Capitol View Category Archive: MN Legislature

Dayton vetoes tort bills, rips GOP

Posted at 11:53 AM on February 10, 2012 by Tim Pugmire (0 Comments)
Filed under: Mark Dayton, MN Legislature

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.

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Senate looks to take down Anderson as PUC Commissioner

Posted at 2:07 PM on January 27, 2012 by Tom Scheck (5 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

The Minnesota Senate is expected to reject Gov. Dayton's appointment of Ellen Anderson to chair the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. Deputy Senate Majority Leader Julianne Ortman said today the senate will vote on Anderson's confirmation Monday. If the senate rejects her, Anderson is effectively fired from the job. Ortman said Anderson's policies are unfriendly to businesses and ratepayers and are not in line with the views of most Minnesotans.

"She's got a tough record for job providers, job creators, the ratepayers," Ortman said. "Her work has created some controversy. It makes it very difficult to confirm a commissioner who is as controversial as she has been."

Anderson is a former DFL senator from St. Paul who sponsored the state's renewable energy standard. Gov. Dayton said Anderson has been a good chair and done has nothing wrong.

DFL Governor Mark Dayton says Ellen Anderson has been a good chair of the Public Utilities Commission, and he's not happy that Senate Republicans appear ready to fire her.

"People of Minnesota want better than this," Dayton said. "The people of Minnesota -- they want us to work together. They want us to reconcile our differences. They want us to compromise as we'll have to because we're coming from different perspectives. And they want us to get about jobs and other things. They don't want us to be involved in petty revenge for something that happened four years ago."

Anderson would be the first of Gov. Dayton's appointments that would be rejected by the Senate.

Democrats in control of the Minnesota Senate rejected two of former Gov. Tim Pawlenty's commissioners. The Senate rejected Cheri Yecke as Education Commissioner in 2004 and former Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau as Transportation Commissioner in 2008.

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Dayton highlights downtowns in $775 million bonding proposal

Posted at 12:14 PM on January 17, 2012 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Gov. Mark Dayton has unveiled a wish list of public works construction projects that includes regional civic centers, a St. Paul ballpark and some money for southwest corridor light rail line.

The $775 million bonding bill proposal also includes improvements college campus buildings, as well as roads and bridges. Dayton argues that a large bonding bill help get thousands of inactive construction workers back on the job. His estimate is 21,700 jobs. The ballpark and civic center projects have been proposed and rejected before. But during a news conference today, Dayton said he still believes those projects are important.

"I believe in downtowns," Dayton said. "I believe this is one of the essential roles that government plays in assisting the construction of projects that are going to produce an incredible economic return to the state, in the private sector, commercial activity the jobs it provides."

Republican legislative leaders were quick to criticize the Dayton proposal. In a news release, Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem, R-Rochester, said it was fundamental difference in philosophy.

"The purpose and scope of the biennial bonding bill is to repair and build infrastructure, not to serve as stimulus or short-term jobs program," Senjem said. "We must be prudent about placing debt burden upon our children and grandchildren."

House Speaker Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove, accused Dayton of following in the footsteps of Democrats in Washington with a misguided by stimulus package.

"In these economic times, a $775 million bonding bill that makes puts local spending projects on par with core infrastructure is unwise and ill-advised," Zellers said.

Tax credit key to Dayton jobs plan

Posted at 4:59 PM on January 11, 2012 by Tim Pugmire (1 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton says he wants to give Minnesota businesses a $3,000 tax credit every time they hire some who is unemployed.

The proposal credit, which is the centerpiece of Dayton's jobs plan for the 2012 legislative session, would also apply to the hiring of veterans and recent graduates. Dayton says the plan is aimed at getting thousands of Minnesotans back to work. During a Capitol news conference today, Dayton said he also had a plan top pay for the new tax credits.

"We pay for that by closing some of the corporate loopholes to offset the $35 million price," Dyaton said. "It would put over 10,000 Minnesotans back to work, and I think that's a very good deal for Minnesota."

Republican House Speaker Kurt Zellers said he supports the governor's goal but not his approach. In a news release, Zellers said Dayton's plan spends money without addressing critical reforms that businesses want, such as reduced regulations and a more competitive tax climate.

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Dayton prepares for bonding bill, speech

Posted at 4:58 PM on January 5, 2012 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Gov. Mark Dayton announced today the date for the release of his proposed bonding bill and the tentative date for his state of the state speech.

During a news conference, Dayton said he plans to unveil his bonding proposal on Jan. 17, which is a deadline required by statute. Dayton said his proposed list of public works projects is almost complete, and it would total $775 million in borrowing.

"There are just a lot of good projects," Dayton said. "More good projects than there are available resources, but that's not uncommon. I think it's a very strong set of proposals. It will provide several thousand jobs for people around Minnesota and makes some really necessary and important in investments in infrastructure around the state."

Dayton wants to deliver his second state of the state address on Feb. 15, in the House chamber. He's proposing to break from tradition and give the speech at 7:00 p.m., rather than midday. Dayton said the schedule for the speech is still tentative until House leaders agree.

Ramsey County proposes countywide food and beverage tax for Vikings Stadium

Posted at 9:14 PM on December 15, 2011 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton, Vikings stadium

Ramsey County Commissioners Tony Bennett and Rafael Ortega are proposing a countywide 3 percent sales taxes on food and beverages to pay for a new Vikings stadium in Arden Hills. They say the tax will raise $24 million a year to finance $350 million of the $1.1 billion stadium.

"We continue to believe that the Vikings are a statewide asset and our preference is for a statewide funding solution for the people's stadium," Ortega and Bennett wrote in the letter. "However, because we believe in the viability of the Arden Hills site, we are willing to put forth funding alternatives beyond the earlier sales tax proposals that were removed from consideration by state officials earlier this year."

Ramsey County was pushing for a half cent sales tax increase to pay for the stadium but Republicans in the Legislature insisted that voters approve the measure. Both Bennett and Ortega said there is precedent to allow local governments to increase food and beverage taxes without voter approval.

"As you know, various revenue sources have been authorized in previous legislation for numerous cities and counties in Minnesota. This includes authorizations for special local taxes on food and beverages, liquor, lodging, entertainment and admissions that do not have local referenda requirements by state statutes."

Ramsey County and the Vikings are pushing to build the stadium in Arden Hills. They say it's the best option to give fans a "game day experience." Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak has been pushing for the new stadium to be built in Minneapolis. He suggested relying on an expansion of gambling and sales tax money collected for the city's convention center.

Gov. Dayton has said he doesn't have a preferred site location but would like to see the Legislature address the issue this session.

Here's the letter from Bennett and Ortega:

20111215 Lanning-Rosen Letter

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Dayton rips Parry for fundraising letter, cancels meeting

Posted at 12:03 PM on December 9, 2011 by Tom Scheck (10 Comments)
Filed under: 2012, MN Legislature, Mark Dayton, U.S. House

Gov. Mark Dayton and Sen. Mike Parry, R-Waseca, are having another war of words.

This time, Dayton is taking issue with a fundraising letter that Parry sent out. Parry, who is running for Congress in Minnesota's 1st District, says Dayton was engaged in political payback when he issued an executive order that allowed a vote for some in-home day care providers to join a union.

"It's no secret that the labor unions helped buy the Governor's Office for Mark Dayton," Parry wrote in the fundraising letter. "In the past few months, he began to return the favor, most recently by trying to help unionize some of Minnesota's in-home, private child care providers."

Parry also called the measure a "backdoor-unionization attempt" and worked to tie 1st District DFL Rep. Tim Walz into the issue. Parry said Walz, his possible opponent for Congress, also wants to "expand union control."

Dayton wasn't happy with the fundraising letter.

"Sen. Parry, this email is inaccurate and deeply offensive," Dayton wrote in an e-mail to Parry and Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa. "This is the second time you have falsely accused me in writing of actions which, since untrue, wrongly malign my character and integrity."

Dayton canceled his meeting with Parry and Drazkowski as a result of Parry's fundraising letter and suggested he won't be meeting with Parry in the future.

"I will not meet with you and provide further fodder for your political activities," Dayton wrote. "If you have questions of me, submit them in writing, and I will respond in writing to them."

Parry, who chairs the Senate State Government Innovation and Veterans Budget and Policy Committee, responded to Dayton by saying the two need to work together to put the state on a sustainable fiscal path. He suggested they meet for coffee in the coming weeks to "bury the hatchet."

This isn't the first time Dayton and Parry have clashed. The two had a deep disagreement over the impact of the GOP budget plan on the state's Veterans programs.

I contacted the governor's office to get more details on the letter and this morning's meeting. I'll post an update if/when I get one.

Update: Gov. Dayton sent a follow up letter to Parry defending his executive order. He also said Parry's e-mail "slurs against my ethical conduct and my character." The governor said Parry should provide proof that Dayton is "returning the favor" to labor unions or retract his statements.

Dayton also said he's be willing to host a breakfast with Parry and Drazkowski on Dec. 14 or Dec. 15.

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Judge halts union vote for child care providers

Posted at 1:32 PM on December 5, 2011 by Tim Pugmire (1 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

A Ramsey County judge has blocked a a unionization vote among state-subsidized child care workers that was scheduled to begin this week.

Judge Dale Lindman issued a temporary restraining order today after hearing about three hours testimony. Lindman at least partially agreed with the plaintiffs, who argued that Gov. Mark Dayton exceeded his executive branch authority when he ordered a unionization election. The judge said he too thinks the process should start with the Legislature. Tom Revnew, an attorney for the 11 plaintiffs, said he was pleased with the ruling.

"The vote will not take place, at least as of Dec. 7," Revnew said. "The court will be reevaluating the circustamnces come January, when we're back back at a hearing. But at least temporarily, there will not be a vote."

Another hearing was scheduled for Jan. 16.

Gov. Dayton released a statement saying he respects the court decision, and that he plans to meet with the attorney general to consider the next steps. Dayton stressed that he still believes that "people should have the right to elections to determine their own destinies."

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Senate GOP joins lawsuit to stop union vote

Posted at 10:59 AM on December 1, 2011 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Republicans in the Minnesota Senate have agreed to join a lawsuit challenging Gov. Mark Dayton's recent order for a unionization vote among state-subsidized, in-home child care providers.

Members of the Senate Rules Committee approved a resolution today authorizing an amicus brief in support of a lawsuit filed earlier this week by 11 providers who oppose the union effort. Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, R-Buffalo, says Dayton over reached with his order and stepped into legislative territory. But Koch says a separate Senate lawsuit to try to stop the vote was not necessary.

"This other group is making those arguments, and so I think there's no reason to do a separate lawsuit or complicate the issue," Koch said. "But we definitely wanted to weigh in as a legislative body. We felt that it was our duty constitutionally to do that if the governor has over reached, and we believe he has, to step in."

Sen. Dick Cohen, DFL-St. Paul, the only Democrat who attended the committee meeting, said the brief was unusual and motivated by politics. A hearing is scheduled Monday morning in Ramsey County District Court.

Dayton rejects GOP call to halt union vote

Posted at 2:13 PM on November 29, 2011 by Tim Pugmire (1 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton sent a letter to House Republican leaders today defending his recent executive order for a unionization vote among some child care providers.

Last week, House Speaker Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove, and House Majority Leader Matt Dean, R-Dellwood, sent a letter to Dayton asking him to stop next month's vote, which they called "misguided." In his response, Dayton wrote that the leaders' opposition to unionization made it difficult to discuss the executive order. He also said he was "amazed" by the opposition to the vote.

Dayton said the claim by Zellers and Dean that his order will raise the cost of child care is their opinion and not a fact. The governor also said it was appropriate to limit the vote to the roughly 43 hundred in-home providers who participate in a state-subsidized program.

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Unionization foes file lawsuit to block vote

Posted at 1:59 PM on November 28, 2011 by Tim Pugmire (2 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

A group of 11 child care providers is filing a lawsuit today to try to stop a unionization vote next month.

The lawsuit claims Gov. Mark Dayton exceeded his authority when he ordered the vote among about 42-hundred state-subsidized child care providers. Two labor unions, SEIU and AFSCME Council 5, have been trying to organize providers throughout the state. But attorney Tom Revnew says the scheduled vote is unfair and unconstitutional, because it will exclude about 60-percent of Minnesota providers. Revnew also contends the vote will have an impact beyond the child care industry.

"If organized labor is allowed to unionize employers against their will through executive orders, and contrary to state and federal law, they will take other industries on one by one," Revnew said.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are backed by a coalition of conservative-leaning groups, including the Minnesota Family Council, Minnesota Free Market Institute and Minnesota Majority.

Brian Elliott, executive director of SEIU-Minnesota State Council, says similar executive orders have already been upheld in more than a dozen other states, and he insists union membership, as well as union dues, will be voluntary.

Eric Lehto, organizing director for AFSCME Council 5, described the lawsuit as "frivolous." He said the challenge is from "cheap-labor conservatives who oppose collective bargaining rights."

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State finalizes tobacco bond sale

Posted at 2:00 PM on November 17, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: 2011 Shutdown, MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Minnesota Finance officials say they have sold $757 million in bonds tied to the state's future tobacco payments. Minnesota Management and Budget says it finalized the bond sale - a move that was needed to help close the state's budget gap. $640 million of the $757 million bond sale will go to fix the state's budget deficit. The remaining $117 million will go into a special account to cover the cost of issuing the bonds and creating a reserve to pay back bondholders. The bonds are backed by future payments from the state's 1998 settlement with tobacco companies. The state will eventually pay bondholders $1.2 billion over the life of the 20 year bonds.

Governor Dayton and the Republican-controlled Legislature used the tobacco bonds to help end a three week government shutdown. Critics of the sale say the one-time money doesn't address structural problems in the state's budget. They say only permanent tax increases and/or spending cuts will do that.

You can read more about the sale here.

Dayton: Special session for Vikings is doubtful

Posted at 1:44 PM on November 15, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Gov. Dayton says he thinks it's growing more unlikely that he'll call a special session to address the Vikings stadium issue.

"I'm doubtful that there will be a special session at this point given the pace of progress," Dayton told reporters today.

He said he wants to meet with Sen. Julie Rosen, R-Fairmont, and Rep. Morrie Lanning, R-Moorhead, once they craft their stadium bill. The two lawmakers met last night with other stadium supporters in the Legislature who call themselves the stadium working group to discuss alternatives. Sen. Terri Bonoff, DFL-Minnetonka, says the group is making progress but is still working through details of how the stadium will be financed and where it should be built.

Dayton says he's still pushing for a deadline so lawmakers work with some urgency.

"I don't believe we're going to get to a specific proposal until some kind of deadline is established," Dayton said. "Otherwise it will just drag on."

Meanwhile, architects for three different stadium proposals in Minneapolis will release their proposals tonight at the bi-monthly meeting of the 2020 Partners.

Dayton orders union vote for child care providers

Posted at 1:09 PM on November 15, 2011 by Tim Pugmire (10 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton signed an executive order today authorizing a union vote for thousands of state-susidized, in-home day care providers in Minnesota.

The order directs the State Bureau of Mediation Services to conduct the election, which will be scheduled in December. Membership would be voluntary if providers approved the unionization. During a news conference, Dayton acknowledged his support in general for labor unions. But he stressed his action was only mandating a vote.

"I've heard and met with both proponents and opponents of this measure," Dayton said. "So, it seems to me that given there is that dispute among those child care providers, the fairest way and the American way to resolve that dispute is through an election."

Republicans have been anticipating the action for weeks and questioning Dayton's authority to order such a vote. Sen. David Hann, R-Eden Prairie, repeated that charge after Dayton's announcement. Hann, who chairs the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, also threatened a legal fight.

"If you have a governor who's not willing to follow the law, then we have no choice but as a Legislature to go to an appropriate court and say you need to stop the governor from proceeding in this action because he is not warranted by law to do it," Hann said.

MPR's Tom Scheck contributed to this report.

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Revenue forecast set for Dec. 1

Posted at 11:22 PM on November 3, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Minnesota Management and Budget announced today that Minnesota's next revenue forecast will be released on Dec. 1.

The forecast gauges the state's tax collections and spending obligations. It also gives a good sense on the state's current and future economic conditions.

Gov. Dayton and the GOP controlled Legislature enacted a two-year budget into law in July. The next forecast gives them a blueprint as to how the state's budget stays in balance through the biennium.

No one is expecting good news. State Economist Tom Stinson told MPR News in October that

"It's going to be difficult, maybe even impossible, for us to not have a shortfall in November," Stinson said.

Dayton open to asking tribal leaders to pay for part of Vikings stadium

Posted at 5:41 PM on November 3, 2011 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton, Vikings stadium

Governor Dayton says he's open to asking the state's tribal leaders for a contribution to pay for a new Vikings stadium.

Dayton's spokeswoman told MPR News that Dayton's deputy chief of staff met with lobbyists representing the Mille Lacs Band of the Ojibwe and Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. Those tribes run two of the largest tribal casinos in the state. Dayton told MPR News that he hasn't spoken directly with tribal leaders but he endorsed the idea of asking them to make a contribution to help pay for a stadium.

"That's a possibility," Dayton told MPR News. "And in fact, it was evidently discussed last night at the working group of a number of legislators and they may initiate that. I think it's a good idea but I have not done it myself."

Dayton said lawmakers were also going to approach lobbyists for the tribes to "get an idea of what they would support and what they would oppose and what they would most oppose."

The state's tribes are lobbying against efforts to build a casino in downtown Minneapolis or allowing slot machines at the state's two horse tracks. Those are two of the options being considered as ways to pay for a new Vikings stadium.

John McCarthy with the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association says he doesn't think tribal leaders are open to helping pay for the Vikings. He said many of the state's tribes can't fund all of their needs.

"I don't think they have really seriously thought about it because it's not something that they can do," McCarthy said. "The wherewithal is simply not there. They don't have that kind of revenue to be spending on a Vikings stadium when they don't have enough revenue to provide enough housing, and health care and education and public safety to their own folks on the reservation."

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community gave $10 million to the University of Minnesota a few years ago to help build the U of M's stadium. McCarthy, however, said there is a difference between that donation and any suggestion to help pay for a new Vikings stadium.

"It's a totally different issue," McCarthy said. "A state university versus independent, very wealthy people in the Vikings. It's like apples and oranges there."

Several Democrats in the Minnesota Legislature are opposed to allowing for slot machines at the state's horse tracks or building a casino in downtown Minneapolis. The state's tribes have given heavily to Democrats in recent years.

Dayton, however, hasn't shied away from suggesting that an expansion of gambling is needed. He said during the 2010 campaign for governor that a state owned and operated casino could help balance the state's budget.

"I think for there to be a government-protected monopoly on that in the metro area is not in the best interest of the people in Minnesota," Dayton said during the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce debate in August of 2010.

"We need the revenues. Competition is good for retailers as my family has learned. They're good for politicians and I think it's good for casino operators as well."

One option that the state's tribes won't lobby against is to allow the state's charities to move from traditional paper pull-tabs to electronic pull-tabs. McCarthy said they don't like the idea but don't consider it "an expansion of gambling."

MPR News took a look at the revenue projections that say electronic pull-tabs could generate as much as $42 million a year and said the estimates are on shaky ground.

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Dayton to meet with legislative leaders

Posted at 12:47 PM on November 2, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton, Vikings stadium

Gov. Dayton's spokesman Bob Hume says Dayton will meet with GOP House Speaker Kurt Zellers, GOP Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, DFL House Minority Leader Paul Thissen and GOP Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk at 3 p.m. today. The group will discuss financing options for a new Vikings stadium. They will also discuss Zellers e-mail that said he will not support a special session to address the stadium. Zellers sent the private statement to House Republicans last night. It caught many off guard who are watching stadium talks, since Zellers has not said that publicly.

Dayton trying to meet with Zellers to discuss special session

Posted at 10:58 AM on November 2, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton, Vikings stadium

With MPR's Tim Nelson...

Gov. Dayton hopes to meet with GOP House Speaker Kurt Zellers and other legislative leaders to discuss an e-mail Zellers sent to GOP House members yesterday. The e-mail said Zellers does not support a special session to pass a financing plan for a new Vikings stadium. That could scuttle any efforts to get a Vikings stadium bill passed this year, because the Vikings want a deal in place before the team's lease with the Metrodome expires in January. Zellers has not returned repeated calls to comment about his e-mail.

Dayton initially called a news conference for 11 a.m. to discuss the e-mail but canceled it after he spoke privately with Zellers.

Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, and Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, both say they support Zellers decision to oppose a special session.

"I think the speaker reflects the will of the majority of the House of Representatives," Garofalo said. "Clearly any bill's going to require bipartisan support and as of right now, I'm not aware of any House Democrat who has stated his support for a special session."

Meanwhile, Minnesota Vikings officials say they're disappointed by the Zellers e-mail. Vikings vice president Lester Bagley said the team doubts the wisdom of putting off legislative action until next year's short legislative session.

"The strategy of avoiding the stadium issue in Minnesota has not worked," Bagley said. "It only gets more costly, more difficult to resolve, especially if the state allows the lease to expire with no action, Bagley said. "The lease expires in less than 90 days, and at that point we will be the only NFL team without a lease. So we believe this needs to get into focus before the lease expires at the end of the season."

The team has proposed a $1.1 billion dollar stadium in Arden Hills, although that was thrown in doubt yesterday, when Dayton and legislative leaders ruled out a sales tax contribution to the deal by Ramsey County.

Zellers throws a block to special session

Posted at 12:41 AM on November 2, 2011 by Tim Nelson (15 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton, Vikings stadium

GOP House Speaker Kurt Zellers says he won't support a special session in November to pass a bill that would finance a new Vikings stadium. The move is a major barrier for stadium backers since Gov. Dayton insists he won't call a special session without prior approval from legislative leaders.

Supporters of a new stadium say they were hoping the Legislature could pass a Vikings stadium bill before the November forecast is released. There have also been concerns that the Vikings' lease with the Metrodome expires before session starts on Jan. 24.

Zellers, from Maple Grove, says he has told Gov. Mark Dayton "repeatedly" that he would not support a special session for a Vikings stadium. That's according to an e-mail Zellers sent to the GOP caucus yesterday.

Here's the full e-mail, which was obtained by MPR News:

Dear GOP Members:

I am writing to provide you with an update regarding the Vikings stadium issue.

This afternoon, Governor Dayton agreed to drop his earlier support to exempt a referendum for both Arden Hills and Minneapolis. As you know, I have been insistent that an imposition of a sales tax must include, at a minimum, a referendum.

Again, I want to be clear about my position regarding a special session for a Vikings stadium. I have repeatedly told Governor Dayton that I will not support a special session for a Vikings stadium. This issue can be addressed during the regular session. I will continue to communicate this message to the governor, legislative leaders, the public and media.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Kurt

Speaker Kurt Zellers
State Representative, District 32B
463 State Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155

Editor's Note: Prior to this e-mail Zellers has been tepid about the need for a special session for a Vikings stadium but he hasn't come out and said directly that he would not support a special session to solve the stadium issue.

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Dayton and legislative leaders say sales tax increase won't work for stadium

Posted at 2:04 PM on November 1, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton, Vikings stadium

Gov. Dayton and the four legislative leaders say there isn't support in the Legislature to exempt Ramsey County or Minneapolis from holding a referendum on a sales tax increase to pay for the Vikings stadium.

Officials on both sides of the river had proposed a sales tax increase to help pay for the new stadium. Ramsey County proposed a half cent sales tax increase to raise $350 million for a $1.1 billion stadium in Arden Hills.

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak said a sales tax increase of 0.35 percent in Minneapolis could help pay for a stadium on one of three sites in his city. Rybak, however, also proposed a downtown casino as a way to raise the city's share of the stadium.

Dayton says he is "now actively assessing and discussing with the team other financing options." He plans to release his own stadium proposal next week and wants to call a special session for the week of Nov. 21.

Here's the statement from Dayton, GOP House Speaker Kurt Zellers, GOP Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, DFL House Minority Leader Paul Thissen and DFL Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk:

Statement on Vikings Stadium talks

Saint Paul--At last Friday's meeting of Legislative Leaders: Senators Amy Koch, Julie Rosen, Terri Bonoff, and Richard Cohen; Speaker Kurt Zellers; Representatives Morrie Lanning, Paul Thissen, and Terry Morrow; with Governor Dayton and Chairman Ted Mondale, the consensus among the legislative leadership was that there was not sufficient support in either body to exempt Ramsey County or the City of Minneapolis from holding a referendum on increasing a local sales tax to finance a Vikings stadium. The participants requested the weekend to assess that conclusion.

Today, Governor Dayton and the Leaders of the Republican and DFL Caucuses in the House and Senate reaffirm that there is not majority support in either body for an exemption from a voter referendum. Without such an exemption, the earliest either Ramsey County or the City of Minneapolis could conduct a referendum would be in conjunction with the November 2012 General Election.

Governor Dayton said, "Last Friday's meeting was very significant in eliminating one proposed source of financing for a People's Stadium in either Ramsey County or Minneapolis, unless the Vikings are willing to endure the time delay and continuing uncertainty in obtaining voters' approval. Given this reality, we are now actively assessing and discussing with the team other financing options."

# # #

Capitol renovation takes on urgent tone

Posted at 1:08 PM on November 1, 2011 by Tim Pugmire (2 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

State officials moved a bit closer today to the launch of a major renovation of Minnesota Capitol building.

Gov. Mark Dayton and other members of the Capitol Preservation Commission approved spending up to $150 million $150,000 for pre-design work for the project. The panel also adopted guiding principles for the renovation that focus on architectural integrity, building function and safety. Lawmakers have not yet approved the full project, which is estimated to cost more than $200 million. Dayton says the cost is daunting, but he says the current deterioration of the Capitol is adding urgency to the discussion.

"It will be more expensive to do it five years or 10 years from now," Dayton said. "That's a guarantee. So if we do it, let's do it right and do it in a way that is as much as we can foresee will put it in the kind of condition for the next 100 years that the people of Minnesota for the next 100 years would expect of us."

Legislators have come close to approving Capitol renovations before, but House Majority Leader Matt Dean, R-Dellwood, says he now believes there is the political will to follow through with the project.

Here's a May 2011 report that details the problems at the Capitol:

MN Capitol - Facility Condition Executive Summary Report - May 2011[1]

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Dayton calls special election for Pogemiller's seat

Posted at 9:07 AM on October 29, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Gov. Dayton has called a special election for Senate District 59. The seat was vacated today when Dayton appointed Sen. Larry Pogemiller, DFL-Minneapolis, to direct the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.

The special election will be held on January 10, 2012. The special primary, if needed, will take place on December 6, 2011. The special election and a special primary in House District 61B, which was vacated when Rep. Jeff Hayden, DFL-Minneapolis, was elected to the Minnesota Senate, will take place on the days.

Jacob Frey, a DFL activist, has already announced that he intends to run to replace Pogemiller.

Both Senate District 59 and House District 61B are considered DFL strongholds.

Dayton says electronic pull-tabs are on the table

Posted at 9:59 PM on October 28, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton, Vikings stadium

Gov. Dayton appeared on TPT's Almanac tonight and said there seems to be consensus growing around allowing bars and restaurants to move from paper pull-tab tickets to electronic pull-tabs.

"Electronic pull tabs has real possibility," Dayton said on Almanac. "Again, I can't speak for 201 legislators who will have to make this decision, but that one seems to have better possibility than anything else that has been proposed so far."

Dayton was careful to note that no head count has been done on members of the Legislature. Dayton met privately with legislative leaders today for two and a half hours.

Supporters of electronic pull-tabs argue that the measure would increase the level of charitable gambling in Minnesota. An analysis of charitable gambling says the activity has been on the decline in recent years. Nonpartisan researchers say they expect the level of charitable gambling to increase if bars and restaurants can move from a paper pull-tab game to electronic pull-tabs.

House researcher Pat McCormack said an analysis of the change could generate up to $42 million a year. He said estimates depend on the tax break given to the charities. Rep. John Kriesel, R-Cottage Grove, is the chief author of the bill. His proposal was to make the proposal revenue neutral (charities would receive increased revenue in the form of a tax break) but the size of the tax break can be adjusted to bring in more revenue.

Supporters of the measure say electronic pull-tabs can also thread the needle of winning legislative support from both parties. The state's tribal casinos are neutral on the issue of electronic pull-tabs. The powerful lobbying group has lined up against efforts to put slot machines at the state's two horse tracks and a new casino in downtown Minneapolis.

Dayton says he intends to release his proposal to finance a new Vikings stadium in the week of Nov. 7. He wants to call a special session for the week of Nov. 21.

Here's a revenue analysis of Kriesel's bill (remember it's based on being revenue neutral).

Here's the bill summary.
Here's the fiscal note.

Dayton to appoint Pogemiller to run Office of Higher Education

Posted at 11:00 PM on October 27, 2011 by Tom Scheck (4 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Three people with knowledge of the hire say Dayton is appointing Sen. Larry Pogemiller to run the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. The people asked not to be identified because they didn't want to step on Dayton's announcement. Dayton's spokesman, Bob Hume, wouldn't confirm the hire but said they will have an announcement on that position Friday morning.

Pogemiller has served in the Minnesota Legislature since 1980. He has held several key positions of power in the Senate including Majority Leader, Education Committee Chair and Tax Committee Chair. He could not be reached for comment about the appointment.

Pogemiller will replace Sheila Wright who resigned her position in September. The office provides students with financial aid programs and information to help them gain access to a post-secondary education.

Pogemiller's appointment means Senate Democrats have lost three long time members in the last six months. Sen. Linda Berglin retired in August to take a job with Hennepin County. Sen. Linda Scheid died in June after battling ovarian cancer for several years.

Dayton will have to call a special election to fill Pogemiller's seat.

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Racino supporters ramp up efforts to get slots at horse tracks

Posted at 10:39 PM on October 27, 2011 by Tom Scheck (6 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton, Vikings stadium

Several supporters of allowing the state's two horse tracks to operate slot machines are pushing to be included in the Vikings stadium discussion. Sen. Al DeKruif, R-Madison Lake, says he and other supporters of the so-called Racino bill believe the measure will pay for part of a new Vikings stadium and pay back some of the K12 school payment delay used to balance the state's budget.

"There's a lot of work going on behind the scenes," DeKruif said. "I do think there is enough money to do both, pay back the school shift and make the payments on the bonds."

Racino is one of several measures being floated to pay for a new Vikings stadium. Governor Dayton says he's listening to all ideas before he releases his plan the week of Nov. 7. DeKruif said he believes allowing slot machines at the state's horse tracks is less controversial because gambling already occurs there.

"Gambling in Minnesota - like it or not - is here to stay," DeKruif said. "It's a choice tax. It's an avenue to give the economy a shot in the arm through the construction trades, the horse industry which is a large part of our economy."

Several of DeKruif's colleagues lined up in opposition to any expansion of gambling to pay for a Vikings stadium. They argued that allowing even more gambling in Minnesota will increase addiction to gambling and crime caused by problem gamblers. They also argued it will make the state more inclined to rely on gambling expansion in the future.

"It's a tax on either the desperate or the mathematically impaired," Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, said. "And to make the state of Minnesota act like a bookie or a pit boss is simply not the role of government."

Dayton and legislative leaders will meet tomorrow morning to discuss the stadium issue.

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AFL-CIO backs Block E

Posted at 4:52 PM on October 27, 2011 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton, Vikings stadium

The AFL-CIO, a coalition of more than 1,000 labor unions, has come out in favor of building a casino in downtown Minneapolis. The labor federation, which is also backing a Vikings stadium, sent out a news release earlier today saying the so-called Block E casino will benefit the state. The casino has been mentioned as a way to finance the Vikings stadium. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak has suggested tapping money from the casino to pay for a new Vikings stadium in Minneapolis.

Union support could help convince skeptical Democrats to vote for the expansion of gambling. Several have said they will oppose any expansion of gambling in Minnesota.

Here's the AFL-CIO's statement:

"We need to do everything we can to get more Minnesotans back to work and our economy moving again," said Shar Knutson, President of the Minnesota AFL-CIO. "The renovation and operation of a casino at Block E will create a significant number of family-sustaining jobs many Minnesotans so desperately need."

The Minnesota AFL-CIO currently supports constructing a new stadium to ensure the Vikings stay in Minnesota. The labor federation has not endorsed any specific site.

"Given the number of funding options being debated, the Block E casino option is a way to both fund the project and create jobs," added Knutson. "Working people are watching and waiting for legislators to take action on this great way to create jobs."

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Legislators and religious groups to come out against gambling

Posted at 5:24 PM on October 26, 2011 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton, Vikings stadium

A bipartisan group of legislators will join with religious leaders and a group that organizes against gambling to speak out tomorrow against any efforts to expand gambling to pay for a new Vikings stadium. Sen. David Hann and Rep. Ann Lenczewski will join members of the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition and Minnesotans Against Gambling Expansion. The group will make their announcement at a Thursday morning news conference but sent out a news release on Wednesday.

"We're glad these lawmakers are joining with us and speaking out," said Rev. Doug Mitchell, chair of the JRLC Board and a minister at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis. "Increasing state dependence on gambling would exact a toll on those who can least afford it. Studies show that the social costs are just too high. As a minister to a downtown congregation I am particularly concerned about the impact that a casino would have on our neighborhood and community."

The JRLC is an interfaith coalition representing the Minnesota Catholic Conference, the Minnesota Council on Churches, Islamic Center of Minnesota and the Jewish Community Relations council of Minnesota and the Dakotas.

Both Hann and Lenczewski have been long-time critics of any expansion of gambling. Lencewski has worked to defeat any proposals that would put a casino at the Mall of America. Hann has also long opposed any expansion of gambling. He authored a bill in 2005 to abolish the lottery.

Several groups are lobbying for a casino in downtown Minneapolis or for the expansion of slot machines at the state's two horse tracks to help pay for a Vikings stadium.

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Dayton on Midday

Posted at 8:45 AM on October 26, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Gov. Dayton will be on MPR's Midday today at 11am. Dayton is expected to discuss yesterday's jobs summit, his plans for the upcoming session and why he thinks a Vikings stadium bill needs to be completed in a special legislative session.

You can tune in on the radio or listen to the program live here.

Builder on stadium: Git 'er done

Posted at 7:30 AM on October 26, 2011 by Tim Nelson
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton, Vikings stadium

Mortenson Construction sent a letter to the Metropolitan Council and the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission saying, in effect, "Yes, we can."

That's in response to a report earlier this month from the two agencies calling a proposed 2015 completion date for the Arden Hills plan proposed by Ramsey County and the Vikings "aggressive" and "unrealistic." Along with a letter, the company released a proposed construction schedule.

It has a proposed start on Nov. 28, 2012, and finish date of Aug. 27, 2015.

See it for yourself below. Note that footnote: "Legislative Approval 11/30/11".

Vikings Stadium Schedule

Here's the letter that company vice president John Wood sent along with the schedule:

Mortenson Construction letter

Koch hits Vikings tailgate

Posted at 9:46 AM on October 24, 2011 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton, Vikings stadium

From MPR's Tim Nelson...

With the Vikings stadium debate still unresolved at the Capitol, it looks like fans of the team took the opportunity to do a little tailgate lobbying this weekend in Minneapolis.

That's 'Save the Vikes' founder Cory Merrifield at bottom right, with GOP Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch sporting a natty Vikings scarf.

No word on whether they won any points with Koch on behalf of the team.

It looks like the meeting today between Koch, her legislative colleagues and Gov. Mark Dayton, floated by the governor last week isn't happening. Word.is it may happen Friday.

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Dayton riles up union members at Education Minnesota conference

Posted at 10:46 PM on October 20, 2011 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

From MPR's Tom Weber...

Gov. Dayton brought public school teachers to their feet in an almost campaign-style speech on Thursday, at the annual Education Minnesota Professional Conference at RiverCentre in St. Paul. Listen

The governor told the gathered teachers that he fought for union rights and other education reforms during this spring's session, and compared the results with those of Minnesota's neighbor. "If you want to see what might have been in Minnesota, just look east to Wisconsin," Dayton said, referring to Gov. Scott Walker's attempts to curb collective bargaining rights and other union laws this spring.

"The attempts to... scapegoat dedicated public school teachers like yourselves for the failings of legislative funding and executive leadership is not going to happen, not while I'm governor of this state," he said, to a gathering applause. He added he also would never allow the elimination of collective bargaining rights, making Minnesota a 'right to work,' or allow attempts to "destroy" public pensions.

Dayton called deep budget cuts to the University of Minnesota and MnSCU system "terribly misguided, terribly stupid, terribly short-sighted decisions" that could have been worse if union members like those gathered "hadn't stood strong with me in saying 'no' to that kind of idiocy."

Education Minnesota president Tom Dooher later noted that Dayton was the first sitting governor to appear at the annual conference since Education Minnesota was created in the 1997 merger of the Minnesota Education Association (MEA) and the Minnesota Federation of Teachers (MFT). The teachers' union endorsed Dayton's bid for governor in 2010, but only after the group's initial endorsee, then-House speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, lost the DFL primary to Dayton.

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MN Teacher of the Year scores lunch with Dayton

Posted at 1:46 PM on October 20, 2011 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

From MPR's Tom Weber....

Katy Smith, the Winona educator who was named 2011 Minnesota Teacher of the Year, asked Gov. Mark Dayton to lunch on Thursday - in front of thousands of teachers. Dayton immediately accepted.

Dayton was late to arrive at the Education Minnesota Professional Conference (often called "MEA") in St. Paul this afternoon. Smith originally joked she should get his speaking time, but when she learned he had arrived, Smith excitedly welcomed Dayton to stage. After beckoning him to stand next to her at the podium, Smith noted she had prepared two speeches: One to give to the teachers, the other she would give if the governor was the only person in attendance.

"I just want to give you my back-up speech that if I had 45 minutes, I would have delivered to you," Smith told the governor. "It's full of accolades for you, from teachers, but it also invites you to have lunch with me so that you and I could talk about early childhood programming."

That sparked a loud applause, after which Dayton appeared to have no choice. "I'm delighted to accept," he said, joking he should hire her as his legislative liaison because she would surely put the Legislature on the spot.

Education Minnesota president Tom Dooher later noted that Dayton was the first sitting governor to appear at the annual conference since Education Minnesota was formed from in the 1997 merger of the Minnesota Education Association (MEA) and the Minnesota Federation of Teachers (MFT). Smith, who teaches at Goodview School in the Winona district, is the first pre-kindergarten teacher to win Teacher of the Year in the award's 47 year history.

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No birds for Dayton at Pheasant Opener

Posted at 4:12 PM on October 15, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Gov. Dayton's spokeswoman Katharine Tinucci said Dayton came up empty at the governor's pheasant opener. Tinucci said Dayton didn't get any birds today during his hunt in Montevideo. Two of Dayton's hunting partners, however, took two rooster pheasants. GOP House Speaker Kurt Zellers shot one bird. Local land owner Paul Johannes took the other.

Dayton announced during his campaign for governor that he would hold an annual governor's pheasant opener if he was elected. This is the first such event in Minnesota.

Note: Photo of Dayton and Zellers supplied by Gov. Dayton's office.

Democrats lead in MN Senate Special Election money race

Posted at 11:18 AM on October 13, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Democrats are leading their opponents in collecting cash in the two special elections scheduled to be held next Tuesday.

Governor Dayton has called special elections in Senate District 61 (Minneapolis) and Senate District 46 (Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center) for Oct. 18.

DFL Rep. Jeff Hayden reports raising $39,534 for the race to replace DFL Sen. Linda Berglin. Berglin resigned her seat in August to take a job with Hennepin County. Republican Bruce Lundeen reports raising $2690. Green Party candidate Farheen Hakeem reports raising $10,969.

In SD, 46, Democrat Chris Eaton reports raising $33,557. Republican Cory Jensen raised $17,801. I-P candidate Tom Reynolds reports raising $2,486. That seat was vacated when DFL Sen. Linda Scheid died in June.

Prettner Solon headed to China

Posted at 3:14 PM on October 11, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

MN Lt. Gov. Yvonne Prettner Solon is headed to China. Gov. Dayton's office announced today that Solon will join lieutenant governors from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa and Nebraska on an economic development mission to China. The National Lieutenant Governors Association will host the mission. It runs from Oct. 14 through Oct. 20. Solon will travel to Ghangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing.

Gov. Dayton's spokesman, Bob Hume,says the Chinese People's Friendship Association with Foreign Countries and the China-U.S. Exhange Foundation will pay for most of the trip. He said the state will pay roughly $800 in incidentals for Solon and an aide to make the trip.

The mission comes less than a month after Gov. Dayton traveled to Japan and South Korea to promote Minnesota's business interests to those countries.

Dayton still considering union vote for child care workers

Posted at 10:30 PM on October 5, 2011 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Gov. Dayton says he hasn't made a decision on whether he'll issue an executive order that would allow for in-home child care providers to vote on whether to join a union. Dayton says he hasn't been focused on the issue since he's been on his Trade Mission to Korea and attended the Democratic Governor's Association meetings in North Carolina. He said he'll talk with staff about the issue in the coming days.

"I'll be sitting down over the next couple of days to be brought up to speed on where things stand," Dayton told MPR News. "I wouldn't anticipate anything imminently. Probably next week or the week after. We'll have to see."

Dayton is considering issuing an executive order that would allow the 11,000 in-home child care workers to vote on whether to join a union. SEIU and AFSCME are encouraging Dayton to issue the executive order. Several Republican legislators and a few in-home child care owners have criticized the idea. One lawmaker said he would sue Dayton if he issued an executive order allowing for the vote.

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Dayton jobs summit taking shape

Posted at 2:29 PM on October 4, 2011 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Gov. Mark Dayton will host a daylong jobs summit, Oct. 25, at the Crowne Plaza Riverfront Hotel in St. Paul.

Dayton is expected to outline his priorities, strategies and initiatives for business development and job growth statewide. He'll talk specifically about his recent statewide jobs tour, which included 12 regional meetings.

Other speakers include University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler and author Michael Mandelbaum.

Dayton's senior advisor for job creation, Kathy Tunheim, today sent out the following invitation:

Greetings,

As many of you may know, I have had the privilege of working closely with Governor Mark Dayton as his Senior Advisor for Job Creation. I have seen firsthand the commitment he has to putting Minnesotans back to work.

Over the past several weeks, Governor Dayton has toured the state listening to Minnesotans who are concerned about our state's economy. The people of Minnesota are passionate about getting the economy moving again and our Governor has been listening.

The Governor wants to continue that conversation at the first annual Governor's Jobs Summit on October 25th and I would love for you to be a part of it. We will be joined by many of the folks who have made our conversations around the state so valuable, in addition to many leading experts and thinkers. Michael Mandelbaum, co-author of the new book That Used To Be Us: How America Fell Behind in the World It Invented and How We Can Come Back, will be delivering the keynote address. We will also have the privilege of hearing from new University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler and of course, Governor Mark Dayton.

As the Governor's statewide economic development tour winds down in the coming weeks, the ideas and participants from those events will be used to finalize the breakout sessions for this event. I can tell you that ideas on how to increase access to capital, elevate Minnesota in the global economy and strengthen our workforce will be front and center in these conversations.

Your ideas to get our economy going and put Minnesotans back to work will be critical in this discussion. I hope you will consider joining me at the Governor's Jobs Summit on October 25th, to share your ideas for getting our state back to work.

For more information about the Governor's Job Summit, click here.

Kathy Tunheim

Wright resigns Higher Ed post just nine months after taking the job

Posted at 4:01 PM on September 23, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Gov. Dayton's office announced today that Sheila Wright has resigned her position as Director of the Office of Higher Education. Dayton's spokesman, Bob Hume, released a statement saying Wright's last day is today:

"I wanted to let you know that earlier this week Dr. Sheila Wright resigned her position as Director of the Office of Higher Education, effective today. As Dr. Wright returns to private life, we wish her well and thank her for her service to the State of Minnesota. We have asked current research director Susan Von Mosch to step in as interim director while we search for a new director for the Office of Higher Education."

Hume would not offer further explanation when asked directly if Gov. Dayton asked Wright to resign. Wright could not be reached for comment.

Dayton first appointed Wright to the position in January. The news release announcing her appointment said her term runs until January 5, 2015. The Senate Higher Education Committee confirmed Wright on a unanimous voice vote in February. Senate GOP spokesman Michael Brodkorb says the full Senate did not act on her confirmation.

GOP threatens lawsuit if Dayton acts on unionizing in-home day care providers

Posted at 11:28 PM on September 22, 2011 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Republicans in the Minnesota Legislature say they will consider taking legal action if Governor Dayton moves forward with an executive order that would authorize in-home day care providers to vote on forming a union. Committees in the Minnesota Senate held a hearing tonight to discuss the issue and whether Dayton has the authority to take the action. An attorney for the Senate told the committee that she doesn't believe the governor can authorize a vote. Sen. David Hann, R-Eden Prairie, said he would consider a lawsuit if Dayton took the step anyway.

"If a governor who's empowered to uphold the constitution and act lawfully under Minnesota law and I think we would have to hold him accountable..."

Dayton said he hasn't decided whether he'll issue the executive order. Several providers say they want a union to give them a voice when it comes to government regulations and on lobbying for increased subsidized day care rates at the State Legislature. Other providers say they don't need union help.

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Dayton says Legislature is wasting time and money

Posted at 2:12 PM on September 20, 2011 by Tom Scheck (8 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Gov. Mark Dayton says he's none too pleased that Republicans in the House and Senate plan to hold hearings to discuss whether Dayton has the legal authority to allow people working for in-home daycare providers to join unions.

Dayton has said he's considering an executive order that would allow for those employees to vote on union membership, but he said he hasn't made a final decision. Dayton said lawmakers' decision to hold hearings before he takes any action is a "political ploy" and a waste of taxpayer money.

"Why don't they start by reforming themselves and recognize that they're a part-time Legislature that has been in session overtime all the way until the latter part of July?" Dayton said. "I'm well aware of the legal parameters that are available, but that doesn't dictate policy. But I have a general counsel. I have the Attorney General. I don't need a legislative show to trot this out, but that's their prerogative and I think they need to hold themselves accountable as they want to hold the executive branch and stop fooling around."

Dayton didn't just criticize lawmakers for holding a hearing on the child care issue. He also ripped House Republicans for holding a news conference a few weeks ago to announce their efforts to reform state government. And he mocked committee chairs for holding hearings across the state on job creation - just weeks after the Legislature left St. Paul following the three week government shutdown.

"They had six months and they did very little on job creation," Dayton said. "And I'm taking the initiative now, and we're proactively engaged in it as we will be for the next three and a half years. So you missed your chance back then folks when taxpayers were paying for your salaries and your per diems."

Dayton has held what he called job summits in places like Fergus Falls, Faribault, International Falls and the Iron Range.

Update:

Republican House Speaker Kurt Zellers defended the hearings and their work:

"We are, true, a part-time Legislature meaning we don't meet and we're not in session every month or every week," Zellers said. "But we are full-time legislators. Our constittuent service work doesn't end when the session ends."

Zellers said the Legislature wants hearings on the child care issue because lawmakers and their constituents have questions about the legality of a union.

GOP Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch says she doesn't understand why Dayton is criticizing their efforts to discuss jobs and the economy with Minnesotans.

"We welcome the governor's ideas and I would hope that he would be open and welcome to our ideas.," Koch said. "Having the executive branch and the legislative branch going out and listening to the people of Minnesota about the number one issue (jobs) and then coming back in January in session and passing some great legislation that helps clear the way for more job creation in the state. That's only a good thing."

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Online learning is booming but students lag in results

Posted at 1:50 PM on September 19, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

From MPR's Tom Weber...

A new audit suggests the state's Education Department retool its process for approving and renewing online schools. According to the Legislative Auditor's report, the department doesn't have adequate staff to oversee the booming enrollment for online courses. The report finds that full-time online students made less progress on standardized state math tests than students in traditional schools. It also found that drop-out rates for the full-time online students have increased. In a written response, the state education commissioner said the suggested changes could compromise education quality.

You can read the full report here.

Dayton calls for budget responsibility

Posted at 4:50 PM on September 14, 2011 by Tim Pugmire (4 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton appears to be growing tired of Republicans who blame him for unpopular pieces of the budget deal that ended the state government shutdown.

Dayton took some verbal swipes at his GOP critics today during a speech before the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce. He said the elimination of the market value homestead tax credit, for example, was something he did not agree with as a matter of policy, but he agreed to it in order to reach a budget compromise. Dayton said the GOP leadership insisted on the elimination.

"If you're grown up and you're responsible, you make decisions and you take the responsibility for the consequences of them, good or bad," Dayton said. "I have no respect for somebody who insists on having it their way, and then when it goes awry tries to blame me or anyone else. That's unacceptable."

After the speech, Dayton told reporters that he asked his revenue commissioner, Myron Frans, to look into the homestead credit issue and see what options are available for a remedy.

UPDATE

Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, R-Buffalo, issued a written statement in response to Dayton's comments. Here it is:

"This year, the Republican-led Legislature passed a complete, reform-minded, balanced budget which didn't raise taxes on Minnesotans and job providers. The largest general fund budget in state history wasn't enough for Governor Dayton. He vetoed our budget and forced the longest government shutdown in recent U.S. history because of an insatiable desire to raise taxes and spend more."

"During Governor Dayton's shutdown, over 22,000 state workers were laid-off, construction projects were unnecessarily halted, and private sector spending was dramatically reduced because Governor Dayton wanted to raise taxes, grow government and spend more without regard for the fiscal realities facing Minnesota. Governor Dayton lecturing about budget responsibility is like Bernie Madoff lecturing about Wall Street reform."

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MN House makes committee changes

Posted at 4:54 PM on September 9, 2011 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

GOP leaders have made some changes to Minnesota House committees. The Judiciary Policy and Finance Committee will become a budget division that reports to the Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Committee. Speaker Kurt Zellers wrote to staff that Judiciary Chair Rep. Steve Smith of Mound will no longer chair the committee due to "personal reasons." GOP Rep. Ron Shimanski of Silver Lake will chair the new division. Smith is the longest serving Republican in the MN House.

The House GOP is also adding a new subcommittee. The Energy Subcommittee will be chaired by GOP Rep. Tom Hackbarth of Cedar. Zellers said the new subcommittee will "provide opportunity for greater input and transparency of this important legislative issue." The new subcommittee will be added to the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee.

The move comes just nine months after Zellers suspended Hackbarth's role as chair of the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee. The suspension came after St. Paul police confiscated a loaded handgun from Hackbarth after he was spotted with the weapon holstered to his hip in the parking lot of the Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Paul. (UPDATE: Hackbarth called to say that he voluntarily gave his gun to police after they requested it but it was returned to him within 24 hours). Hackbarth later resigned his position as chair.

Here's the announcement from Zellers:

The Judiciary Policy and Finance Committee will become a division of the Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Committee. This revised committee structure parallels the Judiciary and Public Safety Division in the Minnesota Senate, allowing for a more efficient and streamlined process. Due to personal reasons, Representative Steve Smith will no longer serve as chair of Judiciary Policy and Finance. Representative Ron Shimanski, current vice chair of the Judiciary Policy and Finance, will serve as the Division Chair.

An Energy Subcommittee will be added to the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources (EENR) Policy and Finance Committee. This new subcommittee will provide opportunity for greater input and transparency on this important legislative issue. The Energy Subcommittee will be chaired by Representative Tom Hackbarth. Subcommittee members include: Representatives Torkelson, Quam, Beard, McNamara, Knuth, Falk and Hilty.

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Dayton rips GOP amendment plan

Posted at 6:00 PM on August 29, 2011 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Gov. Mark Dayton is blasting a proposed constitutional amendment that would require a super majority vote for future tax increases.

House Republicans say the amendment will be a key piece of their agenda for the 2012 session. During an appearance today at the State Fair, Dayton called the proposal the "millionaires tax protection amendment." The DFL governor said it would be impossible to ever pass his proposed income tax increase on top earners.

"To say that people in the future don't have the right to make their own decisions on a majority basis to me is just selfish and short sighted," dayton said. "And it's going to have the practical effect of keeping our taxes unfair and unequal and allowing the richest Minnesotans to avoid paying their fair share, and I'm dead opposed to that."

Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa , the chief sponsor of the proposed amendment, said the threshold would force the Legislature to focus on redesigning government rather than on raising taxes.

Poll: Majority of Minnesotans Not Happy with Budget Deal

Posted at 12:02 AM on August 18, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

A new poll, commissioned by the Bush Foundation, found that two thirds of those surveyed are not happy with the budget agreement that ended a 21 day state government shutdown. The poll also found that a majority of those polled think the state is headed in the wrong direction.

Governor Dayton and the GOP-controlled Legislature shut down state government for three weeks because they were at odds over the best way to balance the state's two year budget. The two sides agreed to cut spending, borrow against future tobacco payments and delay payments to K12 schools to erase the deficit. The poll found that a majority of Minnesotans weren't happy with that deal.

"The poll made it very clear that people were unhappy about any sort of shift or borrowing against the future," The Bush Foundation's C. Scott Cooper said. "People much preferred to deal with the problem now, face it head on and tackle it."

Cooper, with the Bush Foundation, says the polling is consistent with the results the group gathered from a number of focus groups conducted by the Bush Foundation on the state budget. He said they held town hall meetings in Grand Rapids, Rochester and Bloomington to gauge how the state's budget problems should be addressed.

The poll also found that 54 percent of those surveyed think a mix of spending cuts and revenue increases are needed if the state faces another deficit. At the same time, 80 percent of those polled think making government services more efficient should be "the most central piece" or "a major part" of the solution.

The findings are consistent with other polling that shows the public wants to see lawmakers rein in government spending but balk when the focus of those cuts turns to popular and expensive programs. Cooper said the results from the focus groups were more nuanced. For example, he said some were willing to make sacrifices in order to see things get better.

"People want the reform and they're willing to pay the price in the short-term if they think we can get the reforms in the long-term," Cooper said.

The most striking result from the poll is the dissatisfaction that the general public has about their quality of life. 40 percent of those polled said they believed the quality of their lives was getting worse. Nicole Martin Rogers, a researcher with polling group Wilder Research, said that was a 17 percentage point increase from a similar poll done in December.

Both Governor Dayton and GOP legislative leaders are working to show that they understand the frustration. Dayton is scheduled to launch a statewide jobs tour to discuss ways to improve the state's economy. Republicans in the Minnesota House are scheduled to hold a news conference on Thursday morning to discuss what they have characterized as "the start of the "Reform 2.0" agenda for the 2012 legislative session."
The two sides disagree on the best way to tackle some of the key issues facing the state.

Dayton has been pushing for a mix of spending cuts and income tax increases on Minnesota's top earners to solve the state's budget problems over the long-term. Republicans have rejected tax hikes of any kind and say the focus needs to be on cutting government spending.

The poll was conducted between August 1 and August 4. It has a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.

Here's the poll.

Here's the report from The Bush Foundation.

Dayton to kick off jobs tour in Fergus Falls

Posted at 4:21 PM on August 16, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Gov. Dayton will kick of a statewide jobs tour in Fergus Falls on Friday. The Fergus Falls Journal first reported that Dayton will visit the city on Friday to learn more about a local economic development tool. Dayton's spokeswoman, Katharine Tinucci, confirmed the event.

"This will be the first of a number of job events across the state that Gov. Dayton will do in the coming weeks," Tinucci said.

Tinucci said there will be a different focus on each region. She said the governor's office will release more information about the tour in the future.

MN Pension fund manager says fund is fine

Posted at 12:36 PM on August 9, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

The head of the one of the state's pension funds says the funds are positioned to ride out the market downturn. Laurie Hacking, executive director of the Minnesota Teacher Retirement Fund, says the recent turmoil in the stock market is a concern but she said the state's pension fund managers are investing over the long term. She said retirees and state employees shouldn't be worried about the market fluctuation.

"We accumulate money and invest over the years well before we have to pay an individual's benefits," Jacking said. "We have lots of time to have good returns on those investments. Yes, we're going to have some down years and we plan for that but we know that eventually that the markets will get back on their feet."

Hacking said the return on investment in the state's pension fund has a good track record. She said it averaged a 10 percent return over the last 30 years.

Out of the state fiscal frying pan but into the fire?

Posted at 5:55 PM on August 8, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Gov. Dayton and GOP legislative leaders may be breathing a sigh of relief that a historic $5 billion projected budget deficit is behind them. The only problem is that they may be facing another budget shortfall when the 2012 legislative session starts in January. Management and Budget Commissioner Jim Schowalter said the dramatic stock sell off in the past week, concerns over an economic slowdown and high unemployment could all mean fewer tax dollars flowing into the state's treasury.

"Balancing the budget once, unfortunately, doesn't guarantee that it will be balanced for the entire biennium," Schowalter told MPR News. "When big things like this happen, it will have ripple effects throughout our economy and that will affect our revenues and our spending."

Dayton and GOP legislative leaders ended a three-week state government shutdown by borrowing against future tobacco payments, delaying payments to K12 schools and cutting spending. The plan was heavily criticized because it didn't address the state's long-term structural deficit through permanent spending cuts, tax increases or a mixture of both. Schowalter said Dayton and the GOP-controlled Legislature may be forced to make another set of tough decisions if the state faces another budget deficit when the next revenue forecast is issued near the end of the year.

"Right now, we have a lot of uncertainty whether we're going to have a double dip recession and that means for the state of Minnesota and organizations generally, more uncertainty and more questions. We're going to have to act quickly and responsibly and make sure we keep our financial affairs in really good order."

Minnesota is scheduled to borrow $700 million to help balance the current budget. That money is leveraged by future payments from tobacco companies that the state receives from a settlement of a suit over smoking costs. The state is also scheduled to borrow $500 million to fund public works projects. Schowalter said S and P's decision to downgrade U.S. debt comes on top of two negative reports about Minnesota's credit rating. Schowalter said the state would likely be forced to pay more for that borrowing.

Dayton wants out of No Child Left Behind

Posted at 2:14 PM on August 8, 2011 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton, U.S. House, U.S. Senate

Gov. Dayton is taking swift action today to opt out of the federal No Child Left Behind standards. Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced that the federal government will start granting waiver to states that want to opt out of the No Child Left Behind law that was passed in 2001. Dayton issues a statement today saying he would do just that.

"Any education reform in Minnesota must begin and end with what is best for our children. The decade old federal law, known as No Child Left Behind, has failed to meet that standard. When it was enacted in 2001, nine of the ten members of the Minnesota Congressional delegation, including all three Republicans and myself, voted against it. Unfortunately, we were right. NCLB has imposed rigid testing requirements, many of which have harmed, not improved, the quality of students' learning experiences. It has labeled many schools wrongly, by applying invalid statistical measures.

"We can and must do better for our children. That is why today I have approved Minnesota Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius' request to apply for the recently announced federal waiver, exempting schools temporarily from the flawed testing requirements and punitive sanctions of the current No Child Left Behind law.

"Such a waiver would allow Minnesota educators to focus on what is working in their schools. It would provide school boards, administrators, teachers, and parents with the flexibility they need to implement the reforms the Legislature and I enacted in the recent session."

As noted in the statement, Dayton voted against the No Child Left Behind Law in 2001. The only member of the delegation to vote for the bill was DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar. DFL Rep. Bill Luther abstained from voting.

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Dayton raised $80k since start of the year.

Posted at 5:22 PM on July 28, 2011 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Governor Dayton has raised $80,321 since he took office in January. His campaign spent $55,187 between January 1 and July 1, mostly on things like legal fees, payroll for campaign staff and a contribution to the DFL Party. The campaign reports having $54,504 in the bank.

Dayton vowed to voluntarily disclose his fundraising activity on a quarterly basis even though he's not required to do so by law. He's been pushing for increased disclosure of campaign fundraising for politicians, political committees and political parties. He said the current disclosure dates don't give the public a good idea of how political money is spent when the Legislature is in session. His proposal didn't make any progress in the Republican controlled Legislature.

Here's the full report.

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Eaton running for Scheid seat

Posted at 1:26 PM on July 27, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Chris Eaton, a longtime DFL and union activist, says she's running for the vacant Minnesota Senate seat in District 46 in Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center. Eaton, who is currently director of health services for Mental Health Resources Inc. in St. Paul, is a registered nurse who belongs to the Minnesota Nurses Association. She says she was also a member of AFSCME for two decades. Eaton says she's been active in DFL politics since George McGovern ran for president in 1972 and served on the DFL State Central Committee.

"I've been one of the worker bees so I know a lot of people," Eaton said. "I have never taken a public role before."

Eaton is running to replace DFL Sen. Linda Scheid, who died in June from ovarian cancer. Eaton says she decided to run for Scheid's seat after talking with Scheid two days before Scheid's death. She says she also consulted other Democrats about her decision to run. Eaton says Scheid and her family encouraged her to run after DFL Rep. Deb Hilstrom, who represents part of the district, declined to make the switch from the House to the Senate.

"She was very excited that I was running," Eaton said of Scheid.

Eaton enters the race with a lot of endorsements. Hilstom and DFL Rep. Mike Nelson - who also represents part of the district - are backing her. She also has the DFL Party's endorsement and is backed by WomenWinning, the Teamsters and the Minnesota Nurses Association. She is also married to Brooklyn Center Mayor Tim Willson.

Eaton says her top concerns are the economy, health care and the state budget. She says she's also concerned about the level of gridlock at the State Capitol. She said she would support tax increases to help fix the state's long-term budget problems.

"We clearly need to raise revenue and I would start with Gov. Dayton's plan," Eaton said. "We put a small percentage tax on stadiums. I would certainly think we could do it to make sure our schools are running and our health care was funded and our roads are being repaired."

Eaton is ramping up her campaign in a shortened campaign cycle. Gov. Dayton has called a general election for October 18. A primary, if necessary, will be held on September 13. Candidates can file for the elections between July 27 and August 3. The district is represented by Democrats but there's no guarantee that Eaton will win in October.

"We have never won a special election in this district," Eaton said referring to races that included Darlene Luther, Mike Nelson and Linda Scheid. All three lost special elections but later won in general elections. "I'm going to start a new trend."

Tom Reynolds is running as a member of the Independence Party. No Republican candidate has formed a campaign committee for the race.

Hayden running for Berglin's seat

Posted at 1:46 PM on July 25, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

DFL Rep. Jeff Hayden is wasting no time. He announced he was running for DFL Sen. Linda Berglin's Senate seat just three hours after Berglin officially announced that she was retiring on August 15th.

Hayden, who was elected to the House in 2008, says he hopes to continue Berglin's legacy.

"Over the last few years I have been honored to work with Senator Berglin to combat the home foreclosure crisis, create new jobs, and expand access to quality, affordable health care access," Hayden said in a news release. "We have made great strides, but huge challenges remain," said Hayden. "I am excited to announce my candidacy today to run for the State Senate so we can continue fighting for a better Minnesota."

Hayden is the first of what could be many Democrats to announce a run for the seat. Senate District 61 is considered a DFL stronghold. Governor Dayton has not declared when he will call a special election for Berglin's seat.

You can read the full release from Hayden here.

Berglin retiring from Minnesota Senate

Posted at 1:04 PM on July 25, 2011 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

State Senator Linda Berglin, who served in the Minnesota Legislature for nearly 40 years, has announced she's retiring from the Senate next month. The Minneapolis Democrat has been influential in setting health care policy. She helped create MinneaotaCare, a state subsidized health insurance program for low and middle income Minnesotans.

Berglin said the fact that Democrats no longer hold the majority was a factor in her decision, as were a decade of budget cuts to Health and Human Services programs.

"During the last six months, I felt that my talents and skills have been underutilized in the Minnesota Senate," Berglin said in a prepared statement. "As I see so much of what I have worked on over the years being chipped away or repealed entirely, I worry that our state is moving away from the community spirit that has made us such a great place."

Berglin was a member of the "Gang of 7" lawmakers who helped craft the MinnesotaCare program in the early 1990s. It was created to help contain rising health care costs and flourished when Minnesota's economy was prosperous in the late 1990s.

"I would say the creation of MinnesotaCare would have to be landmark," Berglin said when asked what she considered her top achievement. "There are many other states in the nation that are envious of us because we have that legislation.

Berglin said her biggest disappointment was chairing the Senate Health and Human Services Finance Committee during eight years of budget deficits. She was forced to protect proposed cuts to MinnesotaCare and other social service programs from 2003-2011. Governor Pawlenty pushed for those cuts during his eight years in office. Republicans, who took control of the Minnesota Senate in 2010 election, also worked to cut funding for those services in the 2011 legislative session.

Berglin said losing her chair of the powerful Health and Human Services Finance Committee is one of the reasons she's decided to leave the Legislature. She also noted disappointment that the health care provider tax, which is used to finance the MinnesotaCare program, will be repealed by 2019.

Sen. Larry Pogemiller, DFL-Minneapolis, said Berglin was one of the most outstanding legislators over the past fifty years. He said she worked to protect the poorest people in the state.

"When she approaches the Pearly Gates, that's going to be a quick entry because she protected the most in need in our society," Pogemiller said.

Berglin was first elected to the Minnesota House in 1972. She moved to the Minnesota Senate in 1981. The Minnesota Legislative Library says Berglin is the longest serving female in the Minnesota Senate and is tied with Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis for serving in the Legislature longer than any other woman. Both were sworn into office in 1973.

"I'm so glad that there are more now," Berglin said when told that she served in the Senate longer than any other woman.

Gov. Dayton issued this statement thanking Berglin for her service:

"Senator Berglin has been one of the great leaders of the Minnesota Legislature for the last 39 years. I join with her many friends and admirers in thanking her for her dedicated service and her lasting contributions for the betterment of our state."

Berglin is taking a position as Public Policy Manager with Hennepin County with a focus on health care. Her retirement will be effective on August 15th.

Dayton will have to call a special election to fill her seat. His spokeswoman, Katharine Tinucci, says Dayton has not made a decision on when the special election will be called. Her district is considered a DFL stronghold.

Dayton also needs to call a special election for Senate District 46. That seat was vacated when Sen. Linda Scheid, DFL-Brooklyn Park, died in June.

You can listen to Berglin's news conference here: Listen

The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library also compiled this web page documenting Berglin's career.

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Shutdown Day 5: Dayton hopes budget talks resume

Posted at 7:38 AM on July 5, 2011 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: 2011 Shutdown, MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton says he'll call GOP legislative leaders this morning with the hopes of holding private meetings today to end the state government shutdown.

"I intend to call them this morning and see if they're available to meet this afternoon, or as soon as possible thereafter so we can start putting this back together," Dayton told MPR's Morning Edition.

The shutdown began Friday after the two sides failed to come up with an agreement on how to resolve a $5 billion projected budget deficit projected over the next two years. About 22,000 state government employees have been laid off, and the shutdown is having an impact on the private sector as well.

"This is a terrible situation," Dayton said of the shutdown, adding that he hopes moderates from both parties will come out and "force everyone to a resolution."

Dayton acknowledged that the core political beliefs are part of the reason the impasse has gone on so long.

"Because we are standing on principles, it makes it much more difficult," Dayton said.

Republican leaders have rejected Dayton's proposal to raise income tax rates for the 7,700 Minnesota residents earning more than $1 million, saying tax hikes are the wrong strategy. Dayton has refused to sign on to the Republican budget plan, saying it cuts too much and would hurt the state's most vulnerable residents

Dayton also said he would like to see social and political issues like a ban on human cloning, a requirement that people show a photo ID to vote and redistricting will not be included in budget talks.

"We'll be at loggerheads for a very long time" if GOP wants those items in bills," Dayton said.

You can listen to the full interview here: Listen

MPR's Elizabeth Dunbar contributed to this report.

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Hello Trouble

Posted at 9:23 PM on June 30, 2011 by Tom Scheck (4 Comments)
Filed under: 2011 Shutdown, MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

With less than three hours to go until a state government shutdown, state lawmakers are making some last minute moves to avoid blame for failing to finish their work.

Nearly every Republican in the Minnesota House marched into the House chambers to show that they are ready to work. The move is ceremonial since that work can't be done until Gov. Dayton calls lawmakers back into a special session. Dayton has refused to do so until a full budget agreement is reached. Despite that stance, GOP House Majority Leader Matt Dean says Dayton should call a special session so the Legislature should pass a "lights on" bill to keep government running.

"We need the governor to call us back into a special session," Dean said. "The governor is the only guy who can get this thing started and he's the only one who has the keys to get us started."

Dean said "it's pretty obvious" that they are at a critical point" as the clock ticks closer to midnight.

DFL House Majority Leader Paul Thissen criticized Republicans are more interested in "political theater" than getting a budget deal done.

"Instead of playing mock Legislature the Republicans should be working to get a balanced and fair budget negotiated," Thissen said.

The two sides have sharpened their rhetoric as the clock ticks closer to the midnight deadline. They are arguing over the best way to enact a two year budget that includes a $5 billion projected budget deficit. Gov. Dayton wants to raise income taxes on Minnesota's top earners. Republicans are proposing to erase the deficit through spending cuts.

Neither side has released specifics on where budget negotiations stand.

Update: Gov. Dayton will deliver a speech at 10pm on the shutdown.

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Board rules large donations need to be disclosed

Posted at 2:22 PM on June 30, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: 2012, MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

From MPR's Sasha Aslanian:

Minnesota's campaign finance board ruled today that corporations that spend money trying to influence the way people vote on proposed constitutional amendments must disclose the names of large donors.

The board's ruling means donors spending more than a $1000 to help a corporation give at least $5000 to a ballot campaign would need to be identified. The ruling has implications for next year's election, when voters will decide whether to change the state's constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman.

James Bopp Jr., an attorney representing Minnesotans for Marriage, a group that supports the amendment testified against disclosing donor names

"There has been a concerned wide organized comprehensive nationwide effort to harass the supporters of traditional marriage," Bopp said.

Groups opposed to the marriage amendment didn't testify before the board. Common Cause praised the ruling for closing "loopholes that would have allowed millions of dollars of undisclosed contributions to flow to both sides of the marriage debate."

Here's the ruling by the MN Campaign Finance Board.

Budget talks resume at 8pm

Posted at 7:00 PM on June 29, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: 2011 Shutdown, MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Budget talks between Gov. Dayton and GOP legislative leaders will continue beginning at 8pm Wednesday night

Dayton and GOP leaders have made few comments of substance about the status of budget talks. They have said they are maintaining a "cone of silence" to allow frank negotiations. In the meantime, the public is left to wonder whether state government will shut down at midnight on Thursday.

On Tuesday, Dayton said a deal would have to be reached by Wednesday night in order to avert a shutdown

Dayton and the GOP controlled Legislature are at odds over the best way to craft a two-year budget. Dayton wants to increase income taxes on Minnesota's top earners to erase a $5 billion budget deficit. Republicans say the deficit can be erased through spending cuts.

