![Minnesota House Passes Education Bill](http://townsquare.media/site/669/files/2015/01/Minnesota_State_Capitol.png?w=300&h=200&zc=1&s=0&a=t&q=89&w=980&q=75)
Minnesota House Passes Education Bill
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Republican-controlled Minnesota house has passed a budget for public schools and universities.
The legislation approved Monday is the first in a series of slim spending packages in the House as legislative leaders aim to save the state's $900 million budget surplus for tax cuts and road and bridge repairs.
The education budget would add an extra $55 million to public school funding to boost teacher diversity and some early learning programs. That's less than half the size of the Democratic-majority Senate's plan. It passed 84-46.
House Democrats call it a missed opportunity. House Minority Leader Paul Thissen says the Legislature should tap the surplus to boost preschool options and offer tuition relief to college students.
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