The Democrats are always making the wrong decisions. But this time it came at the ultimate cost.
And a former Democrat VP candidate put American lives in danger with this dereliction of duty.
Minnesota’s Catholic Schools Left Out of Safety Funding Despite State Surplus
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, has come under fire for denying security funding requests from Catholic schools, even as the state sat on a $17.6 billion budget surplus in 2023, according to the National Catholic Register. Per the outlet, the Minnesota Catholic Conference, which represents the state’s six dioceses, twice asked Walz for modest grants to bolster safety measures against school shootings. Public schools, however, reportedly received similar funding, highlighting a disparity that has sparked debate.
A Call for Equal Protection
In a 2023 letter to Walz, the Conference, advocating for about 72,000 students in Catholic, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and independent nonpublic schools, made their case: “There are approximately 72,000 students enrolled in Independent, Catholic, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim nonpublic schools in our state.”
Citing the tragic March 2023 shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, perpetrated by a 28-year-old transgender, the letter added, “The latest school shooting at a nonpublic Christian school in Tennessee sadly confirms what we already know — our schools are under attack.”
Denial Creates Controversy
Despite the urgent request, Walz denied the funds. The Conference had sought inclusion in the governor’s proposed $50 million Building and Cyber Security Grant Program, arguing that leaving out nonpublic schools was unfair.
“The exclusion of one sector of schools — as you know, nonpublic schools serve many students and families in need of services and resources — is a discriminatory act against our students,” the letter stated.
The group also noted their ongoing efforts since 2020 to access the Safe Schools Program, which supports emergency training, security enhancements, and mental health resources but currently excludes nonpublic schools, charter schools, and intermediate districts, relying instead on levies for public schools.
A Missed Opportunity for Bipartisan Action
This issue dates back to at least 2022, when Minnesota’s bishops pressed Walz to call a special legislative session to extend Safe Schools funding to nonpublic schools, proposing $44 per student for security, regardless of school type, according to the National Catholic Register.
The proposal had bipartisan support, with members of the Democrat-Farmer-Labor Party, Minnesota’s Democratic affiliate, backing the House version of the bill. Still, Walz did not act, and the measure stalled.
Competing Priorities and Local Tragedy
The decision stands out against Minnesota’s hefty 2023 surplus. While the state prioritized other initiatives, such as creating a “trans refuge” to “protect those seeking gender-affirming care,” as reported by OutFront Minnesota, the lack of security funding for nonpublic schools has raised eyebrows.
This is especially true after a recent shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, where a transgender suspect k*lled two and wounded 14.
As Minnesota grapples with how to distribute its resources, the exclusion of nonpublic schools from safety funding continues to prove just how incompetent of a leader Tim Walz really is.
Stay tuned to Prudent Politics.
