Polinaut: May 17, 2008 Archive

The Daily Digest: 5-17-08

Posted at 8:53 AM on May 17, 2008 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

Welcome to a special edition, potential last day of session Digest. This is a brief update for all of you Legislature watchers who want to know what's going on.

The House and Senate are in session at 10 AM and they're hoping to process the remaining work. The problem is they still haven't reached agreement on a health care reform package or an education finance deal (that was as of 3AM). Everyone seems committed that today is the final day. MPR, Forum Communications, the Pi Press, the Star Tribune and AP have stories.

The governor also vetoed four more bills but signed a pool safety bill.

Tougher teen driving rules pass. Forum Communications and the Star Tribune have stories.

The House also passed a mortgage foreclosure freeze while the Senate passed a stem cell bill. Thanks, Commish.

2008 Race for President

Barack Obama campaigns in South Dakota.

Pawlenty for VP Watch

Gov. Pawlenty spoke before the Wisconsin GOP last night. He said he has no designs on the VP slot. He also gave some stern advice to the GOP.

Pawlenty: State can't implement REAL I.D. until June, 2009

Posted at 10:37 AM on May 17, 2008 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)

Gov. Pawlenty vetoed a bill on Friday that would forbid the state from implementing the REAL I.D. act unless certain conditions are met. He did, however, issue an executive order saying the "Commissioner of Public Safety may not implement the federal REAL I.D. Act before June 1, 2009 unless implementation is authorized by the Legislature." The executive order isn't on the governor's website yet.

Here's the link to the Executive Order. Here's his release:

Saint Paul - On Friday, Governor Pawlenty vetoed Chapter 334, House File 3807, an act that would permanently prohibit Minnesota from participating in or planning for the federal REAL I.D. program. REAL I.D. was a recommendation of the 9/11 Commission passed by Congress to create uniform standards for state identification cards.

Today, Governor Pawlenty signed Executive Order 08-08 which states that Minnesota will not implement REAL I.D. unless authorized by the legislature. The following is a statement from Governor Tim Pawlenty regarding his executive order.

"Throughout the debate over REAL I.D. I've made it clear I share many of the concerns raised regarding federal funding, privacy, state control and other issues. Opponents have also raised important constitutional questions that should be considered.

"This will give us an opportunity to work with our federal partners and state legislators to resolve the valid concerns regarding this program."

--30--

The Legislature was poised to attempt an override of the veto. We'll see if the executive order placates those concerns.

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Those kids think they're so darn funny

Posted at 10:55 AM on May 17, 2008 by Tom Scheck

MPR's Tom Weber is at the U of M Law School Graduation this morning. Gov. Pawlenty (a U of M Law School grad) is delivering the Commencement Address. One of the student speakers, Nicholas Smith, had this to say to the governor:

"Thanks to the governor for putting down his veto stamp for a few hours to be here."

Budget talks are set to resume at 12:15.

Budget update

Posted at 3:21 PM on May 17, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Health care experts are shuffling in and out of the Governor's Office. Tax Experts are shuttling out of the governor's office. DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher is staying in the office. I'm told that "side groups" are trying to hash out their differences on the Mall of America and a health care reform bill. Governor Pawlenty said earlier today that he's also working to include his veterans income tax exemption in the bill. Tick tock. Tick tock.

Health Care Reform deal reached

Posted at 5:41 PM on May 17, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

DFL Sen. Linda Berglin said Gov. Pawlenty and legislative leaders have signed off on a health care reform package.

Berglin said the plan will expand health care coverage for 12,000 Minnesotans (Seven thousand people will be enrolled in public programs. Five thousand on the private level). On the public level, they are expanding Minnesota Care coverage for people without children who earn up to 250% of the federal poverty level. That's $25,550 for a single person.

"It is steps toward reform but I think in the future we will need more reform but it's always good to be taking a few steps," Berglin said.

She also said five thousand people would have an easier time accessing health insurance coverage in the private sector. She said five thousand people would be eligible for a tax credit if they purchase health insurance on their tax forms. The individual would have to be uninsured for 12 months and be eligible for a 125 tax plan.

Employers who are eligible for 125 plans are the ones who don't offer health insurance coverage but offer their employee a pretax sum \to buy their own insurance in the private marketplace. DFL Rep. Paul Thissen said the new bill would allow individuals to deduct 20% of what they pay for their premiums.

The tax credit would be a on a one time basis.

Berglin also said they would provide grants to employers to encourage them to sign up for the 125 plans.

Governor Pawlenty's spokesman Brian McClung also praised the deal. He focused on the reform factors in the medical marketplace.

"We believe that this package will make Minnesota the leading state in the nation when it comes to health care transparency," McClung said.

McClung said there would also be requirements for e-prescribing by 2011.

The health care reform package has been holding up negotiations in the past few days. Berglin said she expected an overall budget deal to be finalized soon.

"I believe this agreement will help them reach that agreement fairly quickly," Berglin said.

But McClung cautioned that the progress made on health care does not mean the bill will become law. He said it will only be considered as a part of the overall budget package.

"We are not doing these in isolation. We look at this entire package holistically. All of these pieces have to come together as one. This is a very important piece for setting that up," McClung said

McClung also said they will be watching how the language is drafted in the overall bill.

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Like a worm crawling across the United States

Posted at 8:35 PM on May 17, 2008 by Tom Scheck

GOP Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem used those words on Friday when asked to characterize the pace of budget talks. DFL House Majority Leader Tony Sertich was asked which state the worm would be in if he started crawling on the East Coast (Yeah yeah!). His response: "The western edge of Colorado."

Nothing significant has happened since the announcement of the Health Care Reform package. The Tax Chairs just headed into the Governor's office with legislative leadership.

For the record:

Lawmakers have until midnight Sunday to pass legislation.

Seifert: Legislature to meet on Sunday

Posted at 11:33 PM on May 17, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Republican House Minority Leader Marty Seifert says the Legislature will probably meet in a rare Sunday session. Seifert said the budget bill that erases the state's $935 million projected budget deficit was all but agreed on but it would take several hours to get it processed and printed.

"There's no way they can turn the budget bill and the tax bill around and not keep us from going to Church."

DFL House Speaker Margaret Kelliher may have a different view but we haven't seen her at all tonight so we're not sure what her plan is. DFL Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller has been coming in and out of private negotiations but has basically been mum with the press corps.

DFL Sen. Tom Bakk said negotiators are still haggling over the length of the property tax cap in the Tax bill. The governor wants the cap that lasts three years. Democrats want it to last one year.