Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
>> "CAPITOL REPORT" IS A
PRODUCTION OF SENATE MEDIA
SERVICES.
>> LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
UNFOLD AS THE GOVERNOR AND
LEADERSHIP PROVIDE INSIGHT ON
THE 2013 SESSION.
AND AN EARLY LOOK AT EDUCATION
ISSUES IN THIS WEEK'S "CAPITOL
REPORT."
♪
>> HELLO, EVERYBODY, AND
WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
"CAPITOL REPORT."
I'M JULIE BARTKEY.
TAX REFORM, BUDGET CONCERNS,
AND SOCIAL ISSUES, THESE WERE
JUST A FEW OF THE TOPICS THAT
WERE ADDRESSED WHEN THE
GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATORS MET
WITH THE MEDIA.
AN HOUR-LONG FORUM FOUND
LEADERS FIELDING QUESTIONS
THAT RANGED FROM GAMING
REVENUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF
ADDING NEW REVENUE INTO THE
BUDGET SCENARIO.
IT BEGAN WITH CLEAR MESSAGES
BY EACH CAUCUS LEADER AND THE
GOVERNOR.
>> WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE FISCAL
HOLE THAT WE DUG FOR OURSELVES
OVER THE PREVIOUS SEVERAL --
COUPLE BIENNIUMS, AND THAT'S
GOING TO BE THE FIRST REALITY.
AND I WILL TAKE IT ON MYSELF
AND I'LL INSIST ON OTHERS THAT
WE NOT USE ANY ONE-TIME SHIFTS
OR BORROWING OR GIMMICKS OR
ANYTHING ELSE THAT HAS BEEN
USED IN THE PAST TO TRY TO
DISGUISE THESE PROBLEMS OR TO
PUT THEM DOWN THE ROAD.
LET'S DEAL WITH THEM NOW.
GET OUR FISCAL HOUSES IN
ORDER.
AND THEN WE'LL SEE WHERE WE GO
FROM THERE.
>> THERE'S GOING TO BE VERY
LITTLE MONEY TO DO ANYTHING
NEW.
AND I REALIZE THERE'S A LOT OF
IMPORTANT SUBJECT AREAS THAT
PROBABLY HAVE BEEN GROSSLY
UNDERFUNDED, THINGS LIKE EARLY
CHILDHOOD SPENDING.
IT'S A GREAT INVESTMENT.
BUT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE
TO, I THINK, RESTRAIN
THEMSELVES SOME.
I BELIEVE THE GOVERNOR'S GOING
TO PUT TOGETHER, AND THE
LEGISLATURE IS MOST LIKELY
GOING TO PASS A BUDGET THAT
HAS ADDITIONAL SPENDING RUKSDZ
IN IT FROM THE -- REDUCTIONS
IN IT FROM THE CURRENT BUDGET
BECAUSE OF THE FISCAL
SITUATION THE STATE FINDS
ITSELF IN.
>> IT'S VERY VERY EASY FOR
LEGISLATORS TO THINK OF ALL
THE THINGS THAT WE CAN SPEND
MONEY ON AND THEN THEY START
PROPOSING, WE START PROPOSING
THINGS, AND OUR FRIENDS,
OUTSIDE GROUPS COME IN AND
SAY, THIS WOULD BE GOOD, THIS
WOULD BE A NICE THING, NEXT
THING YOU KNOW, YOU'RE LOOKING
AT 10, 15, 20% GROWTH IN
SPENDING.
BUT I HAVE YET TO SEE A
REVENUE STRUCTURE THAT WILL
YIELD CONSISTENTLY YEAR AFTER
YEAR THAT LEVEL OF REVENUE.
>> WE NEED TO BUILD AN ECONOMY
THAT'S GOING TO WORK FOR
MIDDLE-CLASS MINNESOTANS.
THAT'S WHAT THIS LAST ELECTION
WAS ABOUT.
THERE WERE TWO VERY DISTINCT
ECONOMIC THEORIES PUT FORWARD
IN THIS ELECTION, BOTH
NATIONALLY AND HERE IN THE
STATE OF MINNESOTA, A THEORY
THE REPUBLICANS ESPOUSE AND
PUT FORWARD IN THE LAST TWO
YEARS, WHICH IS THIS IDEA THAT
THE BEST WAY TO BUILD THE
ECONOMY IS TO FOCUS ON THE TOP
FOLKS, PROTECT THEM, AND LET
IT TRICKLE DOWN TO THE REST OF
US OR AN ECONOMIC THEORY THAT
IS ABOUT BUILDING A STRONG
MIDDLE CLASS, WHAT THAT MEANS
IS ABOUT INVESTING IN
EDUCATION, THAT WE TALKED
ABOUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL,
IT MEANS LOWERING PROPERTY
TAXES.
AGAIN, IT'S NOT A QUESTION
THAT WE'RE GOING TO RAISE TAX
OR LOWER TAX, YOU KNOW, WE
RAISE TAXES, IT'S A CHOICE
AMONG TAXES ABOUT HOW WE FUND
OUR GOVERNMENT.
>> THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE
NEED TO DEAL WITH IS PAYING
BACK THE SCHOOL SHIFT AND
SOLVING THE DEFICIT THAT WE
FACE CURRENTLY.
OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS,
OBVIOUSLY, I THINK WE'VE MADE
SOME STRIDES IN GETTING
MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY ON THE
RIGHT TRACK, AND I THINK THAT,
YOU KNOW, INCREASING TAXES NOW
PROBABLY ISN'T THE TIME TO DO
THAT.
