House GOP Shuts Down DFL Education Spending Proposal
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota House Republicans have shut down a DFL bid to spend far more on schools over the next two years.
Minority Democrats aimed to spend an additional $800 million on education, more than four times what the GOP is recommending. That tops even Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton's lengthy education wish list.
Republicans stopped a move to debate the Democratic proposal on the House floor Thursday. Their own plan is due for a vote Saturday.
House Minority Leader Rep. Paul Thissen says the Republican plan puts tax breaks before children and will lead to teacher layoffs and bigger class sizes. The DFL proposal would have tapped a projected $1.9 billion budget surplus to patch up rural schools and phase in universal pre-kindergarten.
Lawmakers have a month to finalize Minnesota's budget.
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