[Mpls] school budgets, the Gov, the Lege

[Lynnell Mickelsen]

Title: school budgets, the Gov, the Lege

        I agree with Catherine Shreve's call to action on the Governor's education budget. And as she  implied, Minneapolis residents shouldn't bother their Minneapolis reps--the Minneapolis delegation already "gets it"; you'll be preaching to the choir. Instead, folks should contact the Gov. and the legislative leaders. The Gov. allegedly ignores his e-mail, so it may be more effective to call him instead.( 651-296-3391). If the deluge shuts down his phone system, well, aw shucks.

        Here's my e-mail to Republican Majority Speaker Sviggum to add to the sample mail. A slightly different tone than Catherine's. But hey, diversity is good. Use any portion or write your own. And send one to Sen. Roger Moe too. ( ([EMAIL PROTECTED] )

       

        Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

       

        Dear Speaker Sviggum:

        RE: the Governor's budget proposal regarding education.

        I don't want a rebate. I want that money to go to the schools--and I'm one of those  taxpayers that the Republicans and the Governor are so concerned have "overpaid" their taxes.

        Where does this "overpaid" tax thing come from? If we have this huge surplus and these huge needs, it seems to me that instead of "overpaying" our taxes, we have been "under-investing" in education--and plenty of other things. People will reflexively demand a tax cut. But if you give 'em a choice: they can have a couple hundred bucks in rebates or they can watch while their children and grandchildren get their schools axed, I think the call for a tax cut goes real silent.... real fast.

        Ninety percent of the state's children attend public schools. So where's the political benefit in gutting their education? I live in Minneapolis, but this isn't a city versus rural versus suburban issue. All our schools need more money than the Governor proposed.

        Now I know there's a conservative fringe in your party that hates public schools and would like to privatize the whole system. Of course, these are the same extremists that would like to privatize you  or at least strip your Leadership title. So why try to placate them? You're never going to make them happy.

        Besides, this is the perfect opportunity for the Republicans and Democrats to cooperate (however briefly) and roll the Governor. His education budget is out of step with most Minnesotan values. It is to the Republican and Democratic advantage to isolate the Big Guy and make him look like an out-of-touch bully, too busy pushing soft porn for the XFL and padding his own bank account to tend to the needs of Minnesotan children and students.

        Rs and DFLers could have enormous fun, wreak havoc on the Gov's approval ratings, soften his numbers for the 2002 election. --- and as a bonus, improve the schools. Steve, what's not to like here? Afterwards,  the two parties can go back to fighting each other. But this is a great bi-partisan opportunity.

        Please call Roger Moe and get to work on this.

        Sincerely,

        Lynnell Mickelsen

        (Linden Hills, Ward 13.)

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