Minnesotans should thank Pat Garofalo and Steve Drazkowski.
The two Republican legislators have done what needed to be done after a divisive legislative session and subsequent shutdown. By meddling in local school districts' decisions to ask voters for new levies, the two men have achieved a new Minnesota Miracle: uniting editorial voices to speak out against their nincompoopery.
The latest in the wall of opinion aligning against the House Republicans' overeach comes in Mankato. The Free Press's Mark Fischenich reports in Schools again turning to voters:
Rep. Pat Garofalo, a Farmington Republican who is chairman of the House Education Finance Committee, told Minnesota Public Radio that school districts have as much revenue as they need.
“Unfortunately, we have some school boards that are using people’s generosity to engage in the fleecing of taxpayers, and that’s just not acceptable,” Garofalo said.
Mankato Democratic Rep. Kathy Brynaert, a longtime member of the Mankato Area School Board before her election to the Legislature, said Garofalo’s rhetoric is out of line.
“I find that statement totally unacceptable from a state representative,” said Brynaert, a member of Garofalo’s committee. “Obviously he’s impugning people’s integrity when you say something like that.”
Brynaert sees his promised attempt to defeat referendums as a violation of democratic principles and the idea of a separation of powers. And she said the idea of school boards “fleecing” taxpayers doesn’t make sense because voters have to approve any tax increases at the ballot box — a standard not required of other elected bodies. . . .
Brynaert, a former school member, isn't alone. Even uber-conservative Glenn Gruenhagen, who serve on a school board as well, isn't following Garofalo and Draz's lead. And he points out a hard fact about levies:
And Gruenhagen isn’t sure the sentiments of elected officials hold much sway with citizens when they approach the voting booth. As a school board member, he voiced his thoughts on proposed referendums and they passed or failed “regardless of what I said.”
Garofalo seems to have missed the fact that voters can--and do--vote down proposed levies.
The long article also looks at the cost of the school shift and the value of the slight bump in funding in the ed budget bill. Go read the whole article.
On the op-ed page, the editorial board joins in the chorus of newspapers calling out the meddling with School levy attacks misleading, irresponsible. The board concludes:
Of course, we all should question how tax dollars are spent and that will likely be a strong focus in the months ahead, especially in these trying times. But we need thoughtful analysis and consideration from our leaders, not sound bites for political effect. Antics of both Garofalo and Drazkowski show there is more bullying going on in education than just in the classrooms.
Earlier posts about Greater Minnesota newspaper responses:
Marshall Independent editors give Pat Garofalo another thumbs down for school levy meddling
Another Greater Minnesota newspaper gives Republican chutzpah the thumbs down
Emo Senator: in a shocking development, Senator Parry talks sense on Owatonna levy
Steve Drazkowski plays victim card, personalizes debate with Winona Daily News
Following Drazkowski's shameful lead, MN House Republicans to oppose school levies
The shame of southeast Minnesota: Drazkowski tells constituents to starve local public school
Photo: Representative Pat Garofalo, bring Minnesotans together, one disgusted editor at a time.
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