Tag: Senate District 48

Sen. Steve Cwodzinski Update: May 19, 2017

Week of May 14 – 20th

Insistence on Policy in Budget Threatens a Shutdown

Governor Dayton vetoed five budget bills this past week, again due to issues of policy being included in them. Later in the week, he offered new budgets targets to GOP leaders that were halfway between their original starting points. Then, late Friday, GOP leaders announced that they too would agree to halfway point budget targets, which I am thankful to hear.

 

However, I am incredibly disheartened by the fact that that they also announced a refusal to remove policy from their budget bills. With the legislative session nearing its end, the time has come to find what we agree on and get those things done. If one party does not like a policy provision, we should come back next year and find a compromise. The hour is getting late, and this last minute deal-making is how unintended consequences find their way into state law. Continue reading “Sen. Steve Cwodzinski Update: May 19, 2017”

Sen. Steve Cwodzinski Update: May 12, 2017

Week of May 7th – 13th

Governor Dayton Vetoes Uncompromising Legislation

Friday afternoon Governor Dayton vetoed five pieces of legislation that were solely GOP-designed, without any effort to compromise. Last year, I was disappointed in the partisan division we saw at the end of session, and so it is only more discouraging to see bills sent to the Governor with minimal DFL support (sometimes none at all).

Here are the bills that were vetoes, along with the Governor’s veto letter explaining why: Continue reading “Sen. Steve Cwodzinski Update: May 12, 2017”

Sen. Steve Cwodzinski Update: April 28, 2017

Week of April 23rd – 29th

Budget targets as a reflection of values

Senate and House Republicans released budget numbers today that move more than $200 million further away from Governor Dayton’s budget. Additionally, instead of using the February budget forecast, GOP leadership is using budget numbers from last year in an effort to portray their numbers as budget increases. This does not account for growth that was already projected, such as additional pupil units in education, and strikes me as deliberately dishonest math. Continue reading “Sen. Steve Cwodzinski Update: April 28, 2017”

Sen. Steve Cwodzinski Update: April 21, 2017

Week of April 16 – 23, 2017

Refining Educator Licensure, the Good and the Bad

A bill to revamp the state’s Board of Teaching and create a tiered educator licensing system was debated and passed off the floor of the Senate on Thursday, April 20. This language was also included in the E-12 education finance bill, but this version of it stands alone and separated from general funding measures.

While well-intentioned, this legislation seriously changes the alternative teacher preparation provider requirements, making it easier for an alternative program, such as Teach for America, to be established in Minnesota. I very supportive of getting young people into the teaching profession, however these changes could threaten teacher preparation quality. Concerns include elimination of student teaching requirement for alternative preparation candidates, mandatory teacher prep program approval with minimum educator standards, and removal of higher education partnership requirement. Additionally, there was nothing in the bill to make sure that young people stay in the profession once they are in it. Continue reading “Sen. Steve Cwodzinski Update: April 21, 2017”

Sen. Cwodzinski pens bill mandating high school civics courses

The following article by Sean Miner was posted on the Sun-Current website April 15, 2017:

Each Minnesota state legislator brings a unique set of experiences and proficiencies to St. Paul, and it’s not uncommon for a lawmaker to focus on what they know best.

In keeping with that, District 48 State Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (DFL-Eden Prairie) introduced a bill very much in his wheelhouse. The measure, which came before the Education Policy Committee and sent back for revisions, would mandate that all state public schools students take a certain number of credits in classes that teach civics.

Before embarking on his freshman term in the Senate, Cwodzinski taught primarily American government courses at Eden Prairie High School for more than three decades. He gleaned from that experience how valuable civics courses can be for high school students – particularly juniors and seniors. Continue reading “Sen. Cwodzinski pens bill mandating high school civics courses”