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Capitol View: February 10, 2012 Archive

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The Daily Digest (Dayton to veto tort reform laws, 17k in MN helped by Foreclosure settlement, House passes STOCK Act)

Posted at 6:21 AM on February 10, 2012 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest


Gov. Dayton is expected to veto tort reform legislation today. He has a media availability scheduled for 9:30. Dayton has until Saturday to take action on the legislation.

The LCCMR is scheduled to meet today. The first meeting since House Speaker Kurt Zellers attempted to fire the group's executive director.

A foreclosure settlement between large banks and state attorneys general could help 17,000 homeowners in Minnesota.

There are concerns and praise for the Minnesota's waiver to the federal No Child Left Behind law.

The House passed a bill that would block the use of state funds for union dues for child care providers.

The U of M's Board of Regents draw lines today for debate over Steve Sviggum's dual roles.

Some lawmakers say the invasive species fight is going too far.

A study says requiring a supermajority for a tax increase would increase property taxes.

Gov. Dayton says he isn't sure if he'll veto the so-called Castle Doctrine bill. The full Senate is scheduled to vote on the measure.

A bill that would ban executive rule-making has been approved by a Senate Committee.

Vikings Stadium

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak says he's still confident in their stadium proposal despite a gap in funding.

Ramsey County is trying again.

A Duluth lawmaker wants the Vikings to move to Duluth.

Same-sex marriage ban

Gov. Dayton says he believes Minnesotans will reject the proposed constitutional amendment.

Congress

ABC News is reporting that President Obama will announce an "accommodation for religious organizations" on the contraception rule.

President Obama's birth control policy has divided Democrats.

The House passed the Congressional insider trading bill. DFL Rep. Tim Walz introduced the legislation.

The EPA has delayed a proposed copper-nickel mine on the Iron Range.

Alabama Sen. Spencer Bachus is facing an insider trading investigation.

DFL Rep. Keith Ellison helps launch the Democratic campaign finance push.

A U.S. agency issued the first construction approval of a nuclear plant in the U.S.

Howard Stern ripped GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann on the air.

Party Politics

The DFL Party's debt is deeper than disclosed in December.

Race for Congress

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann says running for president was "one series of humiliations after another."

Race for President

Some Republicans are growing concerned that Mitt Romney isn't gaining strength.

AP says CPAC attendees aren't embracing Mitt Romney's campaign but believe he's better than President Obama.

Rick Santorum raised more than $2 million since Tuesday.

Dayton vetoes tort bills, rips GOP

Posted at 11:53 AM on February 10, 2012 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

DFL Governor Mark Dayton has vetoed the first bills sent to him this session, and he used the occasion to blast Republican legislative leaders.

Dayton rejected a group of GOP-backed bills that would have changed the rules for civil lawsuits. His veto letters described the bills as "legislative meddling." During a news conference this morning, Dayton said it was difficult to take the bills seriously since Republicans ignored the recommendations of judicial leaders and never contacted him or his staff.

"Thus it is hard for me to believe that this rush it to pass it strategy had any expectation of creating laws. Instead it appears to be just another political by the Republican majorities, as they provide their special interest friends, the rich and the powerfull with more favoritism and favors at the expense of most other Minnesotans."

Dayton also said the GOP claim that the measures would help grow jobs was "laughable." He said the bills would have mostly benefited large insurance companies in other states.

Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem, R-Rochester, said he was disappointed by the vetoes and the governor's comments.

"Get off the rhetoric. It's not productive," Senjem said. "We can do better than this, and we will do better than this. But the name calling is I think is not productive to the effort and is not going to help as we move through this session."

Republican House Speaker Kurt Zellers said Dayton owes an apology and an explanation to the Minnesota businesses that asked for the civil lawsuit changes.

January tax collections below forecast

Posted at 5:48 PM on February 10, 2012 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2012, MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Minnesota Management and Budget says general fund revenues were $107 million below forecast in January. The agency says revenues are $45.5 million less than forecast for the fiscal year that runs from July 1 to June 30. The latest revenue forecast details the state's tax collections for the past month.

The revenues, however, are only a portion of the state's overall financial picture. The unknown piece is how spending is tracking. The December budget forecast said Minnesota had an $876 million surplus for the current two-year budget cycle.

Gov. Dayton and the Republican-controlled Legislature are waiting for the Feb. 29 budget forecast to determine if they'll need to address any budgetary and spending decisions in the current session.

Here's the document from MMB:

January 2012 Revenue Collections Memo (2)

Dayton suggests there's always OT for stadium solution

Posted at 5:53 PM on February 10, 2012 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2012, MN Legislature, Mark Dayton, State Government, Vikings stadium

Gov. Mark Dayton says he'll make a Vikings stadium deal a priority next year if it doesn't pass this session. Dayton says he's still committed to seeking passage this year but in an interview with MPR News he said he's upset that a financing plan isn't in place yet. He said he wants the Legislature to vote on the measure this session but suggested it will be a priority regardless of the outcome.

"If we don't get it this session, I intend to bring it up next session and I'm optimistic we'll get it then," Dayton said. "I tell people that we'll get it this year or we'll get it next year."

The legislation has been stymied by a failure to get a financing plan in place. Minneapolis city officials are squabbling over whether there's enough support for a plan to build the stadium in that city. Ramsey County officials came forward with another plan today that relies on stadium-related taxes and fees. MPR's Tim Nelson covered that story today and you can read it here.

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The feature examines statements made by Minnesota politicians and checks them for accuracy. Based on data analysis, document reviews and interviews with non-partisan analysts, statements are rated true, misleading, false or inconclusive. More

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