>> THE STATE WILL BEGIN PAYING
BACK $1.3 BILLION IT OWES TO
MINNESOTA SCHOOLS WITH ANOTHER
$1.1 BILLION STILL
OUTSTANDING.
STEVE SENYK SAT DOWN WITH THE
INCOMING CHAIR OF THE SENATE
EDUCATION FINANCE COMMITTEE,
SENATOR CHARLES WIGER, TO
DISCUSS THE IMPACT OF THIS
PAYBACK AND ALSO SCHOOL
REFORM.
>> SENATOR WIGER, WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
>> THE LATEST STATE BUDGET
FORECAST HAD SOME GOOD NEWS,
$1.3 BILLION WILL NOW BE PAID
TO SCHOOLS ON TIME.
THAT'S ABOUT A LITTLE BIT MORE
THAN HALF OF WHAT THE STATE
ESSENTIALLY BORROWED FROM
SCHOOLS TO BALANCE ITS BOOKS.
>> YES.
IT'S AN I.O.U., AND WE HAVE AN
OBLIGATION TO PAY THAT BACK,
NOT ALL OF IS GOING TO BE PAID
BACK, OF THAT $1.3 BILLION, WE
WILL PAY BACK APPROXIMATELY
HALF OF THAT, A LITTLE OVER
$500 MILLION, IN THE NEXT FEW
DAYS, AND THEN THE REST OF IT
WILL BE METERED OUT THROUGH
THE REST OF THE FISCAL YEAR IN
BIMONTHLY PAYMENTS OR SO.
AND THOSE PAYMENTS WILL BE
LISTED ON THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION WEBSITE OR YOU CALL
YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND THEN BEYOND THAT,
HOPEFULLY WHEN WE LOOK AT THE
FEBRUARY FORECAST AND BEYOND,
WE'LL CONTINUE ON THE PROGRESS
THAT'S BEING MADE AND CAN MAKE
THAT OBLIGATION TO PAY THE
I.O.U. TO THE STUDENTS AND
PROVIDE THE STABILITY THAT'S
NEEDED FOR FUNDING.
>> WHAT DOES THAT REALLY MEAN
FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS?
IF THEY RECEIVE THE MONEY
QUICKLY FROM THE STATE RATHER
THAN LATER IN THE YEAR, WHAT
DOES IT REALLY MEAN?
>> IT PROVIDES REAL RESOURCES.
IT MEANS THEY DON'T HAVE TO
BORROW.
MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE HAD
TO BORROW BECAUSE OF THE
SHORTFALL.
SO, HAVING CASH IN HAND GIVES
THEM THE ABILITY TO PAY OFF
SOME OF THE DEBT FOR BORROWING
THEY'VE HAD TO INCUR DUE TO
US.
IT GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY
TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES TO MEET PROGRAM
NEEDS.
>> DO YOU CONSIDER DELAYING
PAYMENTS TO SCHOOLS A GIMMICK?
AND CAN THE STATE MOVE AWAY
FROM THAT FINANCING TECHNIQUE?
>> I DO CONSIDER IT A GIMMICK,
WHEN YOU'RE AT THE 64.3%,
ACTUALLY, IF YOU OWE $10,
64.3% WAS THE SCHEDULE FOR
PAYING BACK, AND THAT WAS
KICKING THE CAN AND IT WAS A
LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT IT,
BUT IT WAS AN ACCOUNTING
GIMMICK AND WE NEED TO BE
STRAIGHT WHEN WE DO AN
APPROPRIATION, WE HONOR THAT.
AND, SO, WE'RE GOING TO BE ON
TRACK, AS THE RESOURCES BECOME
AVAILABLE, AND, IN THIS CASE,
WE ARE DOING THAT $1.3 BILLION
PAYBACK.
THERE STILL IS 1.1 --
>> THERE'S 2.4 BILLION THAT
WAS WITHHELD FROM THE SCHOOLS.
>> RIGHT.
>> DO YOU THINK THAT THE STATE
CAN MAKE THAT UP WITHIN THE
NEXT TWO YEARS?
>> NOT WITHIN THIS BIENNIUM.
BUT WE'LL WAIT AND SEE, AND
WHAT THE PROJECTIONS ARE,
WE'LL DO IT RESPONSELY, WE'LL
DO IT WITH STABILITY AND ALSO
LOOK AT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT
ARE IN A NEW TASK FORCE THAT
HAS COME OUT BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION.
>> I WANT TO GET TO THAT
BECAUSE THAT'S A HOT TOPIC
HERE AT THE CAPITOL, EDUCATION
FUNDING.
A TASK FORCE APPOINTED BY THE
MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION RECOMMENDED THAT THE
STATE INCREASE AID TO SCHOOLS
BY 7%, ABOUT $633 MILLION PER
YEAR.
DO YOU BELIEVE FUNDING TO THAT
DEGREE IS ACHIEVABLE?
AND IS IT NECESSARY?
>> THERE'S A NEED FOR FUNDS.
FOR SURE WE NEED TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
I BELIEVE THE REPORT, WHICH IS
GOING THROUGH A LOT OF
DISCUSSION NOW AND EVEN MORE
IN SESSION, WOULD CALL FOR A
PHASE-IN OF THAT $600 MILLION
OVER FOUR YEARS.
AGAIN, WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THE
FEBRUARY FORECAST.
WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT
REVENUE IN TERMS OF REFORMS IN
PROPERTY, INCOME AND SALES.
BUT, KEEP IN MIND THAT WE'RE
DOING THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE A
CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION
UNDER ARTICLE XIII, SECTION 1,
FOR OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT TO
HAVE WELL-EDUCATED POPULATION.
