Republican governors all around our country are slashing education to cover the cost of tax breaks for the rich. But, Governor Mark Dayton of Minnesota wants to invest a portion of his state's budget surplus in universal pre-K.

Rather than dishing out tax breaks, the Democratic governor actually raised taxes on the top two percent in his state, and it's turned in to quite a success. Republicans in Minnesota balked at the tax hike idea, saying that businesses would leave that state, but that hasn't happened. In fact, higher wages, stronger unions, and better education systems have lured business to that state, and that's paying off in terms of more investment in the people of Minnesota.

Universal Pre-K would ensure that every child starts school with stronger skills, and allow parents to work more hours instead of caring for kids. Families get the help they need to be stronger, and Minnesota gets a better educated workforce.

This is what happens when progressive ideas are allowed to become real policy. Governor Dayton has proven that these ideas work for the state of Minnesota, so let's keep fighting to implement these policies nation-wide.

-Thom

(What do you think? Tell us here.)

Tonight on The Big Picture on RT TV at 7pm and 10pm... Ian Millhiser: Injustices: The Supreme Court's Nearly Unbroken History of Comforting the Comfortable and Afflicting the Afflicted (check your local listings for stations or stream at RT or Free Speech TV, and catch past shows on Youtube)

Be sure to check out our new videos: CARBON, LAST HOURS & GREEN WORLD RISING - narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio

Big Picture Rumble:
- Nicole Williams, Democratic Strategist / Attorney
- Gianno Caldwell, Caldwell Strategic Consulting / Project 21
- Scott Greer, The Daily Caller

Conversations with Great Minds - Ian Millhiser, Injustices: The Supreme Court's Nearly Unbroken History of Comforting the Comfortable and Afflicting the Afflicted

Friday's Daily Stack

Article: "Press Availability" by John Kerry, Switzerland, April 2, 2015.

Article: "Bill O’Reilly Shocks Fox News Anchor By Expressing Support For Iran Deal" by Igor Volsky.

Article: "This Red State Almost Expanded Health Insurance to 280,000 Poor People -- Then Koch Group Got Involved" by Tana Ganeva.

Article: "‘Leave this planet’: Twitter trolls rage after Neil deGrasse Tyson shares ‘truthful’ Pledge of Allegiance" by Eric W. Dolan.

Site: Where is Mary Jo White?

Site: Media Matters for America

Article: "Good Friday" by Wikipedia.

Article: "GOP Legislator Rips Americans For Prosperity: 'You People Serve No Purpose!'" by Karoli.

Article: "Atlanta schools cheating scandal: 11 of 12 defendants convicted" by Steve Almasy.

Law: "Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act", 1970 (RICO).

Site: Move to Amend

Case: "Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission" (2010).

Article: "First Amendment to the United States Constitution".

Article: "14th Amendment, July 9, 1868 (citizenship, representatives, public debt)

Article: "Robin Hood" by Wikipedia.

Site: theyrule.net

Article: "Princeton Study: U.S. No Longer An Actual Democracy" by Brendan James.

Article: "Senator Denies 280,000 People Health Care, Calls Advocate 'Asshole' For Asking Him To Give Up Same" by Ryan Grim.

Article: "Ukraine air traffic controller suggests Kiev military shot down passenger plane" by ETN.

Site: Represent.us.

Article: "American Anti-Corruption Act" by Wikipedia.

Book: "Two Treatises on Government" by John Locke.

Book: "The Leviathan" by Thomas Hobbes, 1651.

Article: "Age of Enlightenment" by Wikipedia.

Article: "New Deal" by Wikipedia.

Article: "Great Society" by Wikipedia.

Article: "Brownback signs bill that allows permit-free concealed carry of guns in Kansas" by Bryan Lowry.

Book: "The Crash of 2016: The Plot to Destroy America--and What We Can Do to Stop It" by Thom Hartmann.

Book: "The Fourth Turning" by William Strauss, Neil Howe.

Site: Free Speech TV

Movie: "A Face in the Crowd".

Talk Radio News Segment:
- Victoria Jones

Article: "Watch: Cholene’s ThankList" by Ellen Ratner.

Site: Thank List.

Article: "Kerry dismisses critics of Iran deal: 'They don't have an alternative'" by Ben Kamisar.

Article: "Sen. Mark Kirk likens Iran deal to Nazi appeasement, warns of nuclear conflict" by Burgess Everett.

Article: "Skeptical Senate Puts New Iran Sanctions on Hold" by Eli Lake & Josh Rogin.

Article: "U.S. Adds 126,000 Jobs In March, Unemployment Hovers At 5.5%" by TRNS.

Article: "Alabama inmate freed after nearly 30 years on death row" by Jason Hanna and Ed Payne.

Article: "Report: Clinton Signs Lease For Brooklyn HQ" by Nicholas Salazar.

Article: "TRNS News Notes- 4/3" by Victoria Jones.

Article: "TRNS News Notes- 4/2" by Victoria Jones.

Article: "Fact Sheet on Reactor Pressure Vessel Issues: Embrittlement" by NRC.

Article: "Price Anderson Nuclear Industries Indemnity Act".

Article: "An Economic Agenda for America: 12 Steps Forward" by Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Article: "The Ozone Hole".

Clip: "Paul Weyrich - "I don't want everybody to vote" (Goo Goo)".

Monday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 12-3pm ET

Ian Millhiser of Think Progress will be here to talk about his book, Injustices: The Supreme Court's Nearly Unbroken History of Comforting the Comfortable and Afflicting the Afflicted.

And, the best of the rest of the news along with your calls right here on...

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Where is Mary Jo White?

Has Climate Change Impacted the West Coast Drought?

How the 1% Are Rewiring Brains & Future Generations

Full Show 4/2/15: Obama Can Reform Dark Money With A Signature

Thom discusses how much money it will take for our next president to be elected with attorney and radio host Mike Papantonio and how Obama can reform dark money via executive order with Public Citizen’s Craig Holman. Thom talks the Iran nuclear deal with Peace Action’s Paul Martin, how climate change is to blame for California’s record drought with climate scientist Michael Mann, and how the Detroit City Council is set to receive a raise with Rev. D. Alexander Bullock, founder of the Change Agent Consortium. In tonight's “Daily Take” Thom discusses the real reason why Republicans are obsessed with getting rid of the estate tax.