Budget bills moved; Workforce announcement to be made; Schedules posted

Yesterday at the Capitol

The Senate Finance committee took up SF 60 yesterday morning, and passed the bill after chief author, Sen. Claire Robling, R-Jordan, amended the bill to require Minnesota Management and Budget to find $125 million in agency cuts instead of $200 million. The budget reduction bill that reduces the state's projected $6.2 billion deficit by approximately $1 billion, now heads to the floor. As a reminder, the cut to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities brings the annual base down $23 million to $582 million. The House is expected to take up the bill on the floor today at 3:00 p.m.

Also yesterday, the House Government Operations and Elections Committee approved the zero-based budgeting bill. HF 2, sponsored by Rep. King Banaian, R-St. Cloud, would require every state agency to present a "decision package" for lawmakers, detailing every individual activity the agency carries out. The bill heads next to the State Government Finance Committee.

Today at the Capitol

Gov. Dayton will travel to Jackson today to "announce details of new jobs and economic development efforts in southwest Minnesota." He’ll be accompanied by GOP legislators Sen. Doug Magnus and Rep. Rod Hamilton, as well as DEED commissioner Mark Phillips.

8:15 AM
House Education Reform
Room: Basement Hearing Room, State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda: Getting Prepared Report, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and University of Minnesota
HF115 (Barrett) School district January 15 deadline repealed by which a collective bargaining agreement must be reached or face a state aid penalty.
HF92 (Downey) Teacher contract deadline aid penalty repealed.

8:30 AM
Joint Senate Meeting: Committee on Finance; Committee on Taxes
Room: 15 Capitol
Chairs: Sen. Claire A. Robling, Sen. Julianne E. Ortman
Agenda:State Demographics, Presenter - Tom Gillaspy, State Demographer
Tax Expenditure Reports, Presenter - Dr. Paul Wilson, Research Director, MN Dept of Revenue

10:15 AM
House Agriculture and Rural Development Policy and Finance
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Rod Hamilton
Agenda: University of Minnesota:
Dean of Veterinarian School
Dean of Agriculture School
Dean of Extension
MARL - brief introduction and explanation

10:15 AM
House Government Operations and Elections
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joyce Peppin
Agenda: HF110 (Kahn) Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement membership increased.
Department of Administration overview:
Acting Commissioner Ryan Church

11:00 AM
Senate in Session

12:30 PM
House Higher Education Policy and Finance
Room: State Office Building Basement Hearing Room
Chair: Rep. Bud Nornes
Agenda: Introduction of Recently Appointed Director of Office of Higher Education - Dr. Sheila Wright
Legislative Reports from the Office of Higher Education:
Achieve Scholarship Program
Intervention for College Attendance Program (ICAP)
Reducing Textbook Costs

12:30 PM
House Education
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Pat Garofalo
Agenda: HF88 (Doepke) Student health personnel set-aside removed.
HF63 (Garofalo) Teacher licensure provisions amended, alternative teacher preparation program and limited-term teacher license established, and report required.
Meeting Documents:
H0088A1
H0063A3

H0063A4
H0063DE3

1:00 PM
Senate Agriculture and Rural Economies
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Doug Magnus
Agenda:
Summary of the Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership (MARL) program
Presentation from the University of Minnesota

3:00 PM
House in Session
HF130 (Holberg) Fiscal year 2011 appropriations reduced, policies changed, and appropriation reductions made for fiscal years 2012 and 2013; and tax aid, credits and payment reductions made.

Looking Ahead

Friday, January 28

2:00 PM
Joint Meeting: Committee on Environment and Natural Resources; Committee on Jobs and Economic Growth
Room: Hibbing Community College
Chairs: Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, Sen. Geoff Michel
Agenda: Discussion on environmental permitting/jobs and economic growth