DFLers plan statewide meetings critical of GOP education policies

Democrats in the Minnesota House are planning a series of meetings throughout the state to highlight what they see as the negative impact of Republican education K-12 education policies, such as the expanded school funding shift.

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican legislative leaders included the $3.45 billion shift in the budget agreement to end a state government shutdown. But during a State Capitol news conference today, DFL House Minority Leader Paul Thissen blamed only Republicans for the shift.

"Gov. Dayton was in a situation where the Republicans forced him to do what Republicans have forced the state to face for the last eight years under Gov. Pawlenty as well, which is to not solve it in a balanced way, but to resort to these kind of gimmicks," he said.

Republican state Rep. Pat Garofalo, chair of the House Education Finance Committee, said DFL complaints do not reflect reality. He said the K-12 funding bill passed in July provides school districts their first real funding increase in several years.