Polinaut: May 17, 2009 Archive

Pawlenty line-item vetoed $85 million from bonding bill.

Posted at 12:06 AM on May 17, 2009 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)

Governor Pawlenty line-item vetoed $85 million from a $300 million bonding bill. Here are the victims:

$24 million for U of M's Bell Museum,

$11 million for Health and Science Center addition at Lake Superior Community and Technical College

$5.25 million for Carpentry and Industrial Mechanical Technology and Shops and Mesabi Range Community and Technical College

$5.75 million for Metropolitan State University Smart Classroom Center

$13.3 million for North Hennepin Community College Center for Business and Technology

$3.625 million for classroom renovations and MnSCU

$5.78 million for Ind. School District No. 38, Red Lake

$3 million for Rail Service Improvement

$2 million for Early Childhood Learning and Child Protection Facilities

$6.5 million for Mankato-Civic Center expansion

$2 million for Minneapolis-Shubert Performing Arts and Education Center

$3 million for St. Cloud Civic Center expansion

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Governor's latest offer

Posted at 1:04 AM on May 17, 2009 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)

Here's the latest offer from Gov. Pawlenty:

Governor's Offer

Sunday, May 17, 12:30 a.m.

Close as much of the remaining $2.7B gap (after line item vetoes) as possible through mutually agreed upon items with the goal of making as much progress as possible and limiting the size of potential unallotments.

Categories of agreement could include:
- House DFL K-12 shift level ($1.775 billion)
-LGA, related items, $14 million in tax compliance and other agreed upon
items
- Mutually agreed upon higher education reductions
- Additional spending reductions in signed budget bills
Several of these proposals were reflected in your 9:30 p.m. Saturday offer that is still being discussed in the Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy at this time.

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Override anticipation builds at the Capitol

Posted at 2:26 PM on May 17, 2009 by Tim Pugmire (2 Comments)

Union workers greeted legislators today with chants of "override" outside the Minnesota House chamber.

Members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 5 were anticipating a vote to try to overturn Governor Tim Pawlenty's recent veto of a $1 billion tax bill. Democrats say the revenue is needed to help erase a $4.6 billion budget deficit and protect schools, hospitals and nursing homes. The Republican governor opposes any tax increase. Union leader Eliot Seide said public employees want a balanced budget solution.

"They want to cut unnecessary spending, like outsourcing and JOBZ," Seide said. "And they want to raise taxes fairly on those who have the best ability to pay. That's why we're here today."

If all 87 House Democrats stand united, they would need the help of at least three Republicans to override the governor's veto. House GOP leaders say that won't happen. The Legislature must adjourn by midnight Monday.

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House fails to override veto of GAMC

Posted at 6:49 PM on May 17, 2009 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

The Minnesota House failed to override Governor Pawlenty's veto of funding for General Assistance Medical Care in FY 2011. The vote fell along party lines, 87-47. DFLers needed 90 votes to override the veto.

The House is now trying to override Pawlenty's veto of a Tax bill that increases taxes $1 billion.

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Choi takes steps to run for Ramsey County Attorney

Posted at 8:50 PM on May 17, 2009 by Tom Scheck

MPR's Laura Yuen has the scoop:

St. Paul City Attorney John Choi is expected to take the first step in exploring a run for Ramsey County Attorney.

Choi, 38, plans to file papers Monday to form an exploratory campaign committee. The current county attorney, DFLer Susan Gaertner, is planning her own bid for the governor's race next year.

Choi, a former lobbyist and longtime DFL activist, says he's off to a good start: He has about 340 supporters on a Facebook page encouraging him to run for the 2010 race.

Since appointed to city attorney by Mayor Chris Coleman three years ago, Choi has gotten kudos from community groups for offering alternative programs for individuals who would be otherwise prosecuted for writing bad checks or driving without a valid license.

But Choi will have to answer to criticisms of how the city handled activists at the Republican National Convention last September. And he knows it could be an issue. "I expect there will certainly be some people upset with the RNC," he said. "But if I'm a candidate, I expect I'll address those concerns adequately to the greater public."

Dave Pinto, domestic violence prosecutor in the Ramsey County Attorney's office, has announced he will run for the same seat.

Stay tuned. Choi said he could know as early as this summer whether he'll formally jump into the race.

Minnesota House fails to override veto of Tax bill

Posted at 10:03 PM on May 17, 2009 by Tom Scheck

The Minnesota House failed to override Gov. Pawlenty's veto of a tax bill that increased $1 billion in taxes. DFL Rep. Gene Pelowski and DFL Rep. Jeanne Poppe of Austin joined every Republican to vote against the motion to override.

So what's next? Not sure. Democrats could try to negotiate a budget deal with Pawlenty but that seems unlikely right now.

DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung are quibbling on Twitter over who is supposed to take the next step in budget negotiations.

If no budget deal is reached, Pawlenty said he'll balance the budget on his own.