TO THE EDITOR:
On Jan. 1, 2020, Minnesota’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) trust fund balance was $1.7 billion. The dramatic rise in unemployment during the pandemic resulted in the fund’s balance being drawn down to zero. Therefore, our state borrowed $1.2 billion from the federal government so the unemployed could receive assistance. Paying off this debt is key as we currently pay over $50,000 a day in interest to the federal government. Last year, we tried to get Governor Walz to repay the federal government earlier using the federal emergency assistance fund to avoid daily interest. Now, the governor is looking to do this at the end of session in May thus accruing even more interest. We need this done before March 15 when three premium surcharges would take effect.Therefore, the Senate put forward a $2.73 billion proposal this session to immediately pay off the state’s $1.2 billion in UI debt, pay the accruing interest and replenish the trust fund. This will protect employees’ benefits and help businesses survive. SF2677 recently passed the Senate and now goes to the House. The UI fund is paid by the employer, not employees, and is a special premium based on wages. Until the fund reaches a level considered adequate, our state’s businesses will be penalized through a total of 16.5% average higher premium surcharges. If employers are required to pay higher premiums, they will not have the money to hire employees and increase salaries or buy new equipment. And it puts at risk future employee benefits. Small businesses, which make up 75% of all businesses, are already struggling due to the pandemic. Those who survived could now be forced to close due to these greatly increased premiums. Paying off Minnesota’s UI debt is just good government. Our businesses and employees need the Legislature and governor to get this done now.
Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer
(R- Big Lake)
TO THE EDITOR:
“It’s for the kids!” is cried so often that it has lost its meaning. Maybe it should be “Parents Beware!” In many states, parents are standing up for the kids…some even in MN. More parents need to know what is going on in the classroom, not only the curriculum. The divisive agenda related to race and gender identity is also in the annual Minnesota Student Survey (MSS) to be administered between January 18 and June 10, 2022. Schools, don’t do it—it’s optional. Parents, if your school opts in, opt your kids out. It’s not mandatory.We teach our kids to not let anyone touch them, especially not “their private parts.” Now the MN Department of Education (MDE) is harvesting their “private data”—racial identity, gender identity, attitudes about parents and school, emotions, sexual activity, substance use/abuse, etc., and for what purpose? The MDE knows it’s wrong—they include help links for students traumatized by the survey. Parents teach moral boundaries, but the survey suggests morally unacceptable behavior is normal and even expected. Invasive data collection (13-27pages) robs kids of instruction time. Focus should be on restoring learning lost during the disruptive lockdowns and distance-learning practices.
Beware! Protect the kids!
Dr. Phyllis E. VanBuren
Clearwater, MN
