Dear Neighbors,
I hope your week has been good, and that this update finds you well. Major budget bills are coming together and our focus will soon shift from committee to longer floor sessions. Here’s an update from the Capitol:
New E-12 Education Budget Announced
As a member of the Education Policy Committee, I’m especially excited about our education budget proposal. This is the accumulation of weeks of bill hearings that have been thoughtfully considered. Minnesotans have been telling the Legislature for years that the state’s commitment to our schools has not kept pace with inflation, and as a result, local taxpayers pay higher costs through bond referendums and operating levies. This creates a patchwork education system throughout our state, with some property wealthy communities able to fund better schools, than others. This is already happening in Minnesota; Floodwood School District defeated a levy referendum by 16 votes, forcing a layoff of 25% of the district’s teachers.
Every single child deserves to get a great start and a world-class education, no matter where they live or what they look like. That’s why our House E-12 education budget increases the state’s commitment to schools by three percent in the first year, and by two percent in the second year of the biennium. Investing in education helps our schools keep up with the cost of inflation so they don’t have to resort to teacher layoffs, larger class sizes, or pushing costs from the state onto local taxpayers. KSTP has a story about these new investments in education here.
I’ve also included a fact sheet with more information below. |
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Happy National Library Week!
This week is National Library Week! Supporting our local librarians is so important because reading teaches us how to learn and broadens our perspectives on the world. I love learning, which is why I’m currently reading “An American Sickness” by Elisabeth Rosenthal. Rosenthal’s book is a revealing look at how the American Healthcare system got to its current state. It also provides insight on what we need to do to navigate a dysfunctional market. Best of all, it's an avenue for discussion. |
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Although the days have been busy, this book comes at a very important time. My colleagues and I are working to find ways to achieve affordable health care for all Minnesotans.
Clean Energy in Minnesota
On Tuesday, Clean Energy Economy Minnesota’s annual report came out, which announced some important information on Clean Energy in Minnesota. The report announced over 61,000 clean energy jobs in Minnesota, showing that the industry grew by five percent last year. Minnesota Public Radio covered the announcement here.
Find more information about Clean Energy Economy Minnesota (CEEM) and view detailed breakdowns of its research at https://www.cleanenergyeconomymn.org.
Keep in Touch
Please continue to reach out with questions or feedback on the state budget, or any other item of interest or concern. I appreciate hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Robert Bierman
State Representative |
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