email from Congregations Concerned for Children

Inspiration:
"There is no trust more sacred than the one the world holds with children.
There is no duty more important than ensuring that their rights are respected, that their welfare is protected, that their lives are free from fear and want, and that they grow up in peace." Kofi A. Annan

Background: The Conference Committees are still discussing the differences between their Omnibus Bills which contain proposals for child care and early education. There is little change from last week as they wait for budget targets to be set, which depends on the amount of available and projected revenue. So!

Action Needed: The leadership who will be setting the budget targets need to hear from you. They need to know what you think the spending priorities should be. We need to generate a LOT of noise about child care and early education...make your calls and ask others too also.

Call or email: (if you only have time to make one call, call the governor)
•Governor Tim Pawlenty, 651-296-3391 or tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us

Senate Majority Leader, Dean Johnson, 651-296-3826 or sen.dean.johnson@senate.mn

Rep. Steve Sviggum, Speaker of the House, 651-296-2273 or
rep.steve.sviggum@house.mn

Message: Minnesota cannot afford NOT to invest abundantly in our youngest children. They are now and have always been our highest priority. Please expand the child care assistance program so that every working family can access quality child care, remove the freeze on child care provider rates, and invest in ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education), Head Start, School Readiness, and the MELF (MN Early Learning Foundation).