Governor budget to be released tomorrow; President Obama releases budget today

It will be another busy week at the Capitol with the release of Gov. Dayton's budget plan tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at the Dept. of Revenue. Expect Dayton's budget to dominate the discussion.

In Washington, President Obama is set to release his fiscal year 2012 budget today and the Associated Press is already reporting that his plan would cut $100 billion from Pell Grants over a decade through belt-tightening but use the savings to keep the maximum college financial aid award at $5,550.

Most of the projected savings, more than $90 billion, would be achieved through two changes; the first proposal would end the "year-round Pell" policy that let students collect two grants in a calendar year, with the second grant used for summer school. It was reported this change would save $8 billion next year and $60 billion over a decade. The second proposal would reduce loan subsidies for graduate and professional students. It is also being reported that this change would save $2 billion next year and $29 billion over 10 years.

Today at the Capitol

11:00 AM
Senate in Session

12:30 PM
House Veterans Services Division
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bruce Anderson
Agenda: HF223 (Scalze) Public assistance reporting information system use expanded.
HF226 (Davids) Fillmore County specified as one location for a new veterans cemetery.
HF384 (Dettmer) Campus veterans representative program sunset repealed.
Overview by Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans: Executive Director Kathy Vitalis, Board Member Jill Laurence, Veteran Elmer Duncan and Veteran Robert Thomes
Overview of Defending The Blue Line Organization: Dan Larsen, Advisory Board, and Shane Hudella, Master Seargeant, founder

3:00 PM
Senate Higher Education
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Michelle L. Fischbach
Agenda: Presentation from the Minnesota Private College Council.

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda:
S.F. 239-Kruse: School districts reserved for operating capital account transfer to undesignated general fund authorization.
S.F. 171-Stumpf: School finance total operating capital revenue vehicle lease expenditure authorization.
S.F. 166-Latz: School districts general education operating capital revenue use expansion for school closing costs.

3:00 PM
House in Session

Looking Ahead
Tuesday, February 15

8:15 AM
Senate Education Reform
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda: Minnesota Elementary School Principals' and Minnesota Secondary School Principals' Associations, Introduction and Questions
Assessment overview
Successes in St. Paul

10:15 AM
House Agriculture and Rural Development Policy and Finance
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Rod Hamilton
Agenda: Ag literacy
Dairy Day - Dairy Development, Dairy Research & Educational Center report

10:30 AM
Senate Jobs and Economic Growth
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Geoff Michel
Agenda:
Overview from the Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics
Overview from the BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota

12:30 PM
House Higher Education Policy and Finance
Room: Basement Hearing Room, State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bud Nornes
Agenda: State Grant Projections for FY2012-13 - Minnesota Office of Higher Education
Financial aid administrators and students discuss how the State Grant Program works and what it means to institutions and students.

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda: To be announced.

Wednesday, February 16

Student Rally Day

10:15 AM
House Taxes
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Greg Davids
Agenda: Overview of Governor Dayton's Budget

10:30 AM
Senate Jobs and Economic Growth
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Geoff Michel
Agenda: Economic overview from Scott Anderson, Wells Fargo

3:00 PM
Senate Higher Education
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Michelle L. Fischbach
Agenda: S.F. 268-Carlson, J.: Minnesota state colleges and universities (MnSCU) and university of Minnesota temporary freezing and permanent tuition increase limitations.

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda: To be announced.

5:30 PM
Joint House and Senate Committee on Higher Education
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chairs: Rep. Bud Nornes, Sen. Michelle Fischbach
Agenda: University of Minnesota Board of Regents candidate interviews
Election of nominees to forward to Joint Convention

Thursday, February 17

8:30 AM
Senate Finance
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Claire A. Robling
Agenda:
Presentation of Governor Dayton's Budget - Commissioner Jim Schowalter, Minnesota Management and Budget

11:00 AM
Senate in Session

12:30 PM
House Higher Education Policy and Finance
Room: Basement Hearing Room, State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bud Nornes
Agenