American Heritage update

It's getting late in the session and I wish that I could find a way to lurk around the Capitol, pester frazzled legislators, live blog from committee hearings, wear out my shoes (and feet) walking between the Capitol and the State Office Building, chat up the legislative assistants, catch a glimpse of TV reporters like Mary Lahammer or Tom Hauser waiting to be put on the air, make a Department of Education contact outside the House chamber, et cetera, without taking a vacation day to do it.

For example, by having a good-paying day job, I missed seeing Senate Education Committee chairman Sen. Steve Kelley (DFL-Hopkins) chop this key paragraph from the American Heritage in Minnesota Public Schools Act (SF1137):

Districts may not censor or restrain appropriate instruction in American or Minnesota state history or heritage based on religious references in documents, writings, speeches, proclamations, or records described under paragraph (a).

In God We Trust (censored).

It almost makes you want to go see sausage being made. The House Education Policy and Reform Committee's version of this bill (HF867), by the way, was referred out to the House Education Finance Committee with this paragraph intact.

Oh, well, I'll let my fingers do the walking and contact a Senator or two by phone today. It's the next best thing to being there. To find your Senator and research these and other bills: go to MinnesotaVotes.org. For example, Sen. Kelley's office number is 651-297-8065.

EDUCATION