Sen. Anderson joins colleagues to pass Higher Education, Jobs budget

Working through the night, Sen. Paul Anderson (R-Plymouth) and his Minnesota Senate colleagues worked to pass major higher education, jobs, agriculture, and environment budget bills. The bills were passed after steady conference committee negotiations with the House and the Governor to reach an agreement on state funding for each budget area.

Higher Education

The $3.28 billion higher education budget bill passed by the Senate on Sunday night provides funding increases for colleges and universities statewide, focusing on the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State system. The bill ensures important investments into our great institutions, addresses workforce needs in the Minnesota economy, and helps contain the rising costs of college as student debt reaches an all-time high.

This bill limits tuition increases at two-year state colleges to 1% for the next academic year and enacts a tuition freeze at both two- and four- year institutions for the following 2018-2019 academic year. It also includes a provision originally authored by Sen. Anderson to provide an increase of $36 million to the need-based Minnesota State Grant program to expand eligibility for financial aid as well as increase the amount awarded to students.

Minnesota’s State Grant program provides need-based aid to thousands of students from low- and middle-income families for college students attending both public and private institutions.

Other notable provisions championed by Sen. Anderson were passed with the omnibus higher education bill:

  • Workforce Scholarship Program: A $1 million proposal that will provide scholarships to students who enter certain academic programs in high demand industries.
    Including: Advanced Manufacturing, Agriculture, Health Care Services, and Information Technology.
  • Grants to Teachers of Color: Increases scholarship grants for teacher candidates of color to address the diversity shortage amongst Minnesota’s teacher workforce.
  • Developmental Education: Reforming preparatory plans to help get young people prepared for college-level courses at an affordable price.

“The higher education budget bill represents a significant bipartisan compromise between the House, the Senate, and Governor Dayton,” said Sen. Anderson. “This is a good bill for our students and makes critical investments in the University of Minnesota, the Minnesota State system, and our State Grant Program.”

The Higher Education bill passed the Senate by a 39-28 bipartisan vote.

Jobs, Energy, and Commerce

The Jobs bill passed early Monday morning provides $373 million to support economic development efforts across the state. The bill focuses on public-private partnerships that have proven to promote job growth and opportunity.

Several policy provisions included in the final bill were championed by Sen. Anderson throughout this session. One of the most notable provisions included in the bill is the creation of the Minnesota’s Youth Skills Training program. The Youth Skills Training Program connects high schools with work-based training opportunities, such as apprenticeships and internships. The Program looks to restore and modernize skills training programs for high-demand and high-skilled jobs at the high school level.

Anderson also authored legislation to fund the Job Creation Fund and Minnesota Investment Fund, both of which help to spur economic growth in local communities.

Anderson also delivered grants for the following non-profits:

  • Summit Academy OIC: To expand valuable industry training programs and build the Minnesota workforce.
  • SciTechsperience Internship Program: To help connect STEM college students with real-world opportunities.
  • GiveMN’s ‘Fighting Chance’: To support the North Minneapolis boxing club teaching urban kids discipline and fitness, and providing an important opportunity for personal, education and career mentorship.

“The Jobs bill is filled with pro-economic growth policies and investments to assist employers to create good jobs, businesses to grow, and communities to prosper,” said Anderson. “One of the priorities of this bill was public-private partnerships which will promote economic and workforce development opportunities in Senate District 44, and across the state of Minnesota.”

The Jobs bill passed the Senate with bipartisan support, by a 46-21 vote.

Sen. Anderson is serving his first term in the Minnesota State Senate representing Senate District 44, which includes the communities of Plymouth, Minnetonka and Woodland. Sen. Anderson is the Vice Chair of Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy and serves on the E-12 Policy, E-12 Finance, Higher Education Finance and Policy and Taxes Committee. He served on the conference committees for the omnibus higher educations and jobs bills.