Capitol View: May 21, 2011 Archive

Voter photo ID bill goes to Dayton after House passes 74-58

Posted at 1:37 PM on May 21, 2011 by Elizabeth Dunbar
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Speaker Kurt Zellers, top, bows his head in prayer as Chaplain Gordy St. Dennis opens the Minnesota House with a prayer Saturday. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

The Minnesota House voted 74-58 to require voters to show photo ID at the polls.

The Senate already passed the bill, so it will now go to Gov. Mark Dayton.

The House had planned on voting on the measure yesterday, but DFL lawmakers raised questions about whether enough notice was given for a conference committee at which some changes to the bill were made. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer, R-Big Lake, withdrew the bill from the floor yesterday and brought it back up today.

Kiffmeyer said all public meeting requirements were met.

"They were given a heads up and information by both the House and the Senate staff," Kiffmeyer said.

DFL members continued to question whether the public was given enough notice that the conference committee was meeting. Kiffmeyer said notice of the meeting was on the House website, and e-mails were sent.

After voting to take up the bill, DFL members listed several problems they see in the proposal, including concerns over whether certain groups of voters would be disenfranchised.

Rep. Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, said she's concerned college students won't have the time or flexibility to follow up with documentation after casting a provisional ballot.

"We all know teenagers, we all know young 20-somethings," she said. "As a practical matter, what this voter ID bill means, unfortunately, is that thousands, maybe tens of thousands of college students, would lost their opportunity to vote."

Republicans said the legislation is needed to improve integrity in the system.

Gov. Dayton has said he does not support the bill and will likely veto it.

GOP lawmakers start preparing for a government shutdown

Posted at 3:06 PM on May 21, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Republican lawmakers in the Minnesota House and Senate have introduced legislation that would keep Minnesota state government running if a budget deal is not reached by the start of the fiscal year. Several bills have been introduced over the last few days that are aimed at keeping at least parts of state government running beyond July 1.

"We have contingency plans for floods, we have contingency plans for natural disasters," Sen. John Howe, R-Red Wing, said. "We should have a contingency plan in case there's not a budget resolution."

Howe introduced a bill that identifies what would be considered essential services. It would continue to provide funding for public safety, health care services, child welfare, transportation, tax collections and disaster assistance

Lawmakers have also introduced a so-called "lights on" bill that would fund state agencies at 70 percent of current funding levels. Public safety would be funded at 100 percent of current funding levels.

Rep. Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, says a bill he introduced would also forbid the courts from determining what should be considered an essential state government service. In 2005 during a partial government shutdown, the state courts were forced to step in to determine essential services. Daudt says his bill keeps the courts out of the budget battle between the Legislature and the governor.

"We feel that kind of usurps the ability of the governor and the Legislature to make those decisions," Daudt said of the courts getting involved. "That decision really needs to come out of the Legislature and be signed by the governor."

Democrats argue that Republicans are putting forward "lights on" bills because they can't reach a budget deal with Gov. Dayton. Lawmakers have until midnight Monday to reach a budget deal with the governor. A special session will have to be called if a budget deal is not reached. State government would shut down if a budget is in place by July 1 when the new fiscal year starts.

"It's an admission on their part that they're not going to move," Sen. Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, said. "It almost seems like an admission on their part that not only can they get it done by May 23. They can't even get it done by June 30."

Republicans say Dayton and his commissioners have refused to negotiate the particulars of the budget bills they sent him.

The governor's office has not made a commitment to the "lights on" bills.

"The Governor is focused on finding a solution to the budget, and has already offered to meet Republicans halfway," Dayton's spokeswoman Katharine Tinucci said in an email. "We encourage them to join us in seeking compromise and solutions."

Dayton and GOP legislative leaders are at odds over the best way to erase the state's $5 billion projected budget deficit. Dayton is calling for an income tax increase on Minnesota's top earners and an equal amount of spending cuts. Republicans presented a budget to Dayton that erases the deficit entirely through spending cuts. Dayton says he'll veto that budget.

House moves to take up marriage amendment

Posted at 4:47 PM on May 21, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

The Minnesota House is preparing to take up the proposed constitutional amendment to ban same sex marriage. Rep. Mary Liz Holberg, R-Lakeville, made a motion this afternoon to put the amendment on the Calendar for the Day. That procedural move means the House can take up the bill at any time.

"It certainly looks that way," GOP House Majority Matt Dean said when asked by MPR News if the amendment was going to be considered tonight. He would not provide any other details.

Supporters and opponents of the amendment have been lining up outside of the House chambers with the hopes of convincing Republicans to not take up the vote. Several Republican members have also urged GOP leader to wait to pass the amendment. They said they would look bad if the House passes the it yet fails to reach a budget agreement with Gov. Dayton. Some of those members, however, say they will vote for the amendment if it comes up.

Democrats say they will use several strategies to try to shelve the amendment for the year. Rep. Karen Clark, DFL-Minneapolis, says they move to send the measure back to committee for further study. She says they'll also try to change the bill in an effort to force the House and Senate to form a conference committee to resolve the differences in the House and Senate versions.

The Senate has already passed the amendment. If the House follows suit, a question would be put on the 2012 ballot asking voters whether marriage should be defined as "between one man and one woman." The State Constitution would be amended if a majority of those voting in the election vote yes.

The state already bans same-sex marriage in law, but supporters of the amendment say putting the language in the Constitution would prevent a judge from overturning the law. Opponents say adopting the amendment would enshrine discrimination in the state's founding document.

Dayton: GOP isn't moving on budget

Posted at 6:06 PM on May 21, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Governor Dayton and GOP legislative leaders are still no closer to reaching a budget deal. The two sides held two private meetings on Saturday. But they still disagree on the best way to balance the state's budget.

Republicans have passed a $34 billion budget plan that erases a $5 billion projected budget deficit through spending cuts. Dayton says he will veto that plan. He wants a mix of cuts and higher income taxes on Minnesota's top earners to solve the problem.

Dayton says Republicans haven't moved off of their opposition to new revenue.

"I'm still waiting for them to suggest something on the revenue side," Dayton said. "They keep saying they're committed to the $34 billion budget and are not going to budge from that so we remain $1.8 billion apart."

The governor and lawmakers have until Monday night to finish their work. A special session will be needed if they can't reach a budget deal by then.