AND THE FRAMERS OF OUR
CONSTITUTION ASKED US TO COME
UP WITH A GENERAL UNIFORM
SYSTEM FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND TO
PROVIDE THE RESOURCES TO DO
THAT.
AND WE JUST NEED TO PROVIDE A
STABLE MEANS OF DOING IT, AND
THIS TASK FORCE HAS COME UP
WITH A NUMBER OF
RECOMMENDATIONS TO GET US
THERE AND WE NEED THE
RESOURCES.
>> AND YOU ARE NOW CHARGED
WITH THE EDUCATION FINANCE
COMMITTEE, LEADING THAT
COMMITTEE.
>> YES.
>> AND THAT WILL BE AN ISSUE
BEFORE YOU.
WILL A PRIORITY BE FOR YOU TO
PROVIDE MORE FUNDING TO
SCHOOLS FROM THE STATE THAN
CURRENTLY IS PROVIDED?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> TO WHAT DEGREE?
>> THAT WILL BE DEPENDENT ON
THE REVENUE FORECAST IN
FEBRUARY.
WE HAVE TO LIVE WITHIN OUR
MEANS AND WE AREN'T GOING TO
OVERREACH WHERE WE DON'T HAVE
A REALISTIC AMOUNT OF REVENUE,
BUT WE DO NEED TO BE ON A
RESPONSIBLE TRACK TO PROVIDE
THE NEEDED RESOURCES.
WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS
HAPPENING IN TERMS OF RESULTS
IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND I CAN TALK
ABOUT IT, BUT I'M ALSO
CONCERNED ABOUT THE
ACHIEVEMENT GAP, PROBLEMS IN
DROPOUT RATES, THE NUMBER OF
STUDENTS THAT AREN'T PREPARED
FOR KINDERGARTEN, THE NUMBER
OF STUDENTS THAT DON'T
GRADUATE, THAT AREN'T READY
THAT DO GRADUATE TO GO TO
COLLEGE.
WE NEED TO DO THAT.
WE NEED TO PROVIDE SOME
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
THE COMMISSIONER'S TASK FORCE
ON ED FINANCE TALKS ABOUT A
NUMBER OF THINGS FROM EARLY
LEARNING, KINDERGARTEN,
THROUGHOUT THAT JOURNEY AND,
SO, MORE RESOURCES WILL BE
NEEDED AND WE'LL COME UP WITH
A PLAN THAT WILL PUT US ON A
RESPONSIBLE TRACK TO DO THAT.
>> WHAT'S WRONG WITH HAVING
LOCAL UNITS OF GOVERNMENT,
COMMUNITIES, HELP PAY FOR
THEIR SCHOOLS?
I MEAN, DOESN'T THAT KEEP
THEIR SKIN IN THE GAME?
>> THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH
THAT AND THEY DO PARTICIPATE.
THE 340 OR SO LOCAL SCHOOL
DISTRICTS, ELECTED BY SCHOOL
BOARDS, I WAS A SCHOOL BOARD
MEMBER FOR MANY YEARS BEFORE I
CAME HERE, BUT ALL DISTRICTS
AREN'T EQUAL, AND THE FRAMERS
IN OUR CONSTITUTION, AGAIN,
TALKED ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR
ALL STUDENTS.
OUR SUPREME COURT HAS TALKED
ABOUT THAT.
SO, WHETHER YOU'RE FROM WASH
KIRSCH, WORTHINGTON, WANAMINGO
OR WORTHINGTON, YOU HAVE THAT
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY AND IT
SHOULD NOT BE BASED ON THE
PROPERTY WEALTH OF YOUR
DISTRICT.
>> AND YOU FEEL THAT'S A
PROBLEM TODAY?
THAT SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE
LACKING IN FUNDING COMPARED TO
OTHER DISTRICTS?
>> YES.
AND IT'S NOT ONLY WHAT I FEEL,
THAT IS CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED
IN TERMS OF THE FUNDING THAT
GOES.
THERE ARE DISPARITIES THAT
HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED.
IT'S ALSO REFLECTED, WHEN JUST
YOU DO A DRIVEBY IN SOME
DISTRICTS AND YOU SEE A
DISTRICT WHERE NEARBY WHERE
YOU HAVE A LEVY REFERENDA PASS
AND ANOTHER ONE WHERE IT
DIDN'T, AND IT COULD BE THE
SAME COMMUNITY, THEN THEY
MIGHT BE DEPRIVED OF PROGRAM
DOLLARS BECAUSE IT DIDN'T
PASS.
AND THAT ED TASK FORCE, THEY
WANT TO REDUCE THAT DEPENDENCE
ON LEVY PASSAGE AND PUT MORE
MONEY IN THE FORMULA, WHICH I
DO SUPPORT.
>> WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT 30
SECONDS LEFT.
BUT IF YOU PUT MORE MONEY INTO
THE FORMULA, HOW DO YOU TIE
FUNDING TO SUCCESS?
>> WE KNOW THAT A KEY PART OF
THE SUCCESS IS BY HAVING THE
MOST HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS
THAT WE CAN HIRE, THAT WE CAN
RETAIN IN THE SYSTEM, AND
HAVING PRINCIPALS, HAVING
CURRICULUM THAT IS PUT IN
PLACE, WE HAVE A LOT OF THAT
IN STATUTE AND IN RULE, AND BY
HAVING TRAINED TEACHERS THAT
ARE PROVIDING THE INSTRUCTION,
HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUCTION ON
THAT, AND THEN MEASURING IT
WITH GOOD TEST RESULTS.
