Mindy on the Issues
Education
The economic future of our state depends on the quality of the education we provide
for all children. The simple truth is that our children get only one chance for a
great education.
Education funding continues to fall short of student needs, resulting in
larger class sizes, fewer learning opportunities, and higher property taxes.
A world-class education requires resources. Some of these must be focused
broadly for the overall education system, and some must be focused more specifically
to support local innovations and evidence-based initiatives that increase student
achievement.
K–12
Mindy’s main focus in the legislature has always been education. The overall
goal of our early childhood and K-12 education system should be to ensure that high
school graduates are ready for the rigor of college or career technical education or
good jobs. The most important ingredient in meeting this goal is an excellent
teacher. Minnesota teachers must be well prepared and supported to meet higher
learning goals for an increasingly diverse student population.
Mindy serves on the House education policy and K–12 finance committees.
She is the chair of the K–12 Finance Committee. As a former teacher
and school board member, Mindy seeks to strengthen our schools by ensuring
adequate funding and also by demanding results through meaningful
academic standards, measured in multiple ways. Through accountability and necessary
resources, parents and teachers in local communities can choose how best to meet
the needs of their unique student population, without state micromanagement.
She has long been a champion for meeting the needs of gifted and talented
students, which research shows raises classroom achievement for all children.
Early Childhood
Research shows that investment in early childhood and family education has long-
term payoffs. Mindy knows that supporting parents in their responsibility for the
healthy development of our youngest children costs far less than compensating later
on for early neglect. Mindy passed legislation expanding Minnesota’s parental leave
law and also made Minnesota the first state to ensure adequate private space at work
and unpaid breaks for nursing mothers. She authored legislation that
restored all remaining funding cuts to early childhood family education and school
readiness, and fought to protect the education of young children from further cuts.
Higher Education
A strong higher education system is the foundation for our state’s economy.
The legislature followed through on its promise to make higher education a
priority. The modest boost in funding was intended to hold down rapid tuition
increases. Subsequent cuts to the state budget have raised tuition even higher
than it was before. We need to attract the best quality students and faculty
to support innovative research and business incubation, which results in a more
highly trained workforce.
Environment
We have an obligation to protect Minnesotans’ health and quality of life by
keeping our air clean and our drinking water safe. We also have an obligation to
preserve our forests, parks and wetlands for future generations. Mindy supported
a major initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as
what is thought to be the strongest “Renewable Energy Standard” in the country.
Mindy has received three environmental leadership awards from the League of
Conservation Voters. She won a legislative fight to require public notice before
chemical spraying occurs. She consistently earns top Sierra Club ratings.
Health Care
We must ensure the availability of affordable high quality
medical care for all Minnesotans. Health care options must be
portable and understandable.
No one should have to choose between prescription
drugs and groceries. Patients and doctors should make health
care decisions, not bureaucrats and insurance companies.
In recent years, Mindy has led the fight to improve
the mental health system.
Mindy continues to strive for more community care
and integrated services across state and local agencies.
She believes we need to
focus on outcomes while supporting local flexibility and control.
In 2004, she successfully authored nationally acclaimed legislation to facilitate
earlier intervention to prevent serious mental health problems from developing.
In 2007, she was chief author of comprehensive mental health reform
legislation that resulted in the single best funding year for mental health in the
state’s history.
Jobs and the Economy
As we all know, times have been difficult in Minnesota in recent years. For the
first time since the data have been kept (since 1976) Minnesota had a higher
unemployment rate than the national figure. In addition, both per-capita and
household income have declined.
Although there are signs of recovery, there has been a lot of damage done, and
Minnesota remains in difficult economic circumstances.
Our recent economic decline, compared to regional and national performace,
is directly related to the state’s recent choices to stop investing
in its vital infrastructure – including education, transportation,
and health care reform.
Hard work no longer guarantees economic security. Taxes on individuals have been
shifted from higher income payers to those less able to pay. Good jobs have been
lost, and new jobs pay less and provide fewer benefits. Employers and workers alike
struggle with skyrocketing health care costs.
Mindy believes that people who work hard should be able to support their
families. Recognizing the growing burden of health care and retirement costs,
especially for small businesses, she supports a system that is more suited to
today’s economy, with benefits that are portable from job to job. She favors
initiatives that generate higher-paying jobs, especially for small businesses that
create the most jobs. She also supports initiatives that help people get the
education and training they need to fill those jobs. These measures will help
restore Minnesota’s leadership in job growth.
Lower Property Taxes
Mindy has long supported fairer and lower property taxes for the metro
area and more equitable funding for our schools. Under the current
administration, home and business owners and renters in our community are forced to
bear a disproportionate share of the property tax burden. Mindy is chief author of
“The New Minnesota Miracle,” an education finance reform effort that will
ensure that the state fully funds its increased share of the costs of public education.
Failure to do so forces local property owners to shoulder too much of the burden.
Transportation
The I-35W bridge collapse underscores the need to reverse the state’s
long-term neglect of transportation funding. We need a comprehensive,
long-range approach that integrates roads and bridges, buses, rail, bikeways, and
other alternatives. People and businesses need multiple options. The roads-only
approach is not viable. We also need to make sure any plan includes the northeast
metro area, including our community.
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