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Tim Pugmire
St. Paul, Minn.

Dayton calls on Pawlenty to reapply for federal education grant

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DFL gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton says he wants Gov. Pawlenty to reapply for a key federal education grant. Dayton is also calling on the Republican governor to stop blaming others for the failure of state's initial application.

Pawlenty wants the Legislature to pass a package of school reforms, including alternative teacher licensing, before making a second application for federal money under the "Race to the Top" initiative. He's often said the state teachers union is the main hurdle to those reforms.

During a Capitol news conference Tuesday, Dayton said Pawlenty should work with teachers, not against them.

"Unfortunately, Gov. Pawlenty shows every sign that he's more interested in political blame games, and wooing support for his presidential aspirations from anti-public school right-wing zealots, than he is with improving the quality of Minnesota's public education. That must end," Dayton said.

Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung responded that Dayton should read the reviews of the state's application, which he says clearly point out the need for further reforms.