WE NEED TO GET BETTER TESTING,
AND THAT'S A PART OF THE SEVEN
POINTS THAT THE DEPARTMENT
WILL BE FOCUSING ON NEXT
SESSION, BUT WE HAVE
CURRICULUM, GET THE BEST
TEACHERS POSSIBLE, AND THEN
THERE'S TESTING RESULTS.
I BELIEVE JUST RECENTLY WE HAD
SOME RESULTS THAT --
>> AND WE'LL HAVE TO HOLD THAT
FOR ANOTHER PROGRAM, SENATOR
WIGER.
WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON
YOUR NEW POST AS THE EDUCATION
FINANCE CHAIR AND THANK YOU
FOR JOINING US.
>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
>> AT THE FORUM, EDUCATION
LEADERSHIP AND REFORM WAS ALSO
DISCUSSED.
>> OVER THE LAST DECADE,
THERE'S BEEN THIS GROWING
RELIANCE ON VOTER-APPROVED
OPERATING LEVIES TO FUND
SCHOOLS.
AND SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS FIND
IT RELATIVELY EASY TO PASS
VOTER-APPROVED LEVIES.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF TAX
CAPACITY IN THEIR DISTRICTS,
BUT OTHER DISTRICTS, OR MAYBE
IT'S THE MIX OF THE CLASSES OF
PROPERTY, OTHER DISTRICTS
STRUGGLE AND MANY HAVE NO
VOTER-APPROVED LEVIES AT ALL.
AND SOME DISTRICTS ARE AT THE
CAPITOL OVER $1,800 A PUPIL.
SO I THINK THIS NOTION THAT WE
CAN CONTINUE TO GO DOWN THE
ROAD AND ASK SCHOOL DISTRICTS
TO LEVY LOCALLY, HAVE VOTERS
VOTE AND LEVY LOCALLY IS
CREATING A VERY POOR EDUCATION
POLICY BECAUSE IT'S CREATING
FUNDING DISPARITIES IN
DISTRICTS ALL OVER THE STATE.
THE MINNESOTA MIRACLE THAT WAS
PASSED INTO LAW IN THE EARLY
'70s CREATED A STATEWIDE
LEVY AND SAID, THERE'S A
CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF EVERY
COMMUNITY'S PROPERTY TAX THAT
SHOULD BE DEDICATED TO THEIR
LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND
THEN THE STATE FILLED IN THE
BALANCE.
SO, I THINK EVEN GOING BACK TO
1971 WHEN THAT INITIATIVE WAS
TAKEN ON, THERE WAS, I THINK,
AN EXPECTATION ON THE PART OF
THE LEGISLATURE THAT THERE
WOULD BE SOME LOCAL EFFORT TO
FUND SCHOOLS.
WE SIMPLY DON'T HAVE THE
RESOURCES TO MAKE IT TOTALLY
STATE FUNDED, BUT I THINK TO
THE EXTENT THAT THOSE LOCAL
TAXES ARE A CONSISTENT BURDEN
ACROSS THE STATE ON A
HOMEOWNER, ON THE SAME VALUE
BUSINESS, I THINK IS THE RIGHT
POLICY.
>> WE BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A
NEED TO MAKE SURE WHAT WE DO
IN EDUCATION ACTUALLY PRODUCES
AN IMPROVEMENT IN EDUCATION.
AND SPENDING MORE MONEY CAN BE
USEFUL IF IT RESULTS IN
SOMETHING POSITIVE, BUT SIMPLY
SPENDING MORE MONEY AS A GOAL
DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE
THINGS BETTER.
AS A MATTER OF POLICY, THERE
OUGHT TO BE A QUESTION RAISED
ABOUT, IN THE LAST, WHATEVER,
20, 30 YEARS AS WE'VE SEEN THE
MINNESOTA MIRACLE AND OTHER
THINGS HAPPEN, WHAT HAS BEEN
THE RESULT OF THAT POLICY IN
TERMS OF IMPROVEMENT IN
EDUCATIONAL RESULTS?
HAVE WE SEEN A BENEFIT?
HAVE WE SEEN STUDENT
PERFORMANCE INCREASE SINCE THE
'70s AS WE'VE SEEN A LARGER
AND LARGER PERCENTAGE OF
FUNDING COME FROM STATE
SOURCES?
AND, THE CONSEQUENT RESULT OF,
I THINK, A BIGGER BARRIER
BETWEEN LOCAL FAMILIES AND
PARENTS AND LOCAL SCHOOL
BOARDS.
ARE WE SERVING THE PURPOSE OF
REALLY UNDERCUTTING LOCAL
CONTROL OF EDUCATION IN FAVOR
OF CENTRALIZING POLICY MAKING
HERE IN St. PAUL OR IN
WASHINGTON, D.C., AND USING
THE SORT OF EQUALIZING OF
MONEY OR INCREASING FUNDING AS
AN EXCUSE TO DO THAT AND DOES
THAT SERVE THE PURPOSE OF
HELPING EDUCATION OUTCOMES.
I'M NOT SO SURE.
♪
>> BRANDON PETERSEN WILL MAKE
THE TRANSITION FROM THE HOUSE
TO THE SENATE.
WE SAT DOWN WITH THE NEWLY
ELECTED SENATOR TO TALK ABOUT
HIS WORK ON THE HOUSE
EDUCATION COMMITTEES AND WHAT
HE SEES AS VITAL TO EDUCATION
REFORM.
SENATOR BRANDON PETERSEN,
THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.
>> YEAH, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> SENATOR, YOU'RE COMING TO
THE SENATE AFTER A TERM IN THE
HOUSE.
