of session.  In response, Pawlenty proposed over $500 million in vague cuts that the legislature coolly received.  In this proposal, Pawlenty still protected K-12 education, adding only a small $14 million reduction. 

 

The courts ruled on Wednesday against Governor Pawlenty's use of unallotment last summer to single-handedly balance the budget, stating that he over-stepped his authority.  The ruling was only on a small nutritional program for the poor that the governor unalloted, but the courts made it clear that the way he used this emergency executive privilege was against the law.  As you may recall, last session the legislature delivered four major spending bills and a tax bill that contained increased taxes to help pay for the spending.  The governor signed the four spending bills and vetoed the tax bill.  Then, he unalloted $2.5 billion, a majority was $1.8 billion in education shifts though delaying payments to our schools and instigating a property tax recognition shift.  The courts essentially stated that since the governor knowingly caused the deficit, he could not use unalltoment which is statutorily defined to be used when unforeseen events result in a deficit.   In addition to adding to the deficit, this ruling puts the state in a cash flow crisis. 

 

It is preferable to put into law the $1.2 billion school aid payment shift that the governor unalloted.  School districts would prefer a shift to an outright cut.  In addition, putting the shift into law provides a mechanism for the state to pay back the funds when money is available, which ,admittedly, will take years.   However, even with the current budget reduction bills and putting the education payment shift into law, these recent events result in another +$1 billion added to the deficit.  Click here for more detail. 
 
In light of these new developments, legislative leaders met twice with the governor yesterday and made little progress.  The governor wants the legislature to ratify his unallotments and cut an additional $535 million to erase the deficit.  Legislative leaders said they would like to take a balanced approach, perhaps considering tax increases to help minimize further cuts. Minnesota Budget Bites annually publishes this look at revenue raising options.   The governor stands strong in his opposition to any tax increases. 

 

What will our elected leaders do now?  Perhaps it's time to tone down the rhetoric, get down to work and compromise on a solution that is in the best interest of Minnesotans. 

 
 The education omnibus bills and 'Race to the Top'

The Senate revealed SF3189, the education policy omnibus bill.  Essentially, it contains the education reforms that the governor has long championed and claims must be adopted prior to the state re-applying for the Race to the Top (RTTT) federal grant program.  The teaching tenure changes that the governor wanted were not in the bill.  Other notable omissions that the education community supported were board authority to renew existing referendum and putting the education payment shift into law.  Brad has detailed more of the bill on his blog.

 

Chair LeRoy Stumpf in the Senate education committee spoke about the uncertain federal funding and stated that K-12 funding may have to be cut further or perhaps aid payments would need to be shifted more to balance the budget.  I have heard rumblings in the Senate before about further adjustments in aid payments to our schools.   Just as a reference, an additional 3% shift would generate about $200 million in deficit reduction using this accounting gimmick.  The governor's unallotment meant that 73% of funding owed to our schools would be paid in the current year and the other 27% would be paid the following year, previously it was 90%/10%.   If the Senate wants to make up $400 million, they could propose a shift of 67%/33%.   More and more money will be taken from the classroom to pay interest and fees as our schools have to borrow to pay their bills until the state pays what it owes them. 

 

The Senate and House versions of the education omnibus bills are making their way through various committees prior to getting to House and Senate floor for a vote.  Then the two versions, which are dramatically different, still have to go to conference committee where the differences need to be worked out into one final bill.  This bill proceeds back through the House and Senate for an final vote and then it goes to the governor's desk for signature or veto.  Complicating matters, Education Commissioner Alice Seagren stated that the governor's reforms must be passed by the legislature no later than May 9, this Sunday, or the state will not re-apply for RTTT.  That just doesn't seem possible to me but stranger things have happened. As an alternative, leadership could just choose to skip an education omnibus bill.  We'll have to see.

 So how could this impact our schools? 
Due to flat funding from the state, many school districts have just finished making budget reductions for the next school year.   We know what favorite teachers have been laid-off.  We know what valuable programs have been cut.  We know how large the classroom sizes are becoming.  We know how much more families will have to pay in fees.   Any additional cuts to school funding by the legislature will be for next year. Our schools could very well have to go through another round of cutting!
 
It's impossible to predict how this will turn out.  The pace will hit a frenzy now.  Will they get done in time or are we looking at a special session?  Brad will keep you posted on his blog. 
What you can do
*Pass these updates on and ask your friends to sign up to receive SEE's Legislative Updates so they too can be part of our network.  In the political world, it is the voice of many that can make a difference. 
 
*Email or call the your state representative and senator with the continued message to protect education funding, highlighting that a shift is better than an cut!  Be sure to copy the governor and the legislative leaders   The session ends in just nine days at midnight on May 17, yet there are still things you can do.  The education committees will be working in conference committee to craft the final education omnibus bill.  The legislative leaders and the Governor will be negotiating an final agreement to balance the budget.  
 
For those of you who haven't contacted your legislators in the past, now is the time.  I have heard that if a legislator receives as few as six emails on a particular subject, they take notice. Let's really have them take notice by sending hundreds of emails.  Click here to find out who represents you.   Email your state senator, state representative and the state leaders.  If you need a little help to get started, I have included some sample letter below. 
 
You can cut and paste the state leaders email addresses below directly into your email. 
 
tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us, rep.margaret.kelliher@house.mn, rep.tony.sertich@house.mn, rep.mindy.greiling@house.mn, rep.kurt.zellers@house.mn, sen.dave.senjem@senate.mn
 
The Senate Leadership has web forms to fill out as well.  Please take the time to contact these leaders.   It requires a separate step, but please take the time to fill out the form.  You can cut and paste your letter directly into the form. 
 
