♪ >> Cathy: IN STATE HISTORY, ONLY ABOUT HALF OF THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS HAVE PASSED.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER HAS SOME MORE CONTEXT ON THIS UNDER THE RADAR BALLOT QUESTION.

>> MINNESOTA PROVED THAT LOVE IS BIGGER THAN GOVERNMENT.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> Mary: UNLIKE ALL OF THE ATTENTION AND EMOTION HAT ACCOMPANIED THE MARRIAGE AMENDMENT IN 2012, THE LATEST BALLOT QUESTION FOR HE PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND IS DECIDEDLY UNCONTROVERSIAL AND UNDER THE RADAR.

YOU DON'T GO INTO THIS LIGHTLY.

>> NO, NO, NO, NO.

THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WE HAVE BEEN, OR AT LEAST I HAVE BEEN KIND OF CONTEMPLATING THE WHOLE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN AT THE LEGISLATURE.

THIS IS FOR OUR STUDENTS.

I MEAN, THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

IT HITS CLOSE TO HOME.

AND WE KNOW THAT OUR SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE ARE STRUGGLING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THEIR STUDENTS BECAUSE BECAUSE OF -- >> THE FOREFATHERS OF THE STATE AID THIS ISSUE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING EVERY VOTER IN MINNESOTA WORKS ON.

SO THIS BALLOT INITIATIVE FOR THE PERMANENT SCHOOL TRUST LUNDS IS AN -- LANDS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE EVERYONE WHAT THIS IS, AND HOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO BENEFIT THE STUDENTS NOW ABOUT THE IN THE FUTURE.

A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF STATE LEGISLATORS JOINED SCHOOL BOARDS AND ADMINISTRATORS TO LAUNCH A CAMPAIGN TO A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WOULD DISTRIBUTE MORE MONEY TO ALL OF MINNESOTA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITHOUT RAISING TAXES.

>> WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO KICK OFF THIS NCREDIBLE CAMPAIGN.

>> WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AS TEACHERS, IF WE WANT SUCCESS FOR OUR STUDENTS, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DIG DEEPER, DEEPER IN OUR POCKETS.

WE'RE CONTINUALLY PULLING OUT MONEY FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES.

>> THE DRUM BEAT YOU HEAR AS A PARENT OF KIDS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL IS ABOUT FUNDING.

AND CUTS TO FUNDING.

>> THIS IS REALLY, IN MANY WAYS SEEMS TO BE TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE AND IT KIND OF IS.

>> Mary: THE MEASURE'S AIM IS TO MODERNIZE THE STATE'S PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND, A TRUST CREATED IN STATEHOOD IN 1858.

THAT PAYS PUBLIC SCHOOLS USING REVENUE FROM TIMBER SALES, MINERAL LEASES, AND INVESTMENT RETURNS ON PUBLIC TRUST LAND.

>> WE HAVE NOT TOUCHED THAT LANGUAGE SINCE STATEHOOD.

SO, IN 166 YEARS, IT HAS STAYED JUST THE SAME.

>> BEING FROM THE RANGE, PERMANENT SCHOOL TRUST FUNDS ARE EVERYWHERE.

RIGHT?

AS THE STATE GREW AND DEVELOPED, THESE LANDS THAT USED TO BE IN EVERY COUNTY, EVERY TOWNSHIP, MOST OF THEM, OVER 70% OF THEM ARE IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS, THE COUNTIES I REPRESENT.

AND HOW WE MANAGE THOSE LANDS, WHETHER IT BE TIMBER SALES, TACONITE MINING, 89% OF IT EVERY YEAR COMES FROM U.S.

STEEL MINNTAC.

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF MONEY, THE SCHOOL FUND HOLDS MORE THAN $2 BILLION, AND PAID OUT ABOUT $2-- 2.5% OF ITS VALUE.

THIS AMENDMENT WOULD INCREASE THAT TO ABOUT 4.5% GOING TO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.

THIS IS POPULAR.

IT UNANIMOUSLY PASSED THE HOUSE.

BIPARTISAN, HOW DID THIS DO IN THE HOUSE?

>> UNANIMOUS.

>> Mary: AND THE SENATE?

>> I'M TELL YOU, IN THE HOUSE, I TELL PEOPLE, IT WAS LIKE A FRICKIN' LOVE FEST OVER THERE.

>> Mary: SO WHAT HAPPENED IN THE SENATE?

>> IT AS BEAUTIFUL.

IN THE SENATE IT DID NOT GO AS WELL.

WE HAD ABOUT TWO DOZEN SENATORS THAT DECIDED NOT TO VOTE FOR THIS.

>> WHEN IT PASSED THE HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY, I DON'T THINK THAT'S EVER HAPPENED WITH A BALLOT QUESTION.

THEY COULDN'T FIND ANOTHER TIME.

THERE WAS OTHER TIMES WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE A FULL LEGISLATURE AND IT WAS UNANIMOUS, BUT WE NEVER HAD 134-0.

SO I THINK THAT'S A REALLY POWERFUL WAY TO EDUCATE.

>> Mary: OTERS WILL SEE THIS QUESTION ON THEIR BALLOT.

SHALL THE MINNESOTA CONSTITUTION BE AMENDED TO INCREASE THE FUNDING GOING TO ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM THE PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND, WHICH IS A FUND THAT SUPPORTS SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITHOUT RAISING INDIVIDUAL INCOME OR PROPERTY TAXES EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2027.

OF >> THIS IS MONEY THAT IS DUE TO THE KIDS.

I MEAN, WE USED TO JOKE, WE TALK ABOUT THIS, EVERY KID IN MINNESOTA IS A TRUST FUND KID BECAUSE OF THE PERMANENT SCHOOL TRUST FUND.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE A PAYOUT WITH A BUNCH OF HOLES IN IT, THERE'S LEAKS ALL OVER THE PLACE, IT ISN'T GOING TO MEET ALL THE NEEDS THAT WE WOULD LIKE, TO IT'S NOT GOING TO FULLY FUND OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY GOING TO HELP.

I MEAN, FOR EVERY STUDENT, IT COULD BE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 30 AND $35 ADDITIONALLY.

>> Mary: SO THERE'S STILL LOCAL CONTROL?

>> 100%.

AND THAT'S THE BEST PART ABOUT THESE FUNDS.

THEY COULD BE USED FOR ANYTHING.

THE ARKING LOT IS ALL BUSTED UP AND THE BUSES ARE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING OVER IT.

THESE DOLLARS CAN HELP FIX IT.

>> Mary: BLANK VOTE ON A QUESTION COUNTS AS A NO VOTE.

VOTERS ARE A LITTLE ANGRY, A LITTLE MAD AT GOVERNMENT, CONCERNED ABOUT FRAUD.

ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT THAT COULD BE A NO VOTE?

>> I KIND OF DON'T.

BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH A POSITIVE THING.

THIS IS SUCH AN EXCITING THING.

THIS IS SOMETHING FOR OUR STUDENTS, FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

SO MANY OF THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE CLOSING.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF HYPER PARTISAN ISSUES THAT HAVE PEOPLE PULLING US APART.

THIS CONSTITUTIONAL BALLOT INITIATIVE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO