State of State speech Feb. 9; House Higher Education Committee discsusses cuts

Yesterday at the Capitol
Gov. Dayton announced yesterday that he will give his State of the State speech in the House chambers on Wednesday Feb. 9 at noon.

After House Higher Education committee members heard from President Bob Bruininks about the University of Minnesota yesterday, Chair Bud Nornes, R-Fergus Falls, quickly moved HF 126, the higher education budget reduction bill that makes permanent last year's unallotments of $50 million to both the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and the University of Minnesota. Due to lack of time, the committee recessed until later in the evening, when they came back to discuss the bill.

Laura King, Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system addressed the $23 million cut to the system's base each year, and told committee members that with each cut to the system, the execution of mission becomes harder. There was much discussion regarding the cut's impact on the campuses, and Rep. Joe Atkins, DFL-Inver Grove Heights, moved to lay the bill on the table until they had a better sense of the impact. That motion did not pass. Fiscal Analyst Doug Berg said the cut is a 7.2% reduction to the system base, and a 6.9% reduction to the University of Minnesota's base. The bill passed by a vote of 8-7 and heads next to the Ways and Means Committee Monday morning.

Today at the Capitol
There are no higher education related committee hearings today. At 10:30 a.m. legislative leadership will be holding their weekly media availability to discuss the week and look ahead to next week.

Looking Ahead

Monday, January 24
10:15 AM
House Ways and Means
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mary Liz Holberg
Agenda: 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.

11:00 AM
Senate in Session

3:00 PM
Senate Higher Education Policy and Finance
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Michelle Fischbach
Agenda: Overview presentation from Minnesota State Colleges and Universities

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda: S.F. 40-Olson, G.: Alternative Teacher Licensure.

3:00 PM
House in Session

Tuesday, January 25
10:30 AM
Senate Committee on Jobs and Economic Growth
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Geoff Michel
Agenda: S.F. 1-Michel: Discussion of SF 1.

1:00 PM
Senate Agriculture and Rural Economies
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Doug Magnus
Agenda:
Summary of the Department of Agriculture Livestock Investment Grant Program
Presentation by Minnesota Farm Bureau
Presentation by Minnesota Farmers Union
Overview of the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)
Overview of the NextGen Energy Board

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda:
Testimony on mandate relief
S.F. 56-Thompson: School safe schools levy set aside requirement removal; school district and charter school salary freeze imposition; staff development reserved revenue and school district contract deadline and penalty repeal.

Wednesday, January 26
8:30 AM
Senate Finance
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Claire A. Robling
Agenda: S.F. 60-Robling: 2010 legislative-enacted budget reductions extended

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda:
S.F. 55-Hann: Charter school authorizer approval deadline modification.
S.F. 69-Olson, G.: Home schools mandates and reporting requirements reduction.

Thursday, January 27
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

11:00 AM
Senate in Session

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

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