As the impasse continues among Dayton and the Legislature, a Ramsey County judge ruled that some services will continue.

You can read about the impact of that ruling here.

You can also check out MPR's Shutdown blog for more information on the looming shutdown.

Dayton says GOP budget stance not responsible

Posted at 12:46 PM on June 22, 2011 by Tim Pugmire (13 Comments)
Filed under: 2011 Shutdown, MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton says he doesn't want to see a state government shutdown on July 1, but he's still unwilling to accept a Republican budget that makes deep spending cuts.

In advance of a scheduled meeting with GOP legislative leaders, Dayton held a news conference today to highlight what he sees as the consequences of their proposed cuts. His list included college tuition hikes, local property tax increases and reductions in subsidized health care. Dayton said Republicans' continued opposition to tax increases or spending beyond $34 billion is "not responsible."

"We could negotiate this within a day," Dayton said. "But what's stopping it is their insistence that it be $34 billion, not a penny more. Everything else just gets thrown under the bus, including the lives of Minnesotans."

Senate Deputy Majority Leader Geoff Michel, R-Edina, said he thinks Dayton is feeling public pressure about the looming shutdown. Michel said he's convinced the public doesn't want any more spending.

Here's Michel's opening comments (Note: a protester with The Welfare Rights Committee interrupted the event):

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Koch won't take pay if government shuts down

Posted at 5:49 PM on June 18, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

From MPR's Rupa Shenoy:

GOP Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch is the latest leader in state government to say she won't take a salary during a potential state government shutdown.

Koch announced via her spokesman, Michael Brodkorb, that she won't accept pay if government shuts down on July 1.

He says senators only get paid once a month -- and those choosing to take a salary during a state government shutdown will receive paychecks in July, but not afterward.

Brodkorb says senators are making individual decisions about whether to get paid but said Koch won't take any pay.

"She's not going to take any legislative salary or per diem if there is a shutdown," Brodkorb said. "She's had the option to take per diem since the end of session and she hasn't. And she's not going to be taking any legislative compensation if there is a shutdown."

Brodkorb says Senate staff will paid through July 8 in the event of a shutdown but a majority of the staff will be furloughed after that.

Gov. Dayton issued a statement earlier today saying he thinks "it would be terribly wrong" for himself and Republicans to get paid while state employees go without paychecks.

Dayton and GOP legislative leaders are still at an impasse over the best way to craft a two-year budget. State government will shut down if they don't reach a budget deal by July 1.

Dayton: I won't take salary if government shuts down

Posted at 3:13 PM on June 18, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Gov. Mark Dayton announced today that he won't take a salary if there's a state government shutdown on July 1. He's also calling on the Legislature to follow his lead.

"In the event of a state government shutdown, which I remain committed to doing everything possible to avoid, I think it would be terribly wrong for those of us responsible for it, the Republican legislators and myself, to receive our salaries while thousands of dedicated state employees have lost theirs."

As many as 36,000 state employees will be laid off if Dayton and GOP legislative leaders fail to reach a budget deal by July 1. Dayton's announcement comes after the Star Tribune reported that they informed lawmakers and staff that they aim to keep paying them even if state government shuts down.

Dayton and GOP legislative leaders are at odds over the best way to balance the state's budget. Dayton wants to raise income taxes on Minnesota's top earners to erase part of a $5 billion projected budget deficit. Republicans say the deficit can be erased through spending cuts.

Plans set for Scheid memorial

Posted at 4:35 PM on June 16, 2011 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Memorial services for Sen. Linda Scheid, DFL-Brooklyn Park, will be held on Tuesday, June 28 at the Brooklyn Park Community Activity Center from 4-8 p.m.

Scheid's son, Scott Scheid, says the service is open to the public and there will be food and beverage provided by Surly Brewing. Scheid was the author of the the so-called Surly bill that allowed breweries to sell their own beer at tap rooms. Governor Dayton signed the bill into law last month.

Scheid passed away yesterday afternoon after a six-year battle with ovarian cancer. She was 68.

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Sen. Hann criticizes archbishop for endorsing "socialist fiction"

Posted at 12:20 PM on June 16, 2011 by Tom Scheck (39 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Sen. David Hann, R-Eden Prairie, is criticizing Saint Paul and Minneapolis Archbishop John Nienstedt for calling on Gov. Mark Dayton and the GOP-controlled Legislature to "not rely on disproportionate cuts in essential services to those living in poverty."

In a letter to Dayton, Nienstedt said "increasing the depth and breadth of poverty is bad fiscal policy and bad economic policy."

Dayton and GOP legislative leaders are at an impasse over the best way to craft a two year budget. Dayton wants to raise income taxes on Minnesota's top earners to erase part of a $5 billion projected budget deficit. Republicans say the deficit can be erased without a tax increase.

In a letter dated June 10, Hann took offense with Nienstedt's letter (Hann's letter and Nienstedt's full letters are below).

"I was extremely disappointed to learn you endorse the socialist fiction that it is a moral necessity to take the property of the "wealthy" under the assumption that those resources are better used by politicians and bureaucrats than by the individuals who earn them. You speak of hopes the governor will create justice by adopting a budget that "does not rely on disproportionate cuts in essential services." Although not said explicitly, I take your statement to mean the proposed legislative budget does that."

Hann goes on to defend the GOP budget plan as being the largest in the state's history and he writes that it spends more on K-12 education and health and human services programs than the current two year budget.

"I take offense at the description the legislative budget proposal as, "increasing the depth and breadth of poverty." For you to do so in akin to me suggesting the Church favors abortion and same sex marriage because you support a governor who has made these issues a central part of his "moral" calculus."

"Certainly we need to be charitable to the neediest among us. Are government programs charitable? Is a pathway to human dignity found in creating dependence on government and suggesting to people that their lives would be better but for the "greedy rich" not being willing to pay their fair share?"

Hann concluded his letter by quoting Catholic theologian R.R. Reno who said, "A Christian who hopes to follow the teachings of Jesus needs to reckon with a singular fact about American poverty: Its deepest and most debilitating deficits are moral, not financial: the most serious deprivations are cultural not economic."

"It would seem to me the Church has a large task in correcting the moral deficits of our citizens," Hann wrote. "Telling people they have the moral claim on someone else's property is wrong and certainly doesn't help in that work. What the Legislature has tried to do is what you, and every individual and organization in the state tries to do: Do the best we can with what we have."

Hann has not returned a call to MPR News to talk more about his letter.

Update: Hann, who is not Catholic, told MPR News that he stands by his letter.

"They do many many good things," Hann said. "They have taken a position on the marriage issue (the Catholic Church supports a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage) and I support that. They have taken a position on abortion, which I think is right, and I support that but on the issue of the morality of imposing higher taxes to allow government to spend money, I think they have that wrong. I felt an obligation to point that out...

Hann said he has not spoken with the archbishop about his letter but said he is willing to talk with him or anyone else on his staff.

Here's Hann's full letter:

57779569 Hann Nienstedt Response 1

Here's Nienstedt's letter:

20110609125833438

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Tributes pour in for Sen. Scheid

Posted at 10:46 PM on June 15, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Sen. Linda Scheid, DFL-Brooklyn Park, died this afternoon. Her son, Scott, told MPR News that Scheid slipped away this afternoon. Scheid entered hospice care last month after a six-year fight with ovarian cancer. MPR and the Star Tribune have looks at Scheid's career and life.

Family and friends have been posting tributes on Scheid's Caring Bridge site and her Facebook page.

Several others have issued statements to the press.

Gov. Dayton issued this statement:

"I deeply regret the passing of my good friend, Senator Linda Scheid. Linda and I served together in state government during three different decades. She was smart, hard-working, and independent. Linda always did what she believed was right and what was best for the people she served. She will be missed by all of us."

GOP Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch posted this statement on her Twitter page when she learned of Scheid's death:

Senator Linda Scheid will be greatly missed. Prayers for her family.

DFL Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk released this statement:

"Linda was a good friend, a trusted colleague and a dedicated public servant. Her passing is a tremendous loss for the Senate and our state.

While we mourn her passing, it's important that we celebrate and recognize Linda's tremendous career, as well as the difference she made in the lives of so many Minnesotans. Linda was an inspiration to many both inside and out of the Capitol, and will be remembered for her strength, her passion, her independence and her commitment to doing what was best for the people of Minnesota."

DFL Party Chair Ken Martin also released this statement:

"Today, the DFL Party lost one of our strongest leaders, whose service has improved our state for decades. Sen. Scheid dedicated her career to helping young Minnesotans, and touched countless lives. She will be missed.

"Sen. Scheid was a leader on education, fighting to provide a quality public education to our state's children and young adults. She fought for fair elections, and consistently stood up for small businesses to boost our state economy. She had a stalwart commitment to equality and justice and a personal touch that helped not only her constituents, but Minnesotans around the state.

"Linda has been a role model for women in politics and a model for all people looking to make a difference in their communities. Her selfless and tireless approach to governing - focusing on giving back and serving others - set a standard for all who choose a life in government. And her sense of humor and personality will be remembered by all who knew her. On behalf of the DFL Party, I offer our condolences to her family and our gratitude to Linda for her years of service."

Dayton: Temporary shutdown better than GOP budget plan

Posted at 6:14 PM on June 15, 2011 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Dayton takes questions from reporters:

Gov. Dayton says he's putting forward a list of state services that he thinks should continue if state government shuts down on July first. The governor is petitioning a Ramsey County District Court Judge to continue services like the state's prisons, the state patrol and veterans homes.

State government would shut down if Dayton and GOP legislative leaders fail to reach a budget deal by July first. Dayton said he's still optimistic that a budget deal can get done but insisted that a temporary shutdown is better than the Republican budget plan that cuts funding for higher education, mass transit and health care programs.

"They're better served by a temporary one for hopefully a very limited period of time than they would be over the next two years through the catastrophic cuts in so many areas," Dayton said.

Dayton met privately with GOP legislative leaders for thirty minutes today and both sides agreed to meet again tomorrow. The two sides are $1.8 billion apart on a budget deal. Dayton is proposing to raise income taxes on Minnesota's top earners to erase the state's $5 billion projected budget deficit. Republicans say they can balance the budget through spending cuts.

GOP legislative leaders asked Dayton to meet extensively over the next ten days on the budget. They said they planned to exchange detailed proposals in spreadsheet form. They said they'll put forward the first proposal but declined to say whether it would have new numbers in it.

Here's the letter GOP Speaker Kurt Zellers and GOP Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch sent to Dayton.

KochZellersLettertoDaytonJune15

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Dayton files shutdown petition, requests budget mediation

Posted at 9:53 AM on June 15, 2011 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Gov. Mark Dayton filed court papers today that are aimed at keeping some state services functioning during a government shutdown.

Dayton filed a petition in Ramsey County District Court outlining the government functions that he views as essential. The long list of recommendations include prisons, state troopers, emergency highway repair and programs for the poor, elderly and disabled.

In a news release, Dayton said he submitted the list with a "heavy heart." He indicated that the services he left off his list should not continue during a shutdown.

"My decisions were not based upon personal preferences or policy considerations, Dayton wrote. "Rather, they were instructed by the words of the Minnesota Constitution, which I took an oath of office to uphold, and ensuing case law. Agency heads, their staffs, and the staff at the MN Department of Management and Budget and the Governor's Office have spent many hours developing these recommendations."

Dayton's court documents also ask a judge to to appoint a mediator to oversee budget negotiations between himself and Republican legislative leaders. He recommended former Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz for that role.

A shutdown would begin July 1 if the governor and Legislature don't reach a budget agreement. But a judge could order the continuation of essential services. Attorney General Lori Swanson filed similar paperwork earlier in the week.

Here's the governor's list:
Governor Ag Response

Dayton to file shutdown plan on Wednesday

Posted at 5:38 PM on June 14, 2011 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: 2011 Shutdown, MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Gov. Dayton's spokeswoman Katharine Tinucci says Dayton will file a petition with Ramsey County District Court on Wednesday that outlines what state services Dayton thinks should continue if the government shuts down on July 1. The filing will be the next step in the process of planning for a state shutdown.

The Department of Human Services notified more than 600,000 low income Minnesotans that state subsidized health insurance coverage, cash assistance, food support and child care assistance may be discontinued on July 1. The state also sent 36,000 layoff notices to state employees last week.

Dayton told reporters this afternoon that he's hoping he can reach a budget deal with GOP legislative leaders in time to avoid a shutdown but said the public has to weigh in if they're worried about a shutdown in services.

"There are going to be an enormous amount of very, very serious effects on many good people throughout the state," Dayton said. "This is, as I've been delving into it over the last couple of weeks, a terrible outcome for the state so it can be avoided."

Dayton and GOP legislative leaders are at odds over the best way to erase the state's $5 billion projected budget deficit. The two sides are $1.8 billion apart. Dayton wants to raise income taxes on Minnesota's top earners to balance the budget. Republicans say they can erase the deficit through spending cuts.

County officials, state employees and other groups are facing great uncertainty when it comes to planning for the shutdown. Beltrami County Administrator Tony Murphy says he doesn't know how what county services will continue if a shutdown occurs. He's worried that the county's 6,500 residents who receive state assistance will have questions for county staff. He said a lot of residents will overwhelm his staff.

"If they can't get those questions answered at the state and they're not used to taking their questions to state employees, they'll take those questions to county offices and county employees," Murphy said. "I think our biggest concern is that we don't really have answers to their questions. We don't really know what the plans for the state for the shutdown in any level of detail."

Murphy says he's planning to put more staff at the front counters and at the county phone banks with the hopes of handling questions from concerned residents. He said, however, that fewer employees will be able to process claims and other paperwork.

It isn't certain what services will continue if state government shuts down. Dayton's petition to the court will come just two days after Attorney General Lori Swanson filed a similar petition in court. The court is expected to act quickly on the requests since the services will be shuttered on July 1.

Ramsey County Chief Judge Kathleen Gearin told MPR News that she would not assign a judge to the case on Tuesday. She suggested it was unlikely she would take any action on the case until she receives Dayton's petition.

Republican leaders have scheduled a Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy meeting to discuss Dayton's shutdown plans on Wednesday morning.

Tinucci, with Dayton's office, says she expects Dayton to meet privately with GOP legislative leaders to discuss the budget impasse. It would be the first time the two sides would meet since last Wednesday.

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Briggs and Morgan lines up on GOP side of redistricting battle

Posted at 3:11 PM on June 14, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: 2012, MN Legislature, Mark Dayton, Redistricting, U.S. House, U.S. Senate

Three attorneys for Briggs and Morgan have filed as "attorneys of record" for eight citizens in a redistricting case. The attorneys; former MN Supreme Court Justice Eric Magnuson, Elizabeth Brama and Michael Wilhelm, all filed the paperwork this morning to say that they would represent the eight Republican citizens who have filed lawsuits both in federal and state courts.

The Republican Party of Minnesota is working with an independent group, "Minnesotans for a Fair Redistricting," on redistricting efforts.

Magnuson said he's working on behalf of the eight clients listed in the legal filings and is willing to work on the issue in both state and federal court.

"I will work on both of them with the exception that I can't appear before the Minnesota Supreme Court," Magnuson said. "But we have other attorneys in our office that can do that." Magnuson left his position on the Minnesota Supreme Court last June. The Minnesota Supreme Court is asking former justices to wait three years before they appear before the Minnesota Supreme Court.

One of the citizens being represented by Magnuson, Gregg Peppin, said a lot of the litigation work has been coordinated by the Minnesota Republican Party and "Minnesotans for a Fair Redistricting." He said the filing indicates that Briggs and Morgan will be working with attorney Tony Trimble on redistricting efforts for Republicans in Minnesota.

"They told me they were going to get a litigator and this confirms that," Peppin said about Magnuson's filing.

Minnesota Republican Party Chair Tony Sutton confirmed that Briggs and Morgan has been hired by "Minnesotans for a Fair Redistricting" but said he or other members of the MNGOP have nothing to do with the hiring. He said former MNGOP Chair Chris Georgacus is heading "Minnesotans for a Fair Redistricting."

The decision to hire Briggs and Morgan sets up another battle of legal heavyweights. Magnuson, a former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice appointed by former Gov. Tim Pawlenty, represented the Minnesota Republican Party and Republican Tom Emmer in the 2010 gubernatorial recount.

Democrats have hired Washington D.C. attorney Marc Elias and Minneapolis attorney David Lillehaug to head up the DFL Party's redistricting efforts in court. Elias represented Gov. Mark Dayton in the 2010 gubernatorial recount and Sen. Al Franken in the 2008 U.S. Senate recount.

The Minnesota DFL Party has also been working with the outside group, Democratic National Redistricting Trust, on its legal efforts. That group is also being represented by Elias.

One of the reasons independent groups, and not state parties, are working on redistricting efforts is to avoid campaign contribution limits and disclosure laws. The McCain/Feingold law forbids parties from raising unlimited amounts of soft money to pay for political activity and redistricting efforts. Independent groups can raise soft money.

Republicans and Democrats in Minnesota have been lining up for a lengthy and costly court battle over how the state's political boundaries should be drawn. The courts are being asked to prepare for the possibility that Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and GOP legislative leaders won't reach agreement on a redistricting plan. Dayton vetoed the GOP-backed plan last month. The courts will take over the process if an agreement isn't reached by February 21.

A federal judge held a hearing last week on a request by several Democrats to have federal court oversee the drawing of the state's political maps. Republican attorneys have argued that redistricting matters must move through state court first.

