Issue Position: Jobs & Education… a Minnesota Tradition

Issue Position

On May 31, 2011 Governor Dayton advised Speaker Zellers he was vetoing the then proposed Omnibus Education Policy Bill for, among other things:

I am also extremely reluctant to sign any education policy or funding bill, which does not contain language and/or funding for early childhood education. During the floor considerations of [the Bill], the majorities in both the House and the Senate and subsequently in the Conference Committee, took the extreme positions of eliminating all language and funding for early childhood programs. Such drastic and misguided actions would wrongfully reverse the state's modest progress in supporting this critically needed service. …it is incomprehensible why early childhood education programming and funding, which educational experts say is the key first step toward education equity, would be eliminated. (emphasis added)

To improve business climate and create more jobs is more than a "bucket list" item. It is a necessary and crucial goal that must be paid more than mere lip service. What I hear from my neighbors is that this is very important to them, and not only for them, but for their children. And there is an awareness, if not a frustrated resignation, that there is no simple black and white solution to this problem.

I believe differently. I believe there are short term approaches to stimulating job growth but, more importantly, I believe there are viable approaches to the development of long term solutions to improve our business climate. There is no doubt, I am a homer. One thing I take great pride in for Minnesota is that we have more fortune 500 companies per capita than any other state in the union. This did not happen by accident, it is a testament to our forefathers. It is a testament to our nationwide reputation for quality education.

We need to dust off the apparently forgotten Minnesota blue print for education as the basic building block for the development, attraction and retention of business and industry. The symbiotic relationship between education and great local (not outsourced) business stability is simple. Minnesota's (and hopefully other) Fortune 500 companies must continue to believe their core workforce is not only well-suited for the world of work, they must continue to believe these workers are locally available, "home grown" if you will.

I'd like to take credit for this idea, but I can't. I study our history and recognize investment in education is the key component to improved business climate and job creation.

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