EdAction
Maple River Education Coalition PAC
105 Peavey Rd, St 116 
Chaska, MN  55318 
952-361-4931
http://www.EdAction.org
E-mail

April 4, 2001

ALERT: Senator won't hear education bill!

Many times we have seen mountains moved as legislators hear from the public in a big way. We have seen a new system of mental health care in the schools stumble because of your great outcry. We have seen the Repeal the Profile bill move along to the Education Finance Committee in the House because of your calls. And we have seen a glimmer of resistance to surface the Workforce Central Planning bills as a result of your continued contact with legislators. (More on that later. Please keep it up!)

Here we go again!

Senator Sandy Pappas, chair of the Senate Education Policy Committee, has steadfastly refused to hear SF 2089, the Repeal the Profile bill of this legislative session. And that's that!

Her justification? Last February, the Senate held a hearing regarding the report of the CFL-handpicked "Academic Panel" and, indirectly, heard comments regarding the Achieve Report. That is quite sufficient for her to conclude, Senator Pappas says, that there is overwhelming public support for the Profile of Learning!

Keep in mind, the Pappas hearing on the Academic Panel Report was given almost no preliminary notice. What groups were informed that there was a hearing? The old standbys who support the Profile seemed amazingly well-informed. MREdCoPAC got its act together quickly, making the only appearance of opposition at the Pappas hearing.

For Senator Pappas, however, one group testifying in opposition to the Academic Panel Report is evidence enough that Minnesota is in full support of the Profile of Learning.

Most urgent request:

It is very important that every one of us contacts Senator Pappas immediately! This is just one more brazen example of only one side being heard in the Minnesota Senate! We are witnessing an arrogance of power that gives little pretense of hearing from citizens, much less of being responsive to them.

We must also be contacting the leadership of the Senate, Senator Roger Moe. One word from Senate leadership is all that would be required for a hearing to be scheduled.

Sandy Pappas: Senate Education Policy Committee Chair
120 Capitol, 75 Constitution Ave
St. Paul, MN 55155-1606
Capitol phone: (651) 296-1802
email

Senator Roger Moe: Senate Majority Leader
208 Capitol, 75 Constitution Ave
St. Paul, MN 55155-1606
Capitol phone: (651) 296-2577
email

The bill to repeal the Profile of Learning (HF 2057) has been approved by the House Education Policy Committee and sent on to the House Education Finance Committee for a hearing. Representative Tony Kielkucki is the author.

Its companion bill, SF 2089, is authored by Senator Warren Limmer. There are numerous co-authors on both bills. This closed door in the Senate to thousands of parents, teachers, students and other citizens from around the state, who have opposed the Profile since its inception, must be met with an outcry from the public. Are these Senators too busy to hear the urgent concerns of the public?

Please call and write today!  Please get your neighbors and friends to do the same!  Please make a personal visit to the Capitol!

The time is very short for these hearings to yet be heard. Please make a difference again.

Thank you!!

P.S. By the way, if you will be at the tax rally at noon this Saturday, look for us. We'll be there, too! There is no bigger tax boondoggle than the Profile of Learning and School-to-Work!! Our families are paying for a system that is destroying a semblance of high quality education.

EdAction - 105 Peavey Rd, Ste 116, Chaska, MN  55318 
952-361-4931 - edaction@lakes.com - (c) EdAction - All rights reserved.