MREA lobbyists Sam Walseth and Vernae Hasbargen on Thursday shared major financial requests of the legislature this session and their reaction to the governor’s budget with the Senate E-12 Budget Division. They gave kudos to the Governor for putting new state revenue on the table and made these three key requests:
- Do more than the down payment the Governor is proposing for various education programs
- Use the Education Finance Reform Work Group recommendations as a blueprint to invest
- Don’t miss the opportunity to create equity and stability in the system by ignoring the general education levy recommended by the work group
The Senate is in a unique position compared to the House and Governor given that they are all up for re-election in 2014 and the Senate doesn’t face the voters until 2016. As you talk with your legislators this session, keep this in mind and encourage them to use the Education Finance Reform recommendations as a blueprint and to create a new, general education levy. View MREA’s full testimony.