Ethics Committee says Hoffman should apologize over Twitter comment

Posted at 7:08 PM on June 13, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

The Senate Ethics Committee says it will dismiss a complaint against Sen. Gretchen Hoffman, R-Vargas, if she apologizes to Sen. Barb Goodwin, DFL-Columbia Heights, in writing for a comment she wrote on Twitter about Goodwin. The Ethics Committee also says Hoffman has to delete the tweet in question and link to the Ethics report on Twitter. Hoffman was facing an ethics complaint for mischaracterizing on her Twitter feed that Goodwin called people with a mental illness "idiots and imbeciles" during a Senate floor debate.

Godwin says she's satisfied with the action taken by the Ethics Committee.

"We want to make sure that we prevent these kinds of things in the future," Goodwin said. "I'm hoping for a decent apology and that it's a sincere apology."

The committee of two Democrats and two Republican met to discuss an ethics complaint against Hoffman. Hoffman tweeted the comment in May when the Senate was debating a Health and Human Services budget bill. Goodwin said Hoffman mischaracterized her comments because she was discussing the historical context of mental health treatment in Minnesota.

The Ethics Committee debated for several hours and quibbled over how Hoffman should apologize, where she should apologize and how long an apology should be posted on Twitter.

"We're asking for different apologies twice now," Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, R-Alexandria, said as he questioned why two apologies were necessary. Ingebrigtsen also said that the committee "was all caught up in this Twitter thing."

Democrats argued that Hoffman should apologize in writing and on Twitter because she made the comments on Twitter.

"I'm narrow in my focus not about what everyone else here is doing in terms of Twittering and Tweeting," Sen. Kathy Sheran, DFL-Mankato, said. "I'm simply focused on what I think is reasonable for us to ask Sen. Hoffman to do..."

The Ethics Committee held the hearing to act on an ethics complaint filed by Sen. Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope.

"Each of us, as one of the 67 Senators, does need to be held to account even during an emotional debate on important topics for what each of us says," Rest said.

Hoffman did not testify during the hearing. Her attorney, Fritz Knaak, said Hoffman was upset with Goodwin's comments and urged the committee to not start policing comments by members during difficult political debates.

"I certainly hope that the Ethics Committee doesn't want to get on its plate into the heads of members of the debate, subjective positions being taken in difficult political contexts and difficult political debates," Knaak said. "I would submit to you that that's not a place that you want to go."

The Ethics Committee will not dismiss the complaint until Hoffman apologizes on Twitter and issues a written apology to Goodwin.

Winkler: Courts can't appropriate money

Posted at 2:51 PM on June 13, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: 2011 Shutdown, MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Rep. Ryan Winkler, DFL-Golden Valley, is taking issue with an effort to ask a judge to step in and keep some government services running if state government shuts down on July 1.

Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson is asking a district court judge to rule that some government services should continue if state government shuts down on July 1. Swanson filed a petition today in Ramsey County Court asking a judge to grant authority to continue funding "essential services" like prisons, public safety and health care for the poor, elderly and disabled.

Winkler says he believes the petition is more sweeping than previous requests. He says the petition seeks too much power for cities, counties, state agencies and other units of government.

"This petition says each government unit can define for itself what a core function is," Winkler said. "And they present a bill to the state and the state has to pay it. So this is putting a small check on how money would be spent."

Winkler also questions whether it's constitutional for a judge to fund government agencies. He says that's the job of the Legislature and the governor.

"The Minnesota Constitution requires the Legislature and the governor to compromise and pass a balanced budget," Winkler said. "The idea that powers should be separated into three branches, and that each branch should serve as a check on the other branches, is fundamental to our system of government."

The courts did step in and appropriate money during the partial government shutdown in 2005. A lawsuit was filed to challenge the constitutionality of the process but the Minnesota Court of Appeals rejected the challenge on constitutional grounds.

The court ruled that the lawsuit should have been filed earlier since then Gov. Pawlenty and the Legislature resolved their budget impasse before the court could act on it.

MAPE objects to lawmaker comparing unions to Hitler

Posted at 2:34 PM on June 13, 2011 by Tom Scheck (6 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

The executive director of the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees is objecting to a Republican lawmaker comparing unions to Adolf Hitler and Fidel Castro.

Jim Monroe is referring to e-mails between Rep. Tom Hackbarth, R-Cedar, and MAPE member Robin Seifert, who lives in Hackbarth's district.

Seifert was urging Hackbarth to support DFL Gov. Mark Dayton's budget plan that would raise income taxes on Minnesota's top earners. Here's the e-mail that she sent him:

Dear Representative Hackbarth,

You have a choice. As a legislators, you could chose to ask the most fortunate among us to pay their fair share or you could inflict severe pain on the middle-class and vulnerable Minnesotans.

I oppose the all-cuts budget which will increase property taxes on homeowners, renters and small businesses by more than one billion dollars.

The all-cuts plan will eliminate support for battered women and crime victims and slash funding for public universities by $411 million.

We have a choice. We can either protect the richest Minnesotans and large corporations or we can protect the vital services that average Minnesotans depend on.

Are you willing to take away health care from 140,000 Minnesotans just to protect the 40,000 richest people in Minnesota?

I also support the Viking stadium they are part of Minnesota and need to stay here. We have waited to long to get a stadium they time is now!!

Please tax the richest 2% of Minnesotans. Ask them to pay their fair share.

Sincerely,

Ms. Robin Seifert

Seifert says Hackbarth responded with this e-mail:

I can't believe what I'm hearing from folks? All, similar letters to yours.

Are you a Union member? If so, are they the communist giving you this propaganda?

Do you know the who, what, when, where, why, and how, of Fidel Castro?

Hitler rose to power using and blaming the jews for the destruction of the German economy. Castro built his army of murderers by blaming the rich bankers and capitalist for destroying Cuba and taking advantage of the Cuban people. Hummmm?

Representative Hackbarth

Robin Seifert told MPR News that she got the e-mail from Hackbarth but declined further comment. Hackbarth has not replied to an e-mail message from MPR News. Hackbarth's legislative assistant and House Republican Caucus Spokeswoman Jodi Boyne both said Hackbarth was out of town and that they were trying to reach him.

Hackbarth's response prompted Monroe, with MAPE, to send a letter to Hackbarth (and put out a press release) asking why the representative was comparing union members to Hitler and Castro.

Do you really equate advocating for the middle class and Minnesota's vulnerable citizens as communist propaganda? Do you really believe that when our members ask you to protect 140,000 Minnesotans from losing their MnCare benefits rather than having the richest two percent of Minnesotans paying their fair share of taxes it compares to the rise of Hitler and targeting the Jews? When did supporting public services for battered women, crime victims and students in public universities become a fascist notion?

When did humanity and caring for our neighbors and asking for millionaires to pay their fair share become supporting Fidel Castro and his murderous armies?

This isn't the first time Hackbarth has been under scrutiny.

He lost his committee chair in December after he was spotted carrying a loaded handgun in a Planned Parenthood parking lot in St. Paul. Hackbarth said he was checking up on a woman he was dating. Hackbarth had a permit to carry a handgun. No charges were filed

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State workers start getting layoff notices

Posted at 12:22 PM on June 10, 2011 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Thirty-six thousand state employees started receiving layoff notices today. The notices were mailed out by Minnesota Management and Budget on Thursday.

"This letter is to inform you of the impending shutdown and to provide notice to all employees you will be laid off or placed on involuntary, unpaid leave of absence effective July 1, 2011 unless you are notified by your agency to report to work to perform "critical services," it reads.

The letter also says state employees will be paid on July 1, 2011 for all hours worked during the June 8 - 21 pay period. Employees will be paid on July 15, 2011 for all hours worked between June 22 - June 30. The letter also says state workers will be allowed to continue their insurance coverage during a shutdown but employee status will determine whether the state will pay its contribution to the benefits.

0031_001

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32 Senate members max out expenses during legislative session

Posted at 6:05 AM on June 8, 2011 by Tom Scheck (11 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

32 members of the Minnesota Senate took the maximum amount of per diem allowed during the 2011 legislative session. Nearly two thirds of the Senate Republican caucus, 23 in all, took the maximum amount of $12,040 during session. That amounts to $86 a day for the 140 days of the session (including Saturdays and Sundays).

The Minnesota Senate spent $756,556 on per diem payments during the 2011 legislative session.

Nine DFLers took the maximum amount in expenses.

Note: Senate Republicans scaled back the maximum per diem rate in January. The rate was lowered from $96 to $86.

Per diem is optional. It comes on top of the annual salary of $31,141 for lawmakers.

Democrats taking the maximum amount of per diem:
Linda Berglin, Minneapolis
Barb Goodwin, Columbia Heights
Ron Latz, St. Louis Park
James Metzen, South St. Paul
Sandy Pappas, St. Paul
Roger Reinert, Duluth
Ann Rest, New Hope
Linda Scheid, Brooklyn Park
Patricia Torres-Ray, Minneapolis

Republicans taking the maximum amount of per diem:
David Brown, Becker
Al DeKruif, Madison Lake
Michelle Fischbach, Paynesville
Paul Gazelka, Brainerd
Chris Gerlach, Apple Valley
Joe Gimse, Willmar
Dan Hall, Burnsville
David Hann, Eden Prairie
John Howe, Red Wing
Bill Ingebrigtsen, Alexandria
Mike Jungbauer, East Bethel
Warren Limmer, Maple Grove
Doug Magnus, Slayton
Carla Nelson, Rochester
Scott Newman, Hutchinson
Sean Nienow, Cambridge
Gen Olson, Minnetrista
Mike Parry, Waseca
Claire Robling, Jordan
Dave Senjem, Rochester
Dave Thompson, Lakeville
Ray Vandeveer, Forest Lake
Pam Wolf, Spring Lake Park

Democrats declining to take per diem:
None

Republicans declining to take per diem:
Roger Chamberlain, Lino Lakes

Here's the report from the MN Senate:

1278_001

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40 members of MN House max out per diem during session

Posted at 6:00 AM on June 8, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

40 members of the Minnesota House have taken, $10,780 in daily expenses during the 2011 legislative session. That's the most House members could take in expenses.

23 Democrats and 17 Republicans took $77 a day for the 140 days that the Legislature was in session (including Saturdays and Sundays).

Per diem is an optional benefit for lawmakers. It is in addition to their annual salary of $31,141. The House spent a total of $1,223,878 on per diem payments during the 2011 legislative session.

Democrats taking the maximum amount of per diem:
David Dill, Crane Lake
Kent Eken, Twin Valley
Patti Fritz, Faribault
Lynn Carlson, Crystal
Bobby Jo Champion, Minneapolis
Karen Clark, Minneapolis
Andrew Falk, Murdock
Mindy Greiling, Roseville
Rick Hanson, South St. Paul
Alice Hausman, St. Paul
Jeffrey Hayden, Minneapolis
Bill Hilty, Finlayson
Tom Huntley, Duluth
Lyle Koenen, Clara City
John Lesch, St. Paul
Tim Mahoney, St. Paul
Carlos Mariani, St. Paul
Joe Mullery, Minneapolis
Mary Murphy, St. Paul
Gene Pelowski, Winona
Jeanne Poppe, Austin
Tom Rukavina, Virginia
Jean Wagenius, Minneapolis

Republicans taking the maximum amount of per diem:
Jim Abeler, Anoka
Tony Cornish, Good Thunder
Greg Davids, Prescott
Bob Dettmer, Forest Lake
Pat Garofalo, Farmington
Bob Gunther, Fairmont
Tom Hackbarth, Cedar
Mary Liz Holberg, Lakeville
Larry Howes, Walker
Joe Hoppe, Chaska
Tim Kelly, Red Wing
Morrie Lanning, Moorhead
Mark Murdock, Ottertail
Bud Nornes, Fergus Falls
Duane Quam, Rochester
Steve Smith, Mound
Kurt Zellers, Maple Grove

Democrats taking no per diem:
Tina Liebling, Rochester
Steve Simon, St. Louis Park

Republicans taking no per diem:
None

Here's the per diem report from the MN House

Crystal Reports - PerDiemRank 6-3-11

Update: I incorrectly reported that Erin Murphy maxed out her per diem in an earlier post when, in fact, it was Mary Murphy. My apologies.

Parry: Dayton is afraid our budget will 'work well'

Posted at 9:23 PM on June 7, 2011 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Sen. Mike Parry, R-Waseca, has taken a new line of criticism against Democratic Gov. Dayton as the budget impasse continues. Parry continued to say that Dayton will force a government shutdown in order to get his tax increase on Minnesota top earners. But Parry also says Dayton is reluctant to support the GOP budget plan because he fears it won't have the impact he's predicting.

"He's afraid that if he goes along with the budgets that were produced that they're going to work and they're going to work well," Parry told MPR news. "That's what he's afraid of. He's afraid to say 'By golly you did what you said you were going to do."

Parry, chair of the Senate State Government Finance Committee, has been one of the more vocal critics of Dayton's style and leadership. He has said Dayton is absent from negotiations and needs to take a more active role in budget negotiations.

Dayton, who is pushing for an income tax hike on top earners to help erase the state's $5 billion projected budget deficit, has characterized the cuts in the GOP budget plan as "barbaric." His spokesman, Bob Hume, took issue with Parry's criticism.

"We don't believe that denying 140,000 Minnesotans healthcare would 'work well', cutting services to seniors or double digit cuts to higher education would 'work well' or that raising property taxes would 'work well" Hume said in an e-mail. "Those have been the choices of the legislative majorities - and it's not a workable solution for Minnesotans. They've been very clear that they want a balanced solution and a budget compromise, and that's what the Governor continues to focus on."

Dayton and GOP legislative leaders are scheduled to meet tomorrow afternoon to discuss the budget.

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GOP moves on priorities but not on overall target

Posted at 7:11 PM on June 6, 2011 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

GOP Releases budget offer:

Dayton reacts to offer:

Republican leaders in the Minnesota Legislature say they've offered a compromise budget plan to Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton, but there's still no agreement to head off a possible state government shutdown.

Republicans say they're willing to spend more money on K12 schools, public safety and the courts. But they don't want to increase the size of their overall budget. That means Republicans would be forced to make cuts in other areas. Republican House Speaker Kurt Zellers says he hopes their proposal will help end the budget impasse.

"This is what we would consider a major compromise," Zellers said. "A significant move for us when it comes to nearly 50 percent of the budget now being agreed to by us, by our membership."

Governor Dayton says he's slightly more optimistic that a budget deal can be reached but says Republicans still need to come up with more revenue, like tax increases, to meet his demands.

"It's going to be a question of whether they're really willing to reach out on the revenue side as well as on the spending side," Dayton said. "If they are, then I'm willing to reach out on the spending reduction side but I really need to see evidence in a midpoint number that they are willing to commit to or agree to."

The two sides have until July first to reach a budget deal or state government will shutdown.

You can read the GOP letter to Dayton here:

20110606163304690

GOP leaders take questions from reporters:

Dayton takes questions from reporters:

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No budget progress but GOP questions Dayton's absence at meeting

Posted at 12:48 PM on June 6, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

There's still no progress on resolving the state's budget situation and Republican are accusing Democratic Governor Mark Dayton of not showing up for a morning meeting. Republicans met privately with Dayton's staff and DFL lawmakers earlier this morning to discuss school spending bills. Republicans say they were told Dayton would attend the meeting. Rep Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, says he's disappointed the governor wasn't there.

"We need the governor to come out and play," Garofalo said. "This Legislature and this governor will make dramatic, positive changes in the area of education reform but we need him to be here to get that done."

A spokesman says Dayton would have attended the meeting if Republican legislators offered something new on budget negotiations.

"We've been clear that if they don't bring something new to the meetings that it's just for show," Dayton spokesman Bob Hume said. "This is clearly just for show."

Hume said Dayton was in another meeting and would have been alerted if Republicans brought anything new to the table. DFL state Sen. Leroy Stumpf says it's hard to negotiate the K-12 bill without an agreement between Dayton and GOP legislative leaders on how much the state has to spend.

"When you don't have some kind of a target or basically an overall plan, it doesn't help very much to try to solve the details because you're basically going around in a circle," Stumpf said.

Dayton and GOP legislative leaders are scheduled to meet this afternoon to discuss the budget. Dayton wants to raise income taxes on Minnesota's top earners to erase a projected $5 billion deficit. Republicans say the state has enough money and needs to cut spending.

Sen. Gen Olson, R-Minnetrista, says she still thinks it's valuable for lawmakers to meet on the K-12 budget bill even if there isn't an agreement between Dayton and GOP legislative leaders.

"The idea that we can't get some of our policy as well as spending priorities in place so that it's ready to deal with when leadership makes that final agreement is frustrating," Sen. Gen Olson, R-Minnetrista said.

Dayton is scheduled to meet with GOP legislative leaders this afternoon to discuss the budget. Hume said Dayton will attend that meeting.

Dayton calls for an outside mediator to enter budget talks

Posted at 10:30 AM on June 2, 2011 by Tom Scheck (5 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton says he'd like to hire an outside mediator to help bridge his differences with Republican lawmakers over the state budget. Dayton made the suggestion today during a news conference. He said he's at an impasse with the GOP-controlled Legislature over the best way to erase a $5 billion projected budget deficit. He said Republicans refuse to budge on their opposition to raising taxes and characterized the current state of budget talks as nonproductive.

"And it's not going to lead us to the resolution we need before July 1," Dayton said. "So to get somebody who has the expertise and can set parameters and help define a process that will define a process that will lead to a successful resolution is in the best interest of all Minnesotans."

The governor made the announcement several hours before a scheduled hearing on his budget by a legislative commission of mostly GOP lawmakers. Dayton said he would not allow his commissioners to participate in a hearing by the Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy. The panel, made up of mostly Republican lawmakers, aimed to discuss Dayton's budget proposal. Dayton said he would not allow his commissioners to "be berated" in a hearing that he characterized as a "political stunt."

"It's political grand standing kind of theater to distract people away from that they're unwilling to compromise," Dayton said. "The fact [is] that their budget will have drastic effects on the lives of Minnesotans."

