CHANCE TO GET ELECTED.

BUT FIRST, GOVERNOR WALZ REVEALS HIS SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET PLANS.

>> GRANTED THE FONTS IS SMALL BUT IT DOES FIT ON ONE PAGE.

>> >> A ONE-PAGE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET FOR $226 MILLION IS WHAT THE GOVERNOR DESCRIBED AS RESTRAINED, WITH THE SURPLUS NEARLY GONE AND SOME CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON.

>> I'VE BEEN SAYING IT THIS YEAR AND I'LL CONTINUE TO SAY IT, THIS IS A BONDING YEAR, IT'S NOT A BUDGET YEAR.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO MEET THIS MOMENT WITH A SMALLER, INTENTIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET, MAKING SURE THAT MINNESOTANS, ESPECIALLY, WORKING CLASS MINNESOTANS, ARE SEEING A BUDGET THAT IS NOT ONLY BALANCED BUT RETURNING SERVICES AND HIGH-QUALITY RESPONSES TO THE THINGS THEY NEED.

>> WE KNOW THAT MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY IS STRONG AND HEALTHY AND IT'S THROUGH THOUGHTFUL, SPECIFIC BUDGETING LIKE WE'RE PRESENTING TODAY THAT WE WILL KEEP IT THAT WAY.

>> Mary: MORE MONEY FOR GREATER MINNESOTA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, WATER QUALITY AND FAMILIES WITH KIDS.

>> THE FIRST STATE IN THE NATION MAKE MINNESOTA THE FIRST STATE IN THE NATION TO DO ADVANCED PERIODIC PAYMENTS ON THE CHILD TAX CREDIT.

>> LAST YEAR, WE MADE GENERATIONAL HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN MINNESOTANS.

>> WE LITERALLY HAVE A LIST UP HERE OF ALL THE MANDATES FROM JUST LAST YEAR.

>> Mary: MEANWHILE, REPUBLICANS ROLLED OUT A BILL TO FIX WHAT DEMOCRATS PASSED LAST SESSION, FOR KIDS' EDUCATION, ALLOWING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DELAY MANDATES.

>> THE BILL IS IN RESPONSE TO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM SUPERINTENDENTS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND TEACHERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE.

AND THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR, THERE S SO MUCH THAT'S COMING AT THEM, ESPECIALLY OUR SMALL SCHOOLS, JUST DON'T HAVE THE BAND WIDTH IN ORDER TO INCORPORATE ALL OF IT IN THE TIMEFRAME THAT THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC QUITE UNDERSTANDS YET THE DESPERATE STATE OF AFFAIRS THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE FACING FROM THE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES OF THE MANDATES THAT WE'VE PUT ON THEM LAST YEAR.

I HAVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM AROUND THE STATE, NOT JUST MY OWN, BANGING DOWN MY OORS, BEGGING FOR HELP.

>> I AM THE ONLY SENATOR AND PROBABLY ONE OF THE FEW IN THE ENTIRE LEGISLATURE THAT ACTUALLY WENT BACK TO WORK IN A SCHOOL THIS FALL AND HAT I SAW IN THE HIBBING SCHOOL DISTRICT IS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN THE MESSAGE THAT WE'RE GETTING ABOUT HOW THIS HIS TORIC FUNDING IS HELPING SCHOOLS SO EVEN THOUGHS THERE IS THIS HISTORIC FUNDING, WE'RE HAVING TO LET TEACHERS GO AND SO THEY HAVE TO TRY TO FIND WORK SOMEWHERE ELSE.

ALMOST ALL OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN MY SENATE