Carlson Vows Aggressive Fight for Choice Plan in Minn.

By Joanna Richardson

Gov. Arne Carlson of Minnesota last week put the Democratic leaders of the legislature on notice that he would fight aggressively for his proposals to overhaul public education--and force it to compete with private and religious schools.

In his State of the State Address, the Republican governor outlined his plans to loosen teacher-tenure laws, lift state mandates on public schools, and finance programs to turn around inner-city school systems.

But it was Mr. Carlson's controversial school-choice initiative that took top billing in the speech. The governor said he wants to hand out tuition vouchers to low-income families in the state's largest cities, giving them the option to send their...