GOP House Speaker Kurt Zellers says the hearing was meant to discuss the details of Dayton's budget plan. Zellers also ruled out Dayton's offer to bring in a mediator.

"We were elected to lead," Zellers said. "Last fall, when folks voted for not only Gov. Dayton but voted for each and every one of us in our legislative district, we were expected to come down here and do our job. It is tough work. It's not easy. If we all had to pick when we would take over as governor or speaker or majority leader, this budgetary crisis is not the time that we would all pick."

GOP lawmakers have not offered an alternative to the budget proposal Dayton vetoed last week. Zellers says he and other GOP legislative leaders don't support Dayton's proposal to raise income taxes on Minnesota's top earners and want to erase the $5 billion projected budget deficit through spending cuts alone.

Dayton wants to raise income taxes on Minnesota's top earners to help erase part of the state's $5 billion projected budget deficit.

Dayton and lawmakers have to pass a state budget before July 1 or state government will shut down.

DAYTON'S Q&A SESSION:

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GOP to target Dayton budget at hearing

Posted at 5:17 PM on June 1, 2011 by Tom Scheck (8 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

GOP legislative leaders announced today that they intend to take aim at Governor Dayton's budget at Thursday's Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy meeting. GOP Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch and GOP House Speaker Kurt Zellers sent a letter to MMB Commissioner Jim Schowalter and Revenue Commissioner Myron Frans telling them to be prepared to discuss specifics about Dayton's budget plan.

"We would like information on plants to offset the loss of $1.8 billion in revenue in the Governor's budget due to the recent change in the administration's tax plan. Specifically, be prepared to discuss the legislature's spending reductions the Governor will agree to, or new spending reduction proposals.

On multiple occassions the Governor has indicated an interest in exempting small business from the effects (of) his tax increase plan. We are interested in knowing how this proposal changes revenue estimates for the administration's budget, and what offsets are proposed to allow small businesses to keep more of their hard-earned money."

The meeting is scheduled for 2pm on Thursday. The LCPFP has not met since September, 2010 when Democrats held majorities in both the House and Senate. DFL legislative leaders held LCPFP meetings in 2009 and 2010 to point out their budget differences with former Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Dayton and GOP legislative leaders are also scheduled to meet privately on Friday morning to discuss the budget.

Here's the letter from Koch and Zellers:

KochZellersLetter

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Ad war starts over state budget

Posted at 5:09 PM on June 1, 2011 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

The union backed The Alliance for a Better Minnesota announced today that the group will run ads targeting 12 GOP lawmakers. ABM says it plans to run cable, radio and intenet ads in the 12 districts with the hopes of convincing those lawmakers to agree to Gov. Dayton's budget plan. The group is targeting lawmakers who either won in districts that have a DFL index or lawmakers who narrowly won in the 2010 election cycle.

The targets are Senator John Pederson (SD15), Senator Jeremy Miller (SD31), Senator Al DeKruif (SD25), Senator John Carlson (SD4), Senator Ben Kruse (SD47), Senator Ted Lillie (SD56), Representative King Banaian (HD15B), Representative Greg Davids (HD31B), Representative Carolyn McElfatrick (HD3B), Representative Kelby Woodard (HD25B), Representative Rich Murray (HD27A) and Representative David Hancock (HD2B).

The Coalition of MN Businesses is also running newspaper ads thanking GOP lawmakers for holding the line on state spending. The group, backed by the MN Chamber of Commerce, the Minnesota Business Partnership and ten other business groups, is running the ads in newspapers across the state.

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State starts sending out 36,000 pink slips

Posted at 5:18 PM on May 31, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

The state of Minnesota will start sending out lay-off notices to nearly 36,000 state employees tomorrow in preparation for a state government shutdown.

Minnesota Management and Budget says this week it will notify 800 members of the Minnesota Law Enforcement Association that they could be laid off on July 1 if Governor Dayton and the Legislature fail to pass a two year budget. Finance officials say they will send out lay-off notices to another 35,000 state workers on June 10.

The notices will be sent to every state employee, but some of those workers will be required to continue their duties if a judge deems their work "essential." A state government shutdown could be averted if Governor Dayton and the GOP controlled Legislature reach a budget deal before July 1.

Dayton and the Legislature are at odds over the best way to erase a $5 billion projected budget deficit. Dayton wants to raise income taxes on Minnesota's top earners to erase part of the deficit. Republicans say they can balance the budget through spending cuts alone.

Dayton and GOP legislative leaders have not met to discuss the budget since Sunday, May 22.

Dayton acts on final batch of bills

Posted at 4:06 PM on May 31, 2011 by Tim Pugmire (2 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Gov. Mark Dayton today completed action on bills passed during the 2011 regular session by vetoing an education policy bill and signing five other bills.

In a letter explaining the veto, Dayton wrote that the measure "prohibits the Commissioner of Education from adopting Common Core Standards, which 42 other states have adopted." Dayton also noted that he is reluctant to sign and education bill that doesn't provide for early childhood education.

The bills Dayton signed included an omnibus technical tax bill, a bill which provides for settlement of claims against the state, a bill that allows for a property owner to detach their property from one municipality and annex to an abutting municipality with the support of at least one of the municipalities, the omnibus judiciary bill, and a bill to expand Gold Star license plate eligibility to surviving legal guardians and siblings of a veteran who has died while serving honorably in active military service.

UPDATE

Rep. Sondra Erickson, R-Princeton, chair of the House Education Policy Committee, said she was disappointed by the veto.

"I am afraid that the governor has shown he is more interested in playing politics than signing reforms into law, reforms that could turn around a number of our schools," Erickson wrote in a news release. "With his signature, Governor Dayton could have put us at the forefront of reform, but with his veto we're stuck standing in place for another year."

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Department of Administration starts warning contractors about shutdown

Posted at 3:27 PM on May 31, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Minnesota Department of Administration Commissioner Spencer Cronk issued a letter to business doing work for the state of Minnesota that a state government shutdown could delay payments for work.

"In the absence of legislation specifically appropriating funds for the continuing operations of the State of Minnesota for the next biennium, state authority to expend or release funds to pay for goods or services will be limited after June 30, 2011," Cronk wrote in the letter. "Details of those critical services that may continue to operate on an emergency basis after July 1, 2011 have yet to be determined."

The notice went out in the most recent edition of the State Register. The letter comes just one week after Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and the GOP controlled Legislature failed to reach a budget agreement. The two sides are at odds over the best way to erase a $5 billion projected budget deficit. Republicans say they can balance the budget through spending cuts alone. Dayton wants a mix of spending cuts and an income tax hike on Minnesota's top earners.

Dayton will have to call the Legislature back for a special session to avoid a state government shutdown on July 1.

Dayton vetoes four more, signs 22

Posted at 3:07 PM on May 27, 2011 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Gov. Mark Dayton continued his brisk, post-session veto pace today by rejecting four more bills.

Dayton vetoed legislation to roll back restrictions on carbon dioxide emissions by energy utilities, the Game and Fish bill, the Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act and a bill modifying who is eligible to be represented by a public defender.

In his veto letter for the emissions bill, Dayton wrote that "Minnesota must continue on a path of progress to a sustainable, clean and safe energy future, rather than increasing our already heavy reliance upon coal-fired electricity, which threatens our health and climate."

Dayton said he rejected the Game and Fish bill, in large part, due to its impact on two Minnesota-based ATV manufacturers: Polaris and Arctic Cat. Dayton wrote that proposed modifications to the definitions of class 1 and class 2 ATVs would "have a detrimental impact on those job providers."

The DFL governor said he vetoed the the Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act, also known as the Cheeseburger Bill, because it would have given companies "too broad an exemption from liability."

Dayton today also signed 22 bills into law, including a measure requiring young athletes have access to information about concussions.

Dayton vetoes Voter ID bill

Posted at 4:50 PM on May 26, 2011 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Governor Dayton has vetoed a bill that would require Minnesotans to show photo identification to vote.

Dayton said in his veto letter that the so-called Voter ID bill would be an unfunded mandate for local units of government, that it didn't receive broad bipartisan support in the Legislature and that it would violate the federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act.

Supporters of the bill said it's needed to prevent fraud at the polls. Dayton said he didn't believe voter fraud was a problem in the state. He also said the Voter ID law would not prevent felons from voting illegally.

In addition to the veto, Dayton issued an executive order that would create a task force to modernize the state's election system and work on ways to prevent illegal voting.

Supporters of the photo ID requirement say they may try to get the measure on the ballot next year as a constitutional amendment.

Here's the veto letter:

Ch-69-SF509

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DFL Chair accuses GOP chair of "character assassination"

Posted at 3:36 PM on May 26, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

DFL Party Chair Ken Martin is criticizing State Republican Party Chair Tony Sutton and Deputy Party Chair Michael Brodkorb for engaging in "character assassination" for what they said today about Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton. Republicans argue that Dayton made things personal when he started calling Republican lawmakers "right wing extremists" who don't know how government works.

Martin said Dayton criticized Republican lawmakers for being "extremists" for refusing to compromise on the budget. He complained that Republican party officials are knowingly trying to undermine Dayton's authority as governor. He said it's unfair to call Dayton "erratic."

"They're trying to paint a caricature of him that he's not stable enough to be governor,' Martin said. "I'll tell you what, the only one who has been stable from day one is the governor. He's been consistent. He told the voters last fall what he was going to do and from day one, he's done that."

Dayton and lawmakers have until July 1 to reach a budget deal or state government will shut down.

First-term Republican lawmakers push back on Dayton

Posted at 4:51 PM on May 25, 2011 by Tom Scheck (6 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Eight members of the Minnesota Senate said they're not happy that Gov. Dayton has called them "extremists." The group of lawmakers held a news conference today to react to comments Dayton made this week. They include GOP Sen. Michelle Benson (who was carrying her newborn), GOP Sen. Ben Kruse (who was clad in a baseball hat and jeans), GOP Sen. Roger Chamberlain (who rides his bike to work, has a truck that needs tires and tills his own garden) and Pam Wolf (a teacher). The group worked to highlight that they're mainstream Minnesotans who are aiming to improve Minnesota.

Governor Dayton blamed the current budget impasse on "extreme right-wing caucus members" who don't know how government works. Republican Senator Al DeKruif of Madison Lake says he and the other Republican members of the Legislature are not extreme.

"What we are trying to do is not be extremists in any way but actually common sense folks that come from the real world to help our government be what it should be, be everything it can be and should be. Live within our means and provide the services that we need to be providing."

Dayton and the GOP controlled Legislature are at odds over the best way to pass a two year state budget. Minnesota is facing a special session and possible government shutdown on July 1 because the two sides are at odds over taxes and spending.

Dayton is proposing to increase income taxes on Minnesota's top earners to erase a $5 billion projected budget deficit. Republicans say they won't budge off of a $34 billion budget. None of the first-term lawmakers said they would support more revenue to break the impasse.

This year's crop of Republican newcomers has considerable influence in both the House and Senate. They make up more than half of the Republican Majority in the Senate and nearly half in the House. That means freshman lawmakers will have a big say about whether GOP legislative leaders can cut a budget deal with Dayton in time to avoid a government shutdown on July 1.

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Dayton symbolically vetoes same-sex marriage ballot question

Posted at 10:05 AM on May 25, 2011 by Tim Nelson
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Governor Mark Dayton says he's taking symbolic action to veto a ballot question that would define marriage as between one man and one woman in the state constitution.

Dayton called the measure mean spirited, divisive and un-American.

"Although I do not have the power to prevent this divisive and destructive constitutional amendment from appearing on the Minnesota ballot in November 2012, the Legislature sent it to me in the form of a bill," Dayton said. "Thus, symbolic as it may be, I am exercising my legal responsibility to either sign it or veto it. Without question, I am vetoing it."

The measure will go on the ballot anyway, and the question does not require an override vote to stay alive. Dayton said he would actively campaign against the matter in the run-up to the 2012 election.

Here's Dayton's veto letter:

Amendment Veto Letter

ABM to urge lawmakers to support Dayton's tax plan

Posted at 6:47 AM on May 25, 2011 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

The Alliance for a Better Minnesota, a coalition of unions, wealthy DFL donors and others, will start running between $500 thousand and $1 million worth of ads with the hopes of influencing the state's budget debate.

Denise Cardinal, executive director of The Alliance for a Better Minnesota, says the group will run TV, radio and online ads to urge Minnesota voters to contact their legislators and urge them to support Dayton's tax plan.

Cardinal also says they'll start running ads targeting key lawmakers next week but didn't release a list of those lawmakers

On Tuesday, Dayton vetoed nine budget bills sent to him by the GOP controlled Legislature. He will have to call lawmakers back into a special session to avoid a government shutdown on July 1. Dayton wants an income tax increase on Minnesota's top earners to erase part of the state's $5 billion budget deficit. Republicans say the budget deficit can be erased through spending cuts alone.

ABM is expected to announce greater details of the ad campaign at noon today.

Update: ABM says the ad is funded from state and national unions. The group has received funds from Dayton's two sons and his ex-wife during the 2010 election.

Here's the ad:

Choice from Alliance for a Better Minnesota on Vimeo.

Update: The Taxpayers League of MN is raising money off of the ABM ad. Taxpayers League President Phil Krinkie sent out this fundraising e-mail to supporters:

Not even 48 hours after the 2011 session has adjourned the tax and spenders have announced they will spend between $500 thousand and $1 million to run TV, radio and online ads to urge Minnesota voters to contact their legislators and urge them to support Dayton's $1.8 billion tax increase. Click here to watch the first ad released today.

We need to counter this ad campaign with our message:

No New Taxes, No New Revenue!

We must support our Senators and Representatives who have said "No" to Dayton's job-killing tax increases. Legislators will soon be facing immense pressure to raise taxes, generated by $1 million worth of advertising paid for by tax-and-spend special interests.

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Dayton vetoes GOP budget bills

Posted at 12:38 PM on May 24, 2011 by Tim Pugmire (2 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Gov. Mark Dayton today vetoed the nine budget bills that Republicans passed in the closing days of session.

Dayton returned the bills along with veto messages outlining his concerns. The action come just hours after the House and Senate adjourned the regular session without a global budget agreement with Dayton.

In a news release, Dayton said his veto letters stressed the need for compromise.

"Each of us started our budget proposals by making a choice," Dayton wrote. "I chose a balanced approach to our budget; one that included both significant cuts, but asked the top two percent of Minnesotans to pay more to ensure our quality of life and the services millions of Minnesotans depend on. My approach chooses not to balance the budget on the backs of the other ninety-eight percent of Minnesotans."

Dayton is scheduled to hold a media availability this afternoon to discuss the vetoes.

Budget Bill Veto Letters

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Legislative session ends without a budget deal

Posted at 1:16 AM on May 24, 2011 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Republicans in control of the Minnesota Legislature ended the 2011 session without a budget agreement with Democratic Governor Mark Dayton. The two sides failed to reach an agreement forcing a special session.

Dayton issued a statement saying he met the GOP halfway by scaling back the size of his income tax hike on Minnesota's top earners. Republicans say they're meeting Dayton halfway because they're spending more money that the current budget. Republican House Speaker Kurt Zellers says he remains optimistic that they can resolve their differences soon.

"You always want to finish up and make sure the governor can sign your bills and actually put them into law and be done," Zellers said. "But when you're dealing with the budget deficit that we have, when you're dealing with the economy that we're in all across the country let alone here in Minnesota. It's important to not only getting the job done but getting the job done right."

Democrats criticized their Republican counterparts for failing to pass a budget deal into law. DFL Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk said GOP legislative leaders need to figure out how to get a budget deal before July 1 or the state government would shut down.

"That I think is the challenge for the majority," Bakk said. "To figure out over the next five weeks or so, is how do we get this session to a conclusion, so that everybody gets a little something, but nobody gets everything, and everybody gives and gets a little something. And nobody's totally happy with the outcome."

Dayton has not yet taken action on the budget bills sent to him but he has said they will be vetoed. He has not said when he will call lawmakers back for a special session.

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House GOP on 2011 legislative session

Posted at 1:14 AM on May 24, 2011 by Tom Scheck (8 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

The House Republcan Caucus released this statement on the 2011 legislative session:

Saint Paul - (May 23, 2011) - After gaveling the 2011 legislative session to a close, Speaker of the House Kurt Zellers said a special session is not needed as the $34 billion Republican budget is complete and balanced.

"The question that remains unanswered is just how much you want to grow government," said Speaker Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove). "The Republican budget spends what is in the state's checkbook, resolves the $5.1 billion budget deficit, increases state spending by 6 percent and reforms a status quo state government. We urge Governor Dayton to sign our completed and balanced budget."

The Minnesota House and Senate passed their budget bills on May 21. The Republican budget lives within the state's means by not exceeding available revenue, reverses the unsustainable growth of state spending by cutting $3.6 billion in future spending, and does not raise taxes. It funds the state's priorities, provides tax relief and holds classrooms, nursing homes and veterans harmless from funding reductions.

"We set priorities. We cut spending. We reformed government. We balanced the budget. We completed our work," said House Majority Leader Matt Dean (R-Dellwood). "Governor Dayton has a balanced budget on desk. It is very unfortunate he refused to engage in our budget process earlier in session."

In addition to passing a completed and balanced budget, House Republicans cited permit reform, alternative teacher licensure, photo id, and a green acres solution as their accomplishments this session.

"We did what we said we would do. We balanced the budget without raising taxes, cut red tape, reformed education, health care and the way state government operates," Zellers said. "We are disappointed to see this good work overshadowed by a special session that does not need to happen."

Zellers said House Republicans are committed to working with Governor Dayton to resolve the state's budget problem and hope to expedite negotiations to resolve the budget differences.

"We have and will continue to represent working families, small business owners and the future of Minnesota's economy in negotiations with Governor Dayton," Zellers said.

