Capitol View: March 3, 2011 Archive

Dayton: Recess is over

Posted at 3:42 PM on March 3, 2011 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Governor Mark Dayton is accusing Republicans of political game playing after they put his tax plan up for a vote today in the Minnesota Senate and the Minnesota House.

Republicans said they knew there was bipartisan opposition to Dayton's plan to increase income taxes on top earners, and they wanted to get that opposition on record. Dayton sent a letter to DFLers prior to the vote urging them to reject the GOP amendment to end what he termed a "charade." Dayton later told reporters that Republicans were wasting their time.

"We've had a responsible relationship up until now, a respectful relationship," Dayton said. "But I'm starting to feel like back when I was teaching 9th graders. Recess is over. Time to stop playing games. Time to get to work."

Republicans argue that Dayton's plan would hurt small business owners, and slow the state's economic recovery.

Update: The House unanimously rejected the proposal 131-0.

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Dayton signs permitting bill

Posted at 4:49 PM on March 3, 2011 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Governor Mark Dayton signed legislation today to streamline the environmental review and permitting process for businesses in Minnesota.

Dayton issued an executive order in January directing the DNR and MPCA to begin speeding up the permitting process. Republicans included many of the same goals in their bill, including a requirement that state agencies issue or deny all all environmental permits within 150 days of submission. In a letter to the bill's chief authors, Dayton wrote that he shares their desire to help businesses locate or expand in Minnesota. He added that too many such projects have been unnecessarily delayed in recent years.

House Speaker Kurt Zellers praised the governor for signing the bill, which he said will provide businesses more certainty.

Conservation groups opposed a provision in the bill that allows developers to hire their own consultants to prepare an environmental impact statement.

Is Dayton thinking about revising income tax hike?

Posted at 6:50 PM on March 3, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

DFL Sen. Tom Bakk said today that Governor Dayton told him that Dayton was planning on revising who could be impacted on his income tax increase. Bakk, the DFL Senate Minority Leader, says Dayton told him he wanted to change his tax plan so fewer single filers would be taxed under his income tax hike. Dayton is proposing to increase income taxes on single filers who have an annual after tax income of $85,000 or more.

"He did indicate that he was going to do more on the income tax," Bakk said. "He is not going to raise any more taxes than he absolutely has to to balance the budget."

Dayton's spokeswoman said it's premature to talk specifics on what could change in Dayton's budget plan. She said Dayton is waiting for the analysis from the Department of Revenue on the repricing of his tax plan.

This wouldn't be the first time Dayton revises his budget plan. He dropped his income tax surcharge on those making more than $500,000 a year after the state's projected budget deficit was lowered from $6.2 billion to $5.03 billion.

Zellers: Sutton ain't my boss

Posted at 7:03 PM on March 3, 2011 by Tom Scheck (6 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

GOP House Speaker Kurt Zellers said he doesn't take his marching orders from MNGOP Party Chair Tony Sutton. Zellers made his comments after he was asked about a letter Sutton wrote to GOP lawmakers reminding them that the state doesn't need any new revenue. Zellers said he communicates regularly with Sutton but that doesn't mean he follows every recommendation.

"Chairman Sutton can send us all kinds of letters recommending all kinds of great things," Zellers said. "It doesn't mean that I have to do exactly what Chairman Sutton says. I got a pretty big independent streak in my German heritage."

As for new revenue, Sutton and GOP Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch said they oppose new tax increases. They were careful, however, to stay away from ruling out other revenue options like fees and gambling.

Zellers and Koch said their top priority is putting forward a balanced budget that erases a $5 billion projected budget deficit through spending cuts. He said discussions about other revenue may come after that.

"We got $33 billion in the checkbook. That's what we're going to spend, Zellers said. "If the governor has some ideas that aren't introduced yet that doesn't include a job killing tax increase, we're going to be more than willing to talk about that later on. Our first job now is to introduce a budget which is focused on where are you spending the money, what are you spending it on and what are the citizens of the state getting for value."

House and Senate Republicans will introduce their targets for each budget division next week. Expect the respective chairs to release their budget bills the following week.

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