Budget reduction bill passes House; Schedules posted

Yesterday at the Capitol

Members passed HF 130, the first budget reduction bill, off the House floor yesterday by a vote of 68-63. Bill author Rep. Mary Liz Holberg, R-Lakeville, said the bill would give lawmakers a head start on addressing the deficit. "The only way to eat a hippo is a piece at a time," Holberg said. Opponents of the bill argued the reductions would lead to higher property taxes and increased tuition at colleges and universities. Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia, criticized Republicans for cutting $185 million in funding to the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, and said the bill would force those schools to raise tuition.

The Senate is expected to take up their version of the bill next Thursday, and then a conference committee will be formed to work through the differences in the bill. One of the major differences is the amount Minnesota Management and Budget is required to cut from state agency budgets. The House bill cuts $200 million from agencies and the Senate bill scaled back their cuts to $125 million. Gov. Dayton has said he doesn't support either bill and said he wants a budget deal that addresses the entire $6.2 billion budget deficit.

Today at the Capitol

10:00 AM
Legislative leaders will address the media

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

Looking Ahead

Monday, January 31

11:00 AM
Senate in Session

3:00 PM
Senate Higher Education
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Michelle L. Fischbach
Agenda:
Getting Prepared: A 2010 Report on Recent High School Graduates Who Took Developmental/Remedial Courses

3:00 PM
House in Session

Tuesday, February 1

8:30 AM
Senate Finance
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Claire A. Robling
Agenda:
S.F. 56-Thompson: School district and charter school salary freeze imposition; safe schools levy set aside requirement removal; staff development reserved revenue and school district contract deadline and penalty repeal.
S.F. 40-Olson, G.: Teacher licensure provisions modifications; alternative teacher preparation program and limited-term teacher license establishment.
S.F. 69-Olson, G.: Home schools mandates and reporting requirements reduction.

Wednesday, February 2

3:00 PM
Senate Higher Education
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Michelle L. Fischbach
Agenda:
Higher Education budget and funding overview. Presented by Maja Weidmann Senate Fiscal Analyst