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Dayton on 2011 Legislative session

Posted at 12:29 AM on May 24, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Gov. Dayton issued this news release after the Legislature ended the 2011 Legislative session.

Statement of Governor Mark Dayton on the adjournment of the 2011 legislative session

St. Paul, MN - Tonight, Governor Mark Dayton offered the following statement following the adjournment of the 2011 legislative session:

"Five months ago, we began this legislative session with clear goals: solve our budget deficit while getting Minnesota working again. Tonight, the Legislature adjourns having accomplished neither. While it's disappointing, I remain resolved that we will find common ground and compromise on behalf of Minnesotans.

On February 15th, I presented a budget that was fair, responsible, and balanced. Budgets are about dollars and cents, but they're also a reflection of our values and priorities. Minnesotans sent us here to make choices on their behalf. I chose to close the budget gap through a fair balance of spending cuts and asking the wealthiest 2% of Minnesotans to pay their fair share in taxes.

Legislative leaders, instead, chose to adopt an extreme all-cuts budget, resulting in thousands of Minnesotans losing health care and deep cuts to seniors, special education, higher education, and property tax increases.

One week ago, I offered a fair and balanced compromise: to meet half-way between our two budget proposals. The Legislature refused to compromise, or even to budge one dollar from their position.

Here we are, on the last night of session --- I'm in the middle, and they haven't moved.

Minnesotans will judge for themselves the choices that were made at the Capitol over the last four months, which have resulted in the Legislature adjourning with no budget, no jobs, and no compromise. Tomorrow, I'll still be here, waiting for the Legislature to take even one step toward the middle, and to answer the calls for balance and compromise we're hearing from every corner of Minnesota."

###

Senate GOP statement

Posted at 12:27 AM on May 24, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Senate Republicans issued this news release on the 2011 Legislative session.

SENATE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY ADJOURNS 2011 LEGISLATIVE SESSION Legislature passes a balanced budget compromise on time, with no tax increases

(St. Paul) -- The Minnesota Senate adjourned the 2011 legislative session Monday evening with all nine FY2012-13 budget bills on Governor Dayton's desk awaiting his signature. Having compromised on greater spending targets as a result of the February economic forecast, Senate Republicans were able to reconcile the state budget deficit with available revenues, without raising taxes.

"We came here in January, determined to balance the state's budget deficit by living within our means and without raising taxes," said Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch (R-Buffalo). "We came here to put a stop to the out-of-control government spending that is crippling our economy."

Fiscal Year spending for 2010-11 was approximately $32.2 billion. For Fiscal Year 2012-13, Governor Dayton called for a budget of $35.8 billion. The Republican-controlled legislature maintained that they had already compromised on an amended spending limit of $34 billion which, though less than Gov. Dayton's recommendations, still amounts to the largest General Fund budget in Minnesota State history.

"We are disappointed that Gov. Dayton is going to force the legislature into overtime for more spending and more taxes," said Deputy Majority Leader Geoff Michel (R-Edina). "The budget bills on Gov. Dayton's desk put the brakes on automatic increases in spending and send a positive message to businesses, investors and job creators that state government will not tax you into another state."

It remains unclear as to whether or not Gov. Dayton will sign any of the Republican budget bills. If not, a Special Session will be called to continue work on the budget deficit.

"Gov. Dayton's insistence on higher taxes and excessive government spending is not the remedy for job growth and economic recovery," said Sen. Koch. "Rather, it is a prescription for further economic decline."

Republican leaders from the Minnesota House and Senate will participate in a statewide fly-around on Tuesday to promote their work product.

###

Gun Rights group takes aim at Senate GOP

Posted at 9:02 PM on May 22, 2011 by Tom Scheck (8 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

The gun rights group, The Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance, is taking aim at Republicans in the Minnesota Senate for not taking up a bill that would change when it's legal for a person to shoot someone in self defense.

The Minnesota House already passed the bill and supporters were lobbying the Senate to pass it as well. The Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance sent out an action alert today that says the Senate has decided to not take up the bill this session.

In a strongly worded e-mail, the group suggests that Senate Republicans "made a deliberate, political decision to refuse to put the bill on Governor Dayton's desk." The e-mail also reminds supporters to tell their Senators that "gun owners vote - and that they have very long memories.

The issue is a dicey political issue for Republicans. On the one hand, the NRA and other gun rights group align themselves more with the GOP. But law enforcement groups have lines up against the bill. Gov. Dayton has also suggested he would veto it.

I contacted spokespeople for Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch to see if GOP Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch has decided to shelve the bill for the session.

I'll post their response, if it becomes available. Senate GOP spokesman Michael Brodkorb declined to say whether the caucus is shelving the bill.

Here's part of the e-mail that The Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance sent to supporters:

We have received word that the Republican leadership in the Minnesota Senate has decided to kill The Defense of Dwelling and Person Act by not bringing it to the Senate floor for a vote.

The Senate leadership did not sacrifice SF 1357 for other priorities. They made a deliberate, political decision to refuse to put the bill on Governor Dayton's desk.

The Senate leadership was not forced into this retreat by the DFL or anti-gun groups. They decided, unilaterally, to give up on this important civil rights legslation.

The Senate leadership did not run out of time. The Senate doesn't have to finish before Monday at midnight. They could still hear the bill if the leadership does their job.

Please call and email the Senate leadership NOW, and respectfully demand that the bill get an immediate hearing.

You might also want to email and call your own senator, especially if he/she is a Republican, with the same message.

Tell them that Minnesota gun owners vote -- and that they have very long memories.

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Another deal-less day underway

Posted at 4:10 PM on May 22, 2011 by Tim Pugmire (1 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Republican legislative leaders emerged from Gov. Mark Dayton's office this afternoon reporting that "nothing big" came from an hour-long meeting.

State lawmakers have until midnight Monday to reach a budget agreement that erases a projected $5 billion deficit. But the two sides remain deeply divided over taxes and spending cuts.

"Whenever we're meeting, whenever we're face to face, that's good for all of us," said House Speaker Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove. "It's good for finishing on time."

But Zellers and his GOP colleagues still aren't budging on their opposition to any tax increases, or any spending for the next two years beyond an available $34 billion. Dayton insists on raising income taxes on the wealthiest 2 percent to ease the impact of spending cuts.

"We're not going to be raising taxes. We don't believe we need new revenues to solve this budget," said Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, R-Buffalo. "We've got a budget passed, on the governor's desk that lives within our means."

Dayton has also been meeting with GOP committee chairs to discuss individual budget bills. Rep. Bud Nornes, R-Fergus Falls, the chair of the House Higher Education committee, said he talked to the governor for about a half hour. He said the areas of concern included a provision in the bill that bans human cloning.

"We don't think it's a problem, but they're going to check with the university (of Minnesota) and see how they feel about it," Nornes said. "Obviously, if there are very strong feelings about it, if it does some negative things to the university, we'd probably look at making a change."

A spokeswoman for the governor offered no immediate comment on the meeting. But House Minority Leader Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, confirmed the lack of progress.

"It didn't appear to me that the Republicans were willing to move off of their position, not withstanding Gov. Dayton's willingness on Monday with his significant move," Thissen said. "We haven't seen a single change in six days and that's incredibly frustrating and disappointing."

Thissen also said he remains deeply disappointed by last night's House passage of a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages. But Zellers was already moving on.

"That's behind us now," Zellers said.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

Legislature sends Dayton a budget

Posted at 11:54 PM on May 19, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

The Republican controlled Legislature has passed all of its budget bills. The Senate wrapped up its work today after it passed the Higher Education budget bill, a Transportation budget and the Environment budget bill. The full $33.9 billion budget plan is now on its way to Governor Dayton who has said he will veto the spending bills and the tax bills.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch says she's holding out hope Dayton will reconsider. She said Republicans met their goal of erasing a $5 billion projected budget deficit without raising taxes.

"We're very pleased and proud of this budget," Koch said. "We did what we said we would do. We came here to balance the books and live within our means. That's what this budget does."

Dayton wants to raise income taxes on Minnesota's top earners to balance the budget. He will be forced to call a special session if he can't reach a budget deal with Republicans by Monday's deadline for the Legislature to adjourn.

Vikings stadium language in hands of lawmakers

Posted at 11:24 PM on May 19, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton, Vikings stadium

Sponsors of the bill outlining terms of a stadium deal say they've got draft language changing the proposal to a site-specific deal in Arden Hills.

Sen Julie Rosen, R-Fairmont, said she got the terms late Thursday night. She said it will take some time to process the material, and couldn't say if it will be ready before the legislative session ends Monday.

Rep. Morrie Lanning, R-Moorhead, said he hasn't decided yet whether to add language for the proposed Arden Hills site to his bill.

"I've just recently within the last few hours received some draft language that they've suggested for moving forward the Ramsey County site," Lanning said. "I haven't had a chance to look at it yet. So the next step will be to study that language and see if there are some issues that we have some conversations with them about."

Ramsey County and the Vikings have agreed on a deal to build a billion dollar stadium on a former Army ammunition site along Interstate 35W. The team rejected a Minneapolis bid.

Dayton vetoes redistricting bill

Posted at 12:45 PM on May 19, 2011 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton has vetoed a Republican-backed bill to redraw the state's congressional and legislative boundaries for the next decade.

Dayton had warned Republican legislative leaders that he would not support a redistricting plan that didn't have broad, bipartisan support. Democrats complained that their input was ignored, and there were no DFL votes for the measure in the House or Senate.

In his veto letter, Dayton also claimed that the GOP map was drawn for the purpose of protecting or defeating incumbents. He said the districts in the bill are too partisan.

A new political map is needed to reflect population shifts in the latest census. If the governor and Legislature cannot reach an agreement by early next year, the courts will have to step in.

Senate Democrats to highlight GOP budget cuts

Posted at 6:14 PM on May 18, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Minority Democrats in the Minnesota Senate say they intend to hold a hearing Thursday on the Republican budget plan that's moving through the Legislature. The $33.9 billion plan erases a $5 billion projected budget deficit through spending cuts alone. DFL Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk says the Republican budget has serious implications for the future of the state that the public needs to know about.

"I don't think that the ramifications of this budget, how those cuts are going to affect Minnesota's future, have been vetted well enough," Bakk said. "And I think that's intentional. The Republicans do not want the public to know what the impacts of all of these budget cuts are going to be on Minnesota."

Democrats say they prefer Governor Dayton's proposal to raise income taxes on Minnesota's top earners to erase part of the budget gap. Republicans say they won't increase taxes because it would hurt the economy and cost jobs. The hearing will be held in Room 318 of the State Capitol from 2pm to 5pm.

Dayton to meet with GOP lawmakers tomorrow

Posted at 5:46 PM on May 18, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Gov. Dayton will have a closed door meeting with the 109 Republican members of the Minnesota Legislature tomorrow afternoon. Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch's office says Dayton will speak to the group tomorrow afternoon at 1:15. They invited Dayton to speak to the group earlier this week.

Republican leaders say the meeting will be closed to the press. Dayton told reporters earlier today that he would prefer it be open to reporters but would available to discuss the meeting after the event.

Dayton is proposing to raise taxes by $1.8 billion to erase part of the state's $5 billion budget deficit. Republicans are preparing to send him a $33.9 billion budget plan. Dayton would not use the term "veto" when asked about the GOP budget but said it would be rejected and sent back to the Legislature.

GOP calls on Dayton to come to bargaining table

Posted at 5:13 PM on May 18, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

House and Senate Republicans leaders say they're still optimistic about reaching an end-of-session budget deal, but they're increasing their criticism of DFL Governor Mark Dayton.

Dayton and GOP leaders are still far apart on tax and spending issues, and Monday is the constitutional deadline for adjournment. Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch of Buffalo said today that she's disappointed with Dayton's leadership on the budget. House Speaker Kurt Zellers of Maple Grove said negotiations with the governor have been difficult.

"It's been like nailing Jello to a tree," Zellers said. "One week it's come and meet with us. Another week it's well my commissioners are empowered to negotiate. They come into conference committees, well they all have a very prepared script, and say no I can't negotiate financing. I can't negotiate this. I can't negotiate that."

Dayton has called GOP leaders unreasonable for refusing to make budget compromises.

Dayton to reject budget bills

Posted at 1:26 PM on May 18, 2011 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Gov. Dayton made his strongest statement today on the GOP backed budget. Dayton told reporters today that the respective budget bills that are being sent his way will be turned back.

"I will be rejecting the bills and sending them back to leadership."

He declined to use the word "veto" but said the bills will be rejected and emphasized that "the bills will not become law without my signature."

Republicans started processing their budget bills last night despite Dayton's disagreement with them. The two sides are at odds over the best way to craft a two year budget. Dayton wants to raise income taxes on Minnesota's top earners. Republicans have rejected that plan and say the $5 billion projected deficit can be erased through spending cuts.

Dayton says he's scheduled to speak with the 109 Republican members of the House and Senate tomorrow morning at 9am. to make his case for his tax increase.

Update: A spokesman for Senate Republicans says Dayton will not be speaking to the caucuses at that time.

Dayton says he's willing to allow press in to the meeting.

Lawmakers have until Monday to finish their work. If they don't reach a budget agreement, a special session will have to be called. State government would shut down If no budget is in place on July first.

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Same sex marriage ban is one step away from reaching ballot

Posted at 11:39 AM on May 18, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

A constitutional amendment to ban same sex marriage is one step away from being put on the 2012 ballot. The House Rules Committee narrowly passed the bill by one vote 13-12. Rep. Tim Kelly, R-Red Wing, joined every Democrat in voting against it.

Opponents say changing the constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman would open up a painful and divisive debate across Minnesota. DFL Representative Michael Paymar says it would also go against the tide of increasing acceptance toward same-sex couples.

"The public is changing," Paymar said. "Young people are changing. People don't feel the same way they did 10 to 14 year ago."

The bill's sponsor, Republican Steve Gottwalt, told the panel he rejected the argument that the referendum was discriminatory and restrictive.

"Discussing taking away rights from people? No," Gottwalt said. "This is current state law. The desire is simply to put before the people, 'Should we be more permanently placing it where politicians and judges cannot redefine it?'"

Minnesota law already prohibits gay marriage but supporters of the bill say it would make that ban stronger, and protect it from judicial rulings.

The Minnesota Senate already passed the measure. If the House follows suit voters will decide if the Minnesota Consitution should be amended to define marriage as between one man and one woman. If a majority of the voters voting in that election vote yes, the measure will be put in the constitution.

Here's the roll call:

Republicans voting Yes
Dean, Daudt, Anderson, Banaian, Hamilton, Hoppe, Howes, Mack, McNamara, Nornes, Peppin, Scott, Westrom

Democrats voting No
Pelowski, Benson, Brynaert, Hilstrom, Knuth, Laine, Lillie, Murphy, Norton, Paymar, Thissen

Republicans voting No
Kelly

Democrats voting Yes
None

Dayton rips GOP as "totally unreasonable."

Posted at 12:05 PM on May 17, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Gov. Dayton was on MPR's Midday program today. He said he is no closer to reaching a budget deal with Republican legislative leaders. He repeated his claim that he won't move off of his revenue target of $1.8 billion to help erase the state's $5 billion projected budget deficit. Dayton also criticized Republicans for not wanting to move off of their budget plan.

"How do you negotiate with people who are completely unreasonable?," Dayton asked on the show.

Dayton was on the show just two hours after he met privately with GOP legislative leaders. It sounds like he will meet privately with the Republican caucuses of both the House and Senate later today.

Republicans appear to be ready to send Dayton some of the pieces of their budget plan to Dayton regardless of approval.

Dayton said he won't sign any of the budget bills or the Tax bill until he has agreement on all of the bills. Lawmakers have until May 23rd to finish their work. Dayton wouldn't say when he'll call a special session but said he's less optimistic that a deal can be reached.

On other items being discussed at the Legislature.

Dayton will likely veto the abortion bills. "I won't sign those," Dayton said when asked about those bills.

He said he stands with law enforcement on the "Stand your Ground" bill and doesn't support it.

He also said he won't sign a redistricting bill unless it has bipartisan support. It doesn't.

Listen to the full show here:

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GOP budget targets

Posted at 3:23 PM on May 16, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Republicans in the House and Senate have refused to release the spending levels conference committees have been given for each specific budget area.

GOP Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch repeatedly declined to provide the information and says the figures, known as targets, will be available once the respective conference committees post the information on the web.

With help from legislative staff and several lobbyists, MPR News gathered the spreadsheets for each budget area.

Here's the info that we gathered (all numbers in thousands):

It's important to note that some of these targets could change. Two conference committees (Jobs and Economic Development and Public Safety, Courts and Corrections) have not released their spending targets yet so the budget totals are not complete. I updated with Jobs and Economic Development target. It's also uncertain what the House and Senate will book in terms of debt service.

We'll update the information if/when it becomes available.

Update: The House and Senate released their working targets. These targets were given to Gov. Dayton on Friday. The figures don't necessarily mean this is what each budget division will agree to spend in their conference committee reports.

Overall Working Target Summary Document 5-12-11

Leaders respond to Dayton's offer

Posted at 11:12 AM on May 16, 2011 by Tim Nelson (1 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

GOP House Speaker Kurt Zellers and GOP Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch are on MPR's Midday today. Host Gary Eichten asked them about the proposal by Gov. Mark Dayton to "meet them half way" on cuts and tax increases.

They didn't sound very interested in the proposition, although they're planning a more thorough response at 1:45 today.

Here's what Zellers had to say:

"It's not about us. It's about being competitive around the country. If you're an outlier on tax policy... that's bad for jobs...The debate is not whether we have enough money to run the government."

And Koch's reaction:

"In this kind of economy, we can't afford to lose any jobs to higher taxes. Minnesota government needs to do just what Minnesota businesses have been doing, just what Minnesotan families have been doing."

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Dayton revises budget offer

Posted at 11:07 AM on May 16, 2011 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton