Dear Neighbors,
We have about a week to finish up our work at the legislature and a lot needs to come together for things to go smoothly.
Just Over A Week Remains
We must finish our work by the time the clock strikes midnight on Sunday, May 20th. The last few years we had a rough end to the legislative session. Unfortunately, we are really behind schedule and it might be a repeat of past years where a lot of work was not finished. We still have not had meaningful discussions on adequate school funding, finding solutions for the state’s opioid crisis, protecting seniors from abuse, making our schools safer and ending senseless gun violence, shoring up state pensions, fixing public infrastructure, and protecting hard-working Minnesotans from tax increases. In fact, the Dayton Administration has sent Republican leaders 270 pages of input and concerns about legislation being considered without much of a response.
National Teacher Appreciation Week and Emergency Funding
This week is National Teacher Appreciation Week. Everyone has a story about teachers who had an impact on their lives and how it shaped their future. I’d like to hear about an educator who had a positive impact on your life as we #ThankATeacher this week. Send me an email or post on my Facebook page.
While we are celebrating educators, we need to recognize how difficult their jobs can be. Last week we found out that dozens of school districts all over Minnesota are facing immediate budget deficits that could result in teachers and support staff being laid off, along with significant cuts to school programs. With so many schools facing budget deficits, we don’t want to make their jobs harder by threatening layoffs, program cuts, and even larger class sizes.
Governor Dayton has called for $138 million in one-time, emergency funding to increase resources for every Minnesota school district by $126 per student, or a 2% per-pupil increase.
It’s important to pass this emergency school funding so every student has an opportunity for a quality education. That’s why I’m supporting Governor Dayton’s call for Emergency School Aid.
REAL ID Update
Good news came this week from the Department of Homeland Security on REAL ID compliance. The federal government has said Minnesotans will be able to use standard driver’s license or identification cards for domestic air travel or access to federal facilities until 2020. Minnesota is on track to start issuing compliant licenses by October 1, 2018, even though the federal government won’t require them to be REAL ID-compliant until two years later on Oct. 1, 2020.
Please contact me if you have any concerns. I am so proud to represent Bloomington.
Sincerely,
Andrew Carlson
State Representative