As I am about to take off I thought I would share a couple of comments from Legislative Committee chairs on my work at the Capitol. These are letters sent to the media but our local media does not tend to print these sorts of letters. At least that's been my experience.
Representative David Bly demonstrated leadership to pass Early Childhood
legislation
To the Editor:
I would like to congratulate State Representative David Bly on the outstanding job he did to help re-establish critical funding for Minnesota's Early Childhood Education programs. His knowledge and leadership as Vice-Chair of the House Early Childhood Learning Finance Division culminated with passage of legislation that fully restores funding for ECFE, Head Start and School Readiness. The strong support the bill received is a good indication of Representative Bly's commitment to building consensus and creating good public policy.
As an educator in his professional life, Representative Bly understands this initiative is crucial to narrowing the education achievement gap and making sure that all children can reach their full academic potential. His passion for our state's youngest learners was evident from the day he introduced the bill through its final passage.
David Bly has served his district, his state and all of Minnesota's children well in sponsoring and passing this important legislation. I look forward to working with him again in our joint efforts to create world-class students and nation-leading schools.
Sincerely,
State Representative Mindy Greiling
Chair, House K – 12 Education Finance Division
DFL MAJORITY DELIVERED AFFORDABLE, QUALITY HIGHER EDUCATION
Things have changed for the better in Saint Paul now that we have a DFL
controlled legislature. Take higher education for example: Minnesota's college students and higher education systems have endured four years of financial neglect by Governor Pawlenty. In 2003, Governor Pawlenty cut funding for the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities by $380 million. These draconian cuts increased tuition and forced the elimination and reduction of many academic programs.
Regrettably, our state's higher education funding policies have also forced tens of thousands of students deep into debt. To offset state funding shortfalls, our public colleges and universities imposed double-digit annual increases in tuition and fees upon their students. Tuition rates have increased over 70 percent at Minnesota's public colleges and universities over the past five years. Earlier this year, our House Higher Education Committee heard testimony from students who expect to graduate with student debts ranging from $20,000 to $50,000 and more. What a way to begin your adult life!
The years of neglect are over. Last January, the DFL majority in the Minnesota House and Senate promised to reinvest in Minnesota's higher education systems, while holding annual tuition increases to manageable levels. We have delivered on that promise.
Representative David Bly earned a reputation for his thoughtful consideration of all issues brought before the Committee. He offered invaluable insight into crafting policies that will maximize the benefits of scarce public resources. Recognizing the important role private colleges and universities play in expanding post-secondary choices for students, Bly led the effort to increase the bonding authority for expansion and improvements at our private colleges and universities. Bly also understands the need for high quality early education; he was the sponsor of an innovative program to encourage students to pursue careers in early childhood education.
In April, the House of Representatives, led by the new DFL majority, passed a higher education funding bill, investing nearly $400 million additional dollars into higher education. The bill promised to hold tuition increases at our state colleges and universities to no more than 2 percent per year; undergraduate tuition increases at the University of Minnesota would be 3 percent or less per year for Minnesota students with family incomes under $150,000. We added $60 million to our state grant program for low and middle-income students, including $12 million in new funding. We invested $37 million to improve students' access to technology at both the state colleges and universities and the University of Minnesota.
Many within the higher education communities characterized the House bill as the best higher education funding package in over 20 years. It was a truly great bill.
Unfortunately, negotiations with Governor Pawlenty during the final two weeks of the session forced the House to cut $42 million from its proposed investments in higher education. The Governor and his staff were constantly demanding reductions in our higher education funding levels, threatening time and again to veto the bill if we didn't comply.
The House and Senate DFL majorities refused to capitulate to every veto threat. While some cuts were necessary to avoid a second veto, we refused to abandon our commitment to provide relief from four years of double-digit tuition increases. Thanks to the persistent efforts of the House and Senate DFLers, the final bill signed into law is still the best improvement in funding for higher education over the past decade.
The final bill will hold annual tuition increases at Minnesota's colleges and universities to less than 4 percent per year. Tuition increases for Minnesota's undergraduate residents at the University of Minnesota with household incomes under $150,000 will be less than 3 percent per year. Increased investments in technology for our students will continue, although at a lesser amount than was ideal. Our state colleges and universities and the University of Minnesota will improve their course offerings and degree programs in science, technology, engineering and math. Degree programs in health care and medical technology will be expanded to meet the expected shortage in our state's health care workforce.Despite the Governor's parsimonious nature and constant veto threats, the DFL controlled legislature passed a higher education bill of which we can all be proud. Our colleges and universities, our students and our communities will all benefit from this bill.
State Representative Tom Rukavina (DFL-Virginia) is chair of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee in the Minnesota House of Representatives.