These have run in papers in contrast to 60 - 80 news stories, features, and editorials supporting the MnSCU budget request. College and university presidents, faculty, and students have been writing letters, sending e-mail messages, and calling legislators about the budget and the pressure is building. Legislators will have a difficult decision balancing the interests of all constituents. Legislators are Listening Noticeably quiet through the battle between the Governor and educators are lawmakers. What they hear from constituents will help shape their response to the Ventura budget.
Lawmakers measure the citizen concern from all sectors in the weeks following the budget message.
If they only hear from the people that want tax cuts, that will be the direction they go. However, if they hear from students, parents, and business leaders about the lack of support for higher education, they will consider responding with additional resources for programs and services. The Senate tax committee is conducting citizen hearings around the state to take the pulse of how people are feeling toward the budget. Individual legislators are hosting town meetings in their districts to hear from citizens. All this feedback will be used by the majority caucuses in both the House and Senate to defend their bills.