Updated at 3:18 p.m.
Republican candidate for governor Tom Emmer's campaign is pushing back against an ad from a third-party group that attacks his education plan.
Alliance for a Better Minnesota, which has spent more than $1 million on ads since the primary, released a new spot late last week that criticizes Tom Emmer's education budget.
Alliance is heavily funded by unions and family members of DFL candidate Mark Dayton -- including major donations from his ex-wife.
"It would slash school funding, cutting programs our children need to succeed," says Heidi Schachtman of Emmer's plan. The ad then touts Dayton's proposal, laid out last week at a school in St. Paul.
"ABM seems to be sending a mixed message to the voters and children of Minnesota. Education is important, but facts and honesty are not," campaign manager Cullen Sheehan responded today in a statement.
Emmer's campaign points out that their plan would raise education funding $500 million over current levels. This is below the projected funding needs for K-12 over the next biennium, however.
They also note that Dayton's plan, which includes all-day kindergarden and reduced class sizes, is not paid for. Dayton's budget still has a $1 billion hole before the expensive education changes are considered.
