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Dear friends and neighbors,
As of today, we have officially reached our first and second committee deadlines. Our committee work has been very busy this week in preparation for these deadlines. The third and final deadline is next Friday. We got the budget framework last week, which was agreed upon by both GOP and DFL leadership. The framework that we have for this budget reflects our commitment to improving the financial future of Minnesota, especially as we face the looming $6 billion deficit. This framework cut this future deficit by a third, by making responsible and meaningful cuts to government spending. I am hopeful that we will continue to make positive progress on this issue, especially as we work diligently in the next few weeks.
HF2201
On Tuesday, Rep. Andrew Myers presented HF2201 to the Education Finance Committee. This bill was a fiscally responsible measure designed to curb excess in the universal school lunch program that was created in the last biennium by limiting the benefit to families making less than $150,000. Breakfast would still be free for all students. This reasonable cap frees up $85 million per year. By reprioritizing $85 million in current funds, it would have provided much-needed support to improve teacher pensions and go a long way to stabilize TRA. Republicans offered an amendment that specifically outlined this shift, ensuring that these funds were directed toward strengthening the retirement security of educators who have dedicated their careers to serving our students. Without this adjustment, the financial burden on future educators and the state’s pension obligations will only continue to grow.
Unfortunately, despite the clear benefits for our teachers, Education Minnesota (EdMN) testified against this bill, opposing the effort to allocate these funds toward pension improvements. While unions play a role in advocating for educators, it is crucial to acknowledge that this opposition ultimately helped block an opportunity to bolster teacher retirement benefits. Legislators who supported this bill did so with the well-being of current and future teachers in mind, recognizing that without proactive measures, the retirement system may face greater financial challenges down the road. Passing this bill would have been a meaningful step toward ensuring that Minnesota’s educators can retire with dignity and security.
Shoutout to Park Rapids Wrestling
Last weekend, 9 Park Rapids wrestlers competed in the NYWA State Tournament and State Invite Tournament. They competed really well, with 5 wrestlers placing fourth or better! Congratulations to these young athletes.
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