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Opinion, New Ulm Journal

Gov. Tim Pawlenty began his campaign for re-election in earnest recently. In today’s political world, that means his campaign is running TV ads.

Unfortunately, the governor’s lastest political message is based on the politics of mistrust. He shows his support for education by casting doubts on educators. His add supports his proposal for a law that would force school districts to spend at least 70 percent of their revenue on “classroom” education. He stands outside the door labeled “Assistant to the Assistant Deputy Vice Administrator” and tells you that school districts should be held accountable for how they spend your money. The inference is that given their druthers, school administrators would rather lavish money on themselves while shortchanging the kids. He says this change would funnel an extra $130 million into classroom instruction. (Without having to raise taxes!)

The fact is, Minnesota schools already spend, on the average, 69.2 percent of their money on classroom education. Even those already spending more than 70 percent may have trouble keeping class sizes down. Part of the school districts’ financial problems were caused by the state freeze on education spending while Pawlenty was holding the line on tax increase for a couple of years. Just last session the state finally loosened the purse strings.

Minnesota has a well-deserved reputation for good government, and good education. It’s sad when political leaders try to make points by pointing the finger at a different level of government.

http://www.nujournal.com/opinion/articles.asp?articleID=3672