AND I WAS WATCHING AN
INTERVIEW THAT YOU DID RIGHT
BEFORE THE 2011 SESSION, AND
ESSENTIALLY YOU WERE TELLING
THE STORY ON HOW YOU WERE A
RELUCTANT CANDIDATE EVEN THEN,
HAVING TURNED DOWN, INITIALLY,
THE REQUEST TO RUN FOR THE
HOUSE.
YOU OBVIOUSLY CHANGED YOUR
MIND.
YOU WON THAT SEAT.
SO WHAT DID YOU GAIN FROM THAT
EXPERIENCE, AND IS PUBLIC
SERVICE NOW KIND OF IN YOUR
BLOOD?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WELL, IT WAS A GREAT
EXPERIENCE.
I SERVE THE DISTRICT THAT I
GREW UP IN AS WELL, WHICH
SOMETHING I MENTIONED IN THAT
FIRST INTERVIEW.
>> *** RAPIDS.
>> YEAH, *** RAPIDS,
NORTHWEST *** RAPIDS,
ANDOVER, RAMSEY AND ANOKA.
AND IT'S JUST A GREAT HONOR TO
SERVE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU GREW
UP WITH AND YOUR NEIGHBORS AND
FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT ALL
LIVE THERE.
THE FIRST SESSION WAS, I KNOW,
HISTORICALLY UNIQUE.
AND WE COVERED PRETTY MUCH
EVERYTHING THAT SEEMED TO --
THAT POSSIBLY COULD HAVE
HAPPENED, YOU KNOW.
I MEAN, FROM THE SHUTDOWN, THE
CONTENTIOUS BUDGET BATTLE WITH
THE GOVERNOR, A LOT OF VERY
SIGNIFICANT REFORMS IN
EDUCATION, WHICH I WORKED ON
WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, AS
WELL AS MY LEGISLATIVE
COLLEAGUES.
SO, IT WAS A VERY EVENTFUL
FIRST TWO YEARS.
>> AND YOU DID SERVE, AS YOU
KIND OF MENTIONED, YOU SERVED
ON THE EDUCATION COMMITTEES
AND THE PROPERTY TAX
SUBCOMMITTEE WHILE IN THE
HOUSE.
SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
PRIORITIES YOU PLAN TO PURSUE
HERE IN THE SENATE?
>> WELL, THE NEXT TWO YEARS IS
GOING TO BE CRITICAL,
ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF
EDUCATION POLICY.
AND I'LL CONTINUE TO --
CONTINUE MY WORK IN THE
SENATE, HOPEFULLY WORKING IN A
BIPARTISAN MANNER WITH THE
RESPECTIVE CHAIRS, TORRES RAY,
WIGER, SENATOR WIGER, AND
SENATOR BONOFF.
THIS LEGISLATURE IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TEACHER
EVALUATION LAW, WHICH WE
PASSED IN 2011.
THE DEPARTMENT WILL COME BACK
TO THE LEGISLATURE DURING THIS
SESSION TO IMPLEMENT ITS
RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A VERY
IMPORTANT CONVERSATION FOR
STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ACROSS
THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.
>> SO, SENATOR, GIVEN YOUR
WORK IN THE HOUSE EDUCATION
COMMITTEE, THERE ARE PROPOSALS
FLOATING AROUND THE CAPITOL
THAT WOULD CHANGE THE PER
PUPIL FUNDING.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF SOME OF
THOSE THAT ARE BEING DISCUSSED
AT THIS POINT?
>> WELL, I THINK MOST OF US
WOULD BE OPEN TO REFORMING THE
FUNDING FORMULA.
RIGHT NOW IT'S VERY
COMPLICATED.
IT'S VERY -- THERE ARE GREAT
VARIANCES IN REGIONAL FUNDING
FROM THE INNER CITY TO THE
SUBURBS TO RURAL MINNESOTA.
I THINK MEMBERS WILL BE OPEN
TO THAT CONVERSATION, SO LONG
AS THOSE REGIONAL
CONSIDERATIONS ARE BEING
CONSIDERED.
IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
INCREASING THE STATE'S
OBLIGATION TO PUBLIC
EDUCATION, I THINK WE'RE GOING
TO GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE
DONE IN THE PAST, IN
PARTICULAR, WHEN WE MOVED AWAY
FROM THE GENERAL EDUCATION
LEVY, FOR EXAMPLE.
ONE OF THE REPLACEMENTS TO
THAT WAS THE STATEWIDE
BUSINESS PROPERTY TAX, AND THE
RATIONALE WAS THAT WAS THERE
TO OFFSET SOME OF THOSE OTHER
THINGS THAT WERE BEING
ELIMINATED.
WE WOULD HOPE THAT IF THERE'S
A MOVE BACK IN THAT DIRECTION,
THAT OBVIOUSLY STATEWIDE
BUSINESS PROPERTY TAX WILL SEE
A REDUCTION CONSIDERABLY, BUT
GENERALLY WE BELIEVE -- I
BELIEVE THE G.O.P. CAUCUS
BELIEVES THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION
IS A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF STATE
GOVERNMENT AND WE'RE COMMITTED
TO MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE
EQUITABLE FUNDING IN ALL THE
DISTRICTS.
>> AND IT DOESN'T TEND TO BE A
PARTY LINE CONVERSATION,
TYPICALLY.
