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The $3.7 billion state surplus is a testament to Minnesotans’ hard work in generating massive profits for corporations. The Star Tribune editorial arguing hoarding cash in the state reserves (”Save, don’t spend, state surplus,” March 1) ignores the real crisis that Minnesota families face with the enormous cost of child care. I’m a public school teacher, and the financial strain of student loans, a mortgage and single parenthood means my salary doesn’t stretch far enough. I earn too much to qualify for child care assistance yet too little to afford the cost of child care, which is nearly half my income — far surpassing the federal recommendation of 7% of income for child care expenses. I can either sideline my career to care for my three children or go into debt to pay for child care. My temporary solution is to be a graduate student, which allows me to qualify for child care assistance, but only for two semesters.
I am seriously considering moving to Illinois, where I have family, not because I want to, but because I cannot see a path that allows me to work and raise my children in Minnesota. Mine is one of many families trapped in a cycle where the soaring costs of child care create barriers to employment despite the necessity of affording child care.
The Great Start Affordability Act offered by state Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn and state Sen. Grant Hauschild will help families bridge this early learning gap until their children start kindergarten. Families like mine all over Minnesota need and deserve help now. We can’t wait any longer.
Qweyonoh Parker, Crystal
LEGISLATURE
Excluding the ill
The odious attempt by Minnesota GOP Sen. Steve Drazkowski to disenfranchise 85,000 people in the Twin Cities from representation in the Minnesota Senate (“GOP effort to end remote voting draws ire of DFL,” March 13) is neither appropriate or unexpected. His proposal that senators who are receiving cancer treatments or otherwise unable to vote from the floor be left out of the process is a blatant attempt to break our democratic process and empower the losing side in a free and fair election. I’m reminded of former GOP House Speaker Kurt Daudt’s “master mute button.”
So often we hear calls for better civics education in our schools. Civics has been taught in Minnesota public schools for over a century, but then again so has the Krebs cycle, and I doubt very many citizens remember those details. What we really need is civics continuing education, and it should be required of our elected representatives.
