Capitol View: January 18, 2011 Archive

Dayton takes dim view of GOP plan to cut $1 billion

Posted at 12:03 PM on January 18, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

House and Senate Republican unveiled legislation today aimed at making a projected $6.2 billion state budget deficit smaller before their final budget bills come together at the end of the session.

GOP leaders said their first phase of the proposed budget fix would make permanent some of the unilateral spending cuts made by Governor Tim Pawlenty. They estimated total savings at $1 billion.

House Ways and Mean Committee Chair Mary Liz Holberg of Lakeville said she thinks the projected deficit could look smaller when the February economic forecast is released.

"You could have some revenue growth in the next forecast just attributed to modest economic recovery," Holber said. "You're probably getting darn close to 25 percent of that budget being taken care of before the February forecast comes out."

Governor Mark Dayton says he doesn't support any plan that doesn't address the full $6.2 billion budget deficit. He characterized the GOP plan as "piecemeal."

"I want to deal with this as a complete package." Dayton told MPR News. "To look at it as one side of cuts in the areas of higher education which will mean higher tuition for students and cuts to local government aid which means higher property taxes is taking too narrow a perspective on it."

Dayton says he'll release his budget plan on February 15.

There will be a crowded DFL Primary in 5B

Posted at 6:19 PM on January 18, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature

Filings have closed in the race to replace Tony Sertich in Minnesota House District 5B. The seat was vacated when Sertich resigned to take a job in Gov. Mark Dayton's Administration. Dayton appointed Sertich to the Iron Range Resources Board.

It should be no surprise that there will be a DFL Primary since the district has a heavy DFL index. Five candidates will compete for the DFL endorsement: Jeff Kletscher, Carly Melin, Raymond Lee Pierce, Shelley Robinson and John J. Spanish.

Melin appears to be the most active to date. She works for the Minnesota State Judiciary and is a resident of Hibbing. Her campaign has sent out several updates including an endorsement from former DFL Rep. Joe Begich. Former DFL state Sen. Jerry Janezich is also co-chairing her campaign. The Duluth News Tribune says she's also a former intern for Sertich.

Kletscher is no stranger to the State Capitol. He's been active in efforts to protect Local Government Aid for his city. He's the president of the Minnesota Association of Small Cities and is a board member for the League of Minnesota Cities.

Shelley Robinson is the Executive Director of Range Center, Inc., a nonprofit that serves adults and children with disabilities on the Iron Range. Robinson is also a member of the IRRRB.

Raymond Lee Pierce is also running in the DFL Primary. Politics in Minnesota says he's a country music singer and a DJ. He also ran for Sertich's seat in 2000 as a member of the Independence Party.

Paul Jacobson is running as a Republican. He received 33 percent of the vote when he challenged Sertich in November.

Cynthia Kafut-Hagen of Hibbing is running as a member of the Independence Party.

Gov. Dayton has scheduled the primary election for February 1st. The General Election will be on February 15th.

I suggest you check out Minnesota Brown if you want a more in-depth look at the candidates running. Aaron Brown is doing a good job of tracking the race.