SO, GIVEN THAT, THERE IS
USUALLY SOME BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT AND BIPARTISAN
OPPOSITION TO SUCH PROPOSALS,
DO YOU THINK PEOPLE CAN COME
TOGETHER AND FIND A WAY TO
ALLOW THE STATE TO PAY MORE
FOR PER PUPIL FUNDING, IF THAT
IS INDEED THE PROPOSAL THAT
MAKES IT THROUGH, AND WOULD
YOU SUPPORT INCREASING REVENUE
IF IT COMES TO THAT?
>> WELL, WE HAVE SOME
ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO WORK
WITH.
SO, YEAH, I WOULD ABSOLUTELY
SUPPORT DEDICATING MORE
REVENUE THIS BIENNIUM THAN WE
DID IN THE PAST.
I THINK IT'S NECESSARY.
I ALSO THINK THAT, AGAIN,
THOSE REGIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
IN TERMS OF FUNDING, MAKING
SURE THAT OUR RURAL MEMBERS
AND THEIR DISTRICTS ARE BEING
TAKEN CARE OF AS WELL AS THE
INNER CITY AND THE SUBURBAN
DISTRICTS.
AS LONG AS ALL OF THOSE THINGS
ARE BALANCED, I THINK YOU
CAN -- WE CAN FIND SOME COMMON
GROUND.
>> WILL YOU KIND OF STAND BACK
IF YOU REALLY DON'T SUPPORT
SOMETHING?
YOU KNOW, KIND OF TALK TO ME
WHERE YOU ARE ON THIS SCALE OF
COMPROMISE.
>> SURE.
ABSOLUTELY.
I MEAN, I'M -- I'M NOT
CONCERNED WITH WHETHER IT'S A
DEMOCRAT IDEA OR A REPUBLICAN
IDEA.
I'M CONCERNED WITH THE MERITS
OF THE IDEA ITSELF.
SO, I'D HAVE TO KNOW EXACTLY
WHAT THAT ISSUE WAS, BUT,
ABSOLUTELY.
IN PARTICULAR, ON ISSUES
SURROUNDING EARLY EDUCATION,
SURROUNDING EDUCATION FUNDING,
I HAVE A LOT OF AGREEMENT WITH
DEMOCRATS.
IN THE HOUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, I
WAS ONE OF EIGHT HOUSE
REPUBLICANS WHO SUPPORTED
MAINTAINING THE EARLY
EDUCATION GRANT WE HAD IN THE
EDUCATION OMNIBUS BILL.
SO, I HAVE REACHED ACROSS THE
AISLE ON SOME IMPORTANT
ISSUES, ESPECIALLY IN
EDUCATION, AND I WILL PROBABLY
CONTINUE TO DO SO.
>> SO, SENATOR, WHAT ARE SOME
OF YOUR EXPECTATIONS AS YOU
TRANSITION OVER TO THIS BODY?
>> WELL, COMING FROM THE
HOUSE, OF COURSE, THERE'S
ALWAYS KIND OF THIS
COMPETITION BETWEEN --
FRIENDLY COMPETITION BETWEEN
HOUSE AND SENATE COLLEAGUES.
AND ONE THING I KNOW, IT'S
MUCH MORE FORMAL.
I DIDN'T WEAR MY TIE TODAY.
BUT I'LL HAVE TO, YOU KNOW,
WEAR A JACKET AND A TIE EVERY
DAY.
AND I KNOW THAT THE SENATE
HOLDS ITSELF IN HIGH REGARD IN
TERMS OF CUSTOMS AND USAGE OF
THE BODY.
AND THAT'S GOING TO BE -- I'LL
HAVE TO MAKE SURE I ADDRESS
THE PRESIDENT AND MAKE SURE I
KEEP THINGS AT MAYBE A HIGHER
DECORUM THAN WE DID IN THE
HOUSE.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE
RAMBUNCTIOUS OVER THERE.
BUT ASIDE FROM THAT, I JUST
LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO
KNOW MY COLLEAGUES ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE, JUST LIKE,
YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE WE DID IN
THE HOUSE.
>> HOW ABOUT EXPECTATIONS FOR
THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION?
>> WELL, I MEAN, AGAIN,
SERVING IN THE MINORITY WILL
BE A NEW EXPERIENCE FOR ME.
MY EXPECTATIONS, I'M HOPING
THAT THE DEMOCRATS WILL LIVE
UP TO THEIR WORD TO WORK IN A
BIPARTISAN MANNER AND AS LONG
AS THEY MAKE THOSE OVERTURES,
BEING IN THE MAJORITY, I'LL BE
RECEPTIVE IN TRYING TO WORK
WITH THEM.
>> OKAY.
SENATOR BRANDON PETERSEN,
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
TODAY, WE REALLY APPRECIATE
IT.
>> THANK YOU.
♪
>> ANOTHER NEW MEMBER IN THE
SENATE WITH AN EDUCATION
BACKGROUND IS SENATOR-ELECT
SUSAN KENT.
SHE SAT DOWN WITH US TO TALK
ABOUT HER WORK AND HOW IT WILL
TRANSLATE INTO HER PRIORITIES
HERE AT THE CAPITOL.
SENATOR, I WANT TO BEGIN WITH
YOUR BIO AND IT TALKS ABOUT
YOUR WORK IN THE PUBLIC,
PRIVATE AND NONPROFIT SECTORS,
BUT YOU'VE NEVER HELD PUBLIC
OFFICE.
SO, WHAT MADE YOU RUN FOR THE
MINNESOTA SENATE?
>> IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE CLASSIC
COLLECTION OF FACTORS THAT
CAME TOGETHER.
YOU KNOW, I HAD PURSUED A
PRIVATE SECTOR BACKGROUND FOR
MANY YEARS IN MARKETING, WHICH
THE MORE I DO THIS, THE MORE I
REALIZE, IT'S REALLY A GOOD
SORT OF TRAINING GROUND FOR
THIS.
