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DFL Senate is Hypocritical on K-12 Funding Shift PDF Print E-mail
Press Releases - Press Releases
Written by Phil Krinkie   
Tuesday, 23 June 2009 11:25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Phil Krinkie

(651) 294-3590

Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller Criticizes K-12 Shift That He Supported

ST. PAUL – State Senator Larry Pogemiller criticized Governor Pawlenty for his plan to shift K-12 funding in an effort to balance the state budget.  In recent public comments on the policy, Sen. Pogemiller said the DFL State Senate majority is “against” the K-12 shift.  In reality, Senate DFLers, under Sen. Pogemiller’s leadership, proposed the shift as part of their budget balancing bill, and Sen. Pogemiller even cast a "yes" vote supporting it.

The practice of delaying payments to school districts has been used by the legislature to help balance the state's budget numerous times before, dating back to 1980.

“Not only is Sen. Pogemiller a hypocrite, he hasn’t mentioned that the State Senate itself voted in favor of the K-12 shift,” said Phil Krinkie, President of the Taxpayers League of Minnesota.  “I want to remind Sen. Pogemiller that the K-12 shift has been used frequently by DFL-led majorities in the past.”

“After being in session for five months and not working with Gov. Pawlenty on a budget solution, I find it ironic that Sen. Pogemiller to now crying foul on the K-12 shift that the State Senate passed under his leadership,” added Krinkie.  “Again, I applaud the Governor for providing the necessary leadership to solve our $6.4 billion deficit.”

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