Supporting Minnesota’s Schools / Supporting Minnesota’s Farmers

With a former teacher as Governor, DFL majorities in the legislature and a record budget surplus, Minnesota’s schools and school children are expected to receive a substantial financial boost in the next budget cycle. Senator Mary Kunesh, DFL-New Brighton, chair of the Senate Education Finance Committee, joins Capitol Report moderator Shannon Loehrke to talk about some of the funding priorities in the omnibus E-12 education finance bill.

The Senate’s agriculture funding bill was approved by the full Senate Thursday, April 13, on a vote of 58-7. Senator Aric Putnam, DFL-St. Cloud, chair of the Senate Agriculture, Broadband and Rural Development Committee, joins Shannon to describe various aspects of the agriculture finance package.

Also in the program, highlights from the Senate debate on a bill designed to help Minnesota capture federal dollars for energy infrastructure development and clean energy projects. Plus, former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords joins Governor Tim Walz to press for gun safety legislation, and the chair of the Senate Jobs and Economic Development Committee underscores the priorities of the omnibus jobs finance bill.