IF YOU DO MARKETING WELL,
YOU'RE LISTENING TO PEOPLE AND
HEARING WHAT IT IS THAT THEY
WANT AND NEED, AND THEN BEING
RESPONSIVE TO THAT.
SO THAT WAS MY PRIVATE SECTOR
SIDE.
AND THEN THINGS -- I GOT
INVOLVED IN PUBLIC EDUCATION
AS A PARENT AND A COMMUNITY
MEMBER.
AND LIKE A LOT OF WOMEN, I
THINK -- I'VE ALWAYS BEEN
INVOLVED AND INTERESTED IN
POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT AND
ISSUES.
BUT AFTER I GOT INVOLVED
THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION, I
REALIZED, YOU KNOW WHAT, I
COULD MAYBE DO THIS.
SO MANY WOMEN THINK, HEY, NO,
PUBLIC OFFICE ISN'T FOR ME.
BUT AS I SAW IT MORE, I WAS,
LIKE, I COULD DO THIS.
>> THAT WAS A PRETTY AMBITIOUS
LEAP TO GO RIGHT TO STATE
ELECTED POSITION AS OPPOSED
TO -- SO, WHAT DREW YOU TO
THIS?
>> WELL, I'VE GIVEN A LOT OF
CONSIDERATION FOR RUNNING FOR
SCHOOL BOARD IN RECENT YEARS.
BUT AFTER WATCHING IT FROM THE
FRONT ROW, I REALIZED THAT THE
BIGGEST ISSUES ARE REALLY AT
THE STATE LEVEL.
AND THE OPPORTUNITY AROSE IN
OUR DISTRICT AND I DECIDED TO
TAKE THE LEAP.
>> SO, YOU DID, AS YOU JUST
BRIEFLY TALKED ABOUT, A LOT OF
YOUR WORK, ACCORDING, AGAIN,
TO YOUR BIO, HAS CENTERED ON
HELPING CHILDREN AND MOTHERS,
IN PARTICULAR.
HOW WILL YOUR LEGISLATIVE
PRIORITIES REFLECT SOME OF
THESE AREAS OF EXPERTISE?
>> WELL, I'M REALLY HONORED
AND GRATEFUL THAT I'M GOING TO
GET TO BE INVOLVED IN
EDUCATION.
A LOT THROUGH MY COMMITTEE
ASSIGNMENTS.
AND THAT HAS BEEN ONE ASPECT
OF MY FOCUS ON CHILDREN, LONG
BEFORE I BECAME A PARENT, I
FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT
JUST THE RIGHT THING, BUT IT'S
SMART POLICY TO MAKE SURE OUR
KIDS GET A GOOD START, YOU
KNOW, IT'S THE BEST INVESTMENT
WE CAN MAKE AS A SOCIETY TO
MAKE SURE OUR CHILDREN ARE
HEALTHY AND WELL EDUCATED AND
PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE.
>> AGAIN, YOU WORKED IN THE
SOUTHWESTERN COUNTY SCHOOL
DISTRICTS IN A VARIETY OF
CAPACITIES SO WHAT ARE SOME OF
THE PROBLEMS THAT YOU IDENTIFY
SPECIFICALLY IN SCHOOLS THAT
YOU HOPE TO TACKLE HERE ON A
LEGISLATIVE LEVEL?
>> WELL, THE MOST OBVIOUS ONE
IS THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN
KEEPING UP WITH FUNDING IN
TERMS OF INFLATION.
MINNESOTA HAS SUCH AN AMAZING
TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE IN
EDUCATION, IT'S A HUGE PART OF
WHY WE ARE -- WE HAVE BEEN SO
SUCCESSFUL FOR SO MANY
GENERATIONS, AND, YOU KNOW,
IT'S JUST PRETTY CLEAR THAT
WE'RE BEGINNING TO PUT THAT IN
JEOPARDY, AND I JUST FELT LIKE
NOW IS THE TIME TO SEE WHAT WE
CAN DO AND FOCUS ON
RECOMMITTING.
>> IS FUNDING THE -- SAFE TO
ASSUME THAT FUNDING IS THE
MOST GLARING, OBVIOUS CONCERN.
BUT WERE THERE SOME OTHER --
>> YEAH, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY
THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES, AS
YOU SORT OF LOOK ACROSS THE
BOARD, IN TERMS OF, ARE WE
DOING THE RIGHT THINGS WITH
CURRICULUM, YOU KNOW,
EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT THE
UPSIDES AND THE DOWNSIDES OF
ALL THE TESTING THAT WE'RE
DOING WITH OUR KIDS, AND, YOU
KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND THE OUTCOMES AND
HOW WE ARE DOING.
BUT IS THAT REALLY LEADING TO
THE MOST EFFECTIVE TEACHING IN
THE CLASSROOM?
YOU KNOW, ARE WE EDUCATING OUR
CHILDREN THE BEST WHEN -- IF
WE'RE TEACHING TO THE TEST, AS
THEY SAY.
SO THERE ARE JUST A LOT OF
QUESTIONS AND A LOT OF ISSUES
THAT I THINK WE NEED TO GET
BACK TO REVISITING.
>> SO, AS A FRESHMAN, I WANT
TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF YOUR
EXPECTATIONS BOTH FOR YOURSELF
AND FOR THIS LEGISLATURE.
>> UM-HUM.
FOR MYSELF, I KNOW, IT'S GOING
TO BE A LOT OF HARD WORK, A
HUGE LEARNING CURVE.
