Capitol View: December 16, 2010 Archive

Dayton, Senate GOP leaders meet

Posted at 4:30 PM on December 16, 2010 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Dayton meets with Senate GOP leadership from tommy scheck on Vimeo.

Dayton meets with Senate GOP (Part2) from tommy scheck on Vimeo.

Governor-elect Mark Dayton says he plans to work closely with Republicans in the coming months to try to grow jobs and boost Minnesota's economy.

DFLer Dayton made the pledge today following a private meeting with Senate GOP majority leaders about the 2011 session. Both sides say job creation is a common concern, and they hope to reach quick agreement on legislation. Dayton told reporters that he wants to streamline business regulations and speed up the response of state agencies.

"If the Legislature chooses to codify those timetables for a response, we'd work with them to make sure that they're reasonable and allow for public input, but that they also do permit businesses to get moving, get started and to expand," Dayton said.

Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch of Buffalo said she welcomed Dayton's proposal. She also said members of her caucus are open to all job-creating ideas, and they will have many of their own.

Dayton and Senate Republicans leaders also talked briefly about the prospects a new Vikings stadium bill.

Assistant GOP Senate Majority Leader Geoff Michel of Edina said the stadium issue took up about a minute and a half of the half-hour meeting. Despite last weekend's collapse of the Metrodome roof, Michel said the budget must come first.

"The picture, the photo, the You Tube is dramatic," Michel said. "But I don't think it's anymore dramatic or anymore urgent than the state of our economy. Our economy has deflated. Our state jobs picture has flatlined."

Dayton says he would support a stadium paid for through user fees, but not state tax money. He also says the project must provide an economic benefit to the state.

Buesgens resigns as State Government Finance Chair

Posted at 7:58 PM on December 16, 2010 by Tom Scheck (4 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature

GOP Rep. Mark Buesgens of Jordan sent an e-mail to Republicans in control of the Minnesota House saying he's resigning his position as State Government Finance Chair.

In the e-mail to incoming GOP House Speaker Kurt Zellers and incoming House Majority Leader Matt Dean, Buesgens wrote that other Republican caucus members were upset that Buesgens was picked to chair the committee.

I hereby submit my resignation from the chairmanship of State Government Finance. You and Matt need to get off to the best possible start with the caucus and have done a very good job thus far. However, it appears that naming me as a chair has created some problems that you don't need and I don't want. For me to continue on with the knowledge that there are colleagues with questions, concerns and outright hostility with this appointment is unacceptable. The best possible course of action to mend fences is for me to quickly step aside and I not only accept that, I welcome that.

Kurt, you know well that I truly live by the expression that one does not need to be a captain in order to lead. In fact, if the only way one can get folks to follow is by securing a captainship, well, that person isn't a leader at all! What I'm saying is that I do not need a title to be of some value in our caucus and I will not hold a title if there are questions, doubts or hard feelings by doing so.

Finally, I want to emphatically stress that I harbor no ill will or hard feelings. I seek only what is best for you, Matt and the entire caucus we attempt to lead our beloved state through these terribly trying times.

Buesgens is the second Republican to resign the position as chair and House Republicans haven't even gaveled in a meeting yet. They took control of the House after the November election and officially take control of the House in January.

Zellers appointed Buesgens to the post earlier this month after GOP Rep. Tom Hackbarth officially resigned his position as Chair of the House House Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Committee. St. Paul Police confiscated Hackbarth's gun in November after he was seen carrying the weapon in a Planned Parenthood parking lot in St. Paul. No charges were filed.

Zellers put GOP Rep. Denny McNamara in Hackbarth's post and Buesgens in the role of Chair of the State Government Finance Committee.

Buesgens was in the news earlier year after he pleaded guilty to drunken driving. He was sentenced to serve 60 hours of community service.

Kevin Watterson, a spokesman for the House Republican Caucus, was unaware of Buesgens e-mail when he was first contacted about it earlier today. He later sent a note saying "Not yet" when asked about Buesgens. He didn't return a follow up question as to whether Zellers was asking Buesgens to reconsider his resignation.

Zellers did not return a call seeking comment.

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