Capitol View: December 7, 2006 Archive

Dayton gives last Senate speech

Posted at 12:09 PM on December 7, 2006 by Mike Mulcahy (1 Comments)

Sen. Mark Dayton gave his last speech in the Senate today. You'll have to decide if that's a good or bad thing. He blamed President Bush and Republicans in Congress for failing to lead and says the country has changed drastically, and mostly for the worse, since he took office six years ago. Here's part of what he had to say:

Thus, I leave the Senate with strong feelings of frustration and disappointment. I have been unable to pass most of what I believed was most important to Minnesota, to our country, and to the world. I remain convinced that those policies would improve the lives of most Americans far better than what the Majority here enacted.

A cornerstone of democracy, which I honor, is that the majority prevails. Winning, however, does not make them right; and, unfortunately, it does not make them wise. In those decisions with which I have disagreed, time will tell us and the American people, who was right and who was wise.

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Finance Commissioner Peggy Ingison is leaving her post

Posted at 12:24 PM on December 7, 2006 by Tom Scheck

Minnesota Finance Commissioner Peggy Ingison is leaving her position to become the Chief Financial Officer of Minneapolis Public Schools. She's the first commissioner in Pawlenty's Administration to leave since the November election. Will there be more? If so, who else?

Here's the release:

Peggy Ingison Named Minneapolis Public Schools’ Chief Financial Officer MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 7, 2006 – Peggy Ingison, commissioner of finance for the state of Minnesota, has been named chief financial officer for Minneapolis Public Schools. She is expected to officially assume her post the first of the year.

As chief financial officer, Ingison will be responsible for overseeing the district’s daily finances as well as managing the annual budget.

“We are fortunate to have Peggy joining the district at a time when we are faced with budget shortfalls and continuous restraints. Her experience and knowledge of finance, particularly at the state level, will greatly benefit the children of Minneapolis. I am confident that she will lead us to where we need to be financially as a district,” said Interim Superintendent Bill Green.

Ingison has been a key member of Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s leadership team for more than three years, with immediate responsibility for ensuring the integrity and sound use of the state’s fiscal resources. She has also served on numerous committees dealing with budget, accountability reporting, and long-term strategic planning.

“I am excited about my new position. I believe that there isn’t any work more important than educating the children of Minneapolis. I am honored to work with Dr. Green and a team of professionals committed to enhancing the educational experience for students,” said Inginson.

Ingison has more than 30 years of experience in state government, serving as state budget director from 1996 to 2004 where she oversaw all aspects of the state budget, including development and preparation of the governor's budget recommendations to the legislature. Prior to that, she was a fiscal analyst with the Senate Finance Committee from 1982 to 1996, including six years as chief fiscal analyst. She began her career in state government in the Department of Transportation from 1976 to 1982, serving as an auditor and later financial manager of the transit office.

Ingison currently lives in New Brighton and is a 1974 graduate of Bemidji State University.

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Pawlenty shuffles cabinet

Posted at 1:02 PM on December 7, 2006 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

Well, Peggy Ingison was the first of several commissioners to leave. There are several more.

Here's the rundown: Ingison leaving as Finance Commissioner. Gene Merriam is leaving as DNR Commissioner. Ward Einess is leaving as interim commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development and will replace Dan Salomone as Revenue Commissioner (Salomone will serve as deputy commissioner). Tom Hanson, Pawlenty's deputy chief of staff, will replace Ingison. The DNR position is open. Here's the entire release:

COMMISSIONERS MERRIAM, Ingison ANNOUNCE PLANS TO LEAVE PAWLENTY ADMINISTRATION, OTHERS newly APPOINTED

~Ward Einess, Tom Hanson new commissioners; Laura Bordelon and Bob Schroeder fill Governor’s office posts ~

St. Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced that two members of his cabinet will be leaving the Pawlenty Administration and thanked them for their dedicated service. The Governor also named one of the commissioners’ replacements and announced the filling of two important posts in the Governor’s office. Governor Pawlenty also named a new commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Revenue, as well as the new state meth coordinator.

Finance Commissioner Peggy Ingison and Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Gene Merriam notified the Governor that they will be stepping down from their positions. Commissioner Ingison announced she is leaving to become Chief Financial Officer for the Minneapolis Public School district.

“Commissioner Ingison and Commissioner Merriam have been tireless public servants whose leadership has greatly benefited our state,” Governor Pawlenty said. “We thank them for their great work and wish them well as they move forward.”

Ingison has served as commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Finance since February 2004. Prior to her appointment as commissioner she served as state budget director for the Department of Finance. Ingison began her state government career in 1976, as an auditor for the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Merriam was appointed commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in January 2003. He served 22 years in the State Senate (1974-1996) where he was a member of the Senate Natural Resources Committee during his entire Senate career, including six years as Chairman. He served on the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources for 16 years (1980-1996), and was Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee for ten years. He was Chief Financial Officer with ECM Publishers, Inc. prior to accepting appointment as DNR Commissioner.

“Minnesota’s natural resources are state treasures. Preserving and improving them require a long-term strategy and Gene Merriam has been instrumental in leading and advancing our natural resource strategy. We are grateful for his service,” Governor Pawlenty said.

Governor Pawlenty has chosen Ward Einess, who has been serving as acting commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), to become commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Revenue (MDR). Current MDR commissioner Dan Salomone will remain at MDR to serve as deputy commissioner. Prior to accepting his current acting commissioner role, Einess served as deputy commissioner of DEED and as a senior policy advisory to Governor Pawlenty. Before joining the Pawlenty administration, Einess was director of fiscal policy for the Minnesota Business Partnership and a researcher and legislative analyst for the Minnesota legislature.

After serving as Director of Legislative and Cabinet Affairs in Governor Pawlenty’s office for the past four years and Deputy Chief of Staff for the last two, Tom Hanson has been chosen by Governor Pawlenty to replace Peggy Ingison as commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Finance. Hanson has over 17 years of experience in state and federal government to the Department of Finance. He received his B.A. from Concordia College in Moorhead and his Jurist Doctorate from George Mason University.

After serving since 2004 as senior policy advisory in the Governor’s office, Laura Bordelon has been chosen as the new Director of Legislative and Cabinet Affairs for Governor Pawlenty. Prior to working in the Governor’s office, Bordelon worked as a policy advisor for the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. Her years of service prior to that include public policy and public finance positions for the State of California and City of San Francisco.

Chuck Noerenberg, currently a senior policy advisory in the Governor’s office, has been appointed to fill Governor Pawlenty’s newly created position of state meth coordinator. Noerenberg will be responsible for coordinating the Pawlenty Administration’s efforts to address the meth epidemic in Minnesota, including overseeing the state’s meth offender registry, developing greater public awareness through meth education programs, and strengthening the state’s enforcement mechanisms.

Bob Schroeder will be returning to his previous role as Deputy Chief of Staff in Governor Pawlenty’s office.

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