I'M ALREADY IN THE MIDDLE OF
EXPERIENCING THAT.
AND IT'S EXCITING AND A LITTLE
DAUNTING.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE I'M
UP TO IT.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT'S BEEN REALLY GRATIFYING
THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, BOTH
DURING THE CAMPAIGN, WHEN I
WAS TALKING TO VOTERS, AND
HEARING WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY,
YOU KNOW, OUT IN MY COMMUNITY,
AND THEN AS I'VE BEGUN COMING
TOGETHER WITH OTHER SENATORS
AND OTHER LEGISLATIVE LEADERS
FROM AROUND THE STATE, IT'S
VERY CONSISTENT.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE FROM
MINNESOTA WANT US TO FOCUS ON
THE BASICS.
WE NEED -- WE HAVE SOME BUDGET
AND FISCAL ISSUES THAT WE'VE
GOT TO GET IN ORDER AND TAKE
VERY SERIOUSLY.
WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF
FINANCIAL CHALLENGES AND THOSE
ARE THE TOP PRIORITIES.
WE CAN'T TAKE CARE OF ANYTHING
ELSE UNTIL WE GET THAT HOUSE
IN ORDER.
AND REALLY BEGIN REGROWING
MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY AGAIN SO
THAT WE CAN GET BACK TO THE
KINDS OF THINGS THAT MINNESOTA
VALUES SO MUCH.
>> NOW, SENATOR, AS A
FRESHMAN, WHAT DO YOU THINK
YOUR ROLE IS IN ACTUALLY
CRAFTING SOME POLICIES,
SPECIFICALLY IN THE AREA OF
EDUCATION?
>> WELL, I HOPE THAT, YOU
KNOW, AS AN ACTIVE PARENT AND
ONE WHO IS ACTIVELY PARENTING
A A-- A SCHOOL-AGE CHILD RIGHT
NOW, I HAVE THAT FIRSTHAND
EXPERIENCE, SO I CAN BRING
THAT PERSPECTIVE.
I BRING, YOU KNOW, MY
PERSPECTIVE OF HAVING WORKED
WITH A LARGE SCHOOL DISTRICT,
AND A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT
INTERESTING PERSPECTIVES THAT
I SEE OUT OF MY COMMUNITY.
MY DISTRICT COVERS THREE
SIZABLE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND,
SO, IT REPRESENTS, YOU KNOW, A
PRETTY BIG CROSS-SECTION, I
THINK, OF EDUCATION IN
MINNESOTA.
>> DO YOU INTEND TO PASS
LEGISLATION IMMEDIATELY OR DO
YOU THINK YOU'LL JUST KIND OF
SIT BACK FOR A BIT AND SEE HOW
THINGS UNFOLD?
>> I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING, YOU
KNOW, IN PENCIL WRITTEN, READY
TO GO.
I WANT TO SEE SORT OF HOW
THINGS GO AND JUMP IN WITH MY
COMMITTEES AND THOSE TEAMS AND
SEE HOW I CAN BEST PLAY MY
ROLE.
>> YOU SEEM EXCITED.
>> I AM.
I'M ABSOLUTELY EXCITED.
IT'S BEEN -- YOU GET INTO
SOMETHING LIKE THIS NOT
EXACTLY SURE WHAT YOU'RE
GETTING INTO.
AND I AM THE KIND OF PERSON
WHO DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF
PREJUDGMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS
LIKE THAT.
SO I'VE BEEN JUST REALLY
PLEASED WITH THE PEOPLE I'VE
GOTTEN TO MEET AND THE WAY THE
SENATE AND THE LEGISLATURE IS
SORT OF STRUCTURED AND
ORGANIZED AND REALLY READY TO
HIT THE GROUND RUNNING ON
JANUARY 8th.
>> AND MY LAST QUESTION FOR
YOU THEN IS, WHAT KIND OF
PRESSURE, IS THERE ANY
PRESSURE, DO YOU THINK, FROM
MINNESOTANS TO GET THINGS DONE
THIS SESSION?
>> I THINK -- FROM MY SENSE OF
TALKING TO MY DISTRICT, AND I
DO FEEL LIKE MY DISTRICT IS
SUCH A GOOD CROSS-SECTION, I
DO BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF
WORK TO DO.
THEY WANT TO SEE PROGRESS.
THEY WANT TO SEE PROGRESS
FOCUSED IN THE RIGHT AREAS.
AND, SO, I THINK IF WE CAN
SHOW THEM THAT, YOU KNOW,
WE'LL BE DOING THE RIGHT
THING, WHAT WE NEED TO NOT DO
IS WANDER OFF ON TO TANGENTS.
BUT I THINK IF THEY SEE THAT
WE'RE WORKING HARD AND
LISTENING TO THEM AND FOCUSING
ON THE REAL PRIORITIES IN
MINNESOTA, I THINK THEY'LL
HOPEFULLY BE PRETTY PLEASED.
>> OKAY.
SENATOR SUSAN KENT, THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
WE APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> IT'S NOW EASIER TO STAY IN
TOUCH WITH ACTIVITY AT THE
STATE CAPITOL.
SENATE MEDIA SERVICES IS ON
Facebook, YouTube AND
TWITTER.
FIND THE LINKS ON OUR HOME
PAGE.
SO, FOLLOW US AND FOLLOW THE
SENATE.
♪
>> THAT WRAPS UP THIS WEEK'S
PROGRAM.
FROM ALL OF US AT SENATE MEDIA
SERVICES, I'M JULIE BARTKEY,
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.