Senator Larry Pogemiller - Majority Leader:
http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_emailform.php?mem_id=1048&ls=86

Senator Tarryl Clark - Assistant Majority Leader:
http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_emailform.php?mem_id=1071

Sen. Stumpf also uses an email form. 
LeRoy Stumpf :   
http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_emailform.php?mem_id=1063&ls=86  
 
Governor Tim Pawlenty
     Telephone:  (651) 296-3391
     Toll Free:    (800) 657-3717
  
Rep. Margaret Kelliher - Speaker of the House
     Telephone:  (651) 296-0171
 
Rep. Tony Sertich - House Majority Leader
     Telephone:  (651) 296-0172
 
Rep. Kurt Zellers - House Minority Leader
     Telephone:  (651) 296-5502
 
Sen. Larry Pogemiller - Senate Majority Leader
     Telephone:  (651) 296-7809
 
Sen. Tarryl Clark - Senate Assistant Majority Leader
     Telephone:  (651) 296-6455
 
Sen. Dave Senjem - Senate Minority Leader
     Telephone:  (651) 296-3903
Working together, we can make a difference. 
 
If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to contact me.
 
Deb Griffiths
Director of Communications and Community Outreach
Schools for Equity in Education
612-309-0089
Sample Letters 

 

Ideas to get you started . . .I often have people tell me that they would email but they just don't know what to say and they ask me to provide them with sample letters.  I don't want to put words in your mouth but I understand that it would be helpful to provide some samples.  I have compiled a number of sample letters below to get you started.  These are just ideas.   Go ahead and write your own note.  If you get stuck feel free to use the samples.  You can mix them up and change the wording and tone to reflect your own voice and concerns.  What is lacking from all these samples are real stories about real children and what could happen if our schools have to make drastic cuts.  Please add those stories if you can.  We have to get the legislators to see past the numbers and see the faces of our school children.   

Always include your name, address and phone number.

 

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Dear Representative/Senator,

 

Education is a priority for me and I am concerned about possible cuts to education funding.  My children only have this one shot at their education and cannot have a redo when times are better.  I believe these rough economic times will end and Minnesota needs to be in a position to prosper.  Dismantling our public school system, in the long run, will cripple Minnesota's ability to recover.  
 
Protect education funding.  Put the education unallotment shift into law.  I would ask that you make education a priority and speak to your leadership to do the same. 
 
Thank you.
 
Sincerely,  

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Dear Representative/Senator,

 

Don't cut funding for public education!  For the past 17 years, the basic formula has increased on average of ~1.5% while inflation has increased 3%.  Every year, our schools have received half of what they needed just to keep up with inflation, let alone address the additional state and federal mandates.   
 
Eventually, the economy will improve.  Minnesota needs to be in a position to thrive.  A well educated work force will ensure our future prosperity.  This legislature and governor must not jeopardize the future for our kids and our state when dealing with the challenges of today.  

 

Please support our K-12 public schools.  Do not make any further cuts to education funding and put the unallotment education shift into law.  A shift is better than an cut!
 

 
Sincerely,

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 


Dear Representative/Senator,

 

K-12 education needs your support. 

 
As my legislator, I am asking you to protect Minnesota's future prosperity by standing up for our schools today.   Our schools cannot afford any further cuts to funding.  I'd also like to see the unalottment education payment shift put into law.  Without doing so, a large portion of funding for our schools could be in jeopardy.

 
Please speak with your leadership and let them know how important K-12 education is to your constituents. 
 
Sincerely,

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Representative/Senator,

 

I recognize that times are rough.  My concern lies with my child's education.  Next year, my son will be in [first] grade and it is [his] one chance to be a [first] grader.  He won't get a do-over when economic times improve.  If his class balloons to 40 students and all support is cut (which is possible if drastic cuts are imposed by the state), how will he ever get the base he needs to succeed academically?
 
The lost opportunities for him and the other children in his classroom can never be recovered.  Aren't we all depending on these very children to be our future workforce?  If we expect to depend on them in the future, they must be able to depend on US now!  Please protect education funding.  By doing that, Minnesota will treat education as the priority that it is.  
 
Please speak with your leadership and let them know how important our schools are to the people in your district. 
 
Sincerely,

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Dear Representative/Senator,

 

The Minnesota Constitution states:  "The stability of a republican form of government depending mainly upon the intelligence of the people, it is the duty of the legislature to establish a general and uniform system of public schools.  The legislature shall make such provisions by taxation or otherwise as will secure a thorough and efficient system of public schools throughout the state."
 
The size of the deficit is staggering.  The only responsible solution will contain a thoughtful combination of budget cuts and revenue increases.  People in the state of Minnesota understand this and we need our leaders to work together to find a solution that deals with the immediate problem while working towards a long term vision of a stronger and more vibrant Minnesota.  That vision must put the education of our children first.  The governor and our legislators need to honor their constitutional obligation to provide for our schools.   It's the right thing to do for our children and our state.

 

I ask as you balance the budget that you protect our public schools and prevent any further cuts to education funding.  Also, the unallotment shift needs to be put into law.  A shift is better than an outright cut!

 
Sincerely,
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Dear Representative/Senator,

 

I understand that these are extremely challenging times.  Decision will have to be made that will take a real toll on people's lives.  I am asking you, as a leader in this state, to look past the present and lead us into a more promising future.  A highly educated work force has always been Minnesota's greatest asset.  Education is the engine that drives Minnesota's economic growth.  Therefore, K-12 education must be the state's number one priority. 
 
For the past 17 years, the basic formula has not kept pace with inflation.  Our greatest asset is already under great stress.  Further funding cuts will threaten the very survival of our schools. Please protect K-12 education funding from any additional reductions and put the unallotment shift into law.  Without doing this, a very large portion of funding for our schools could disappear. 

 
Thank you for listening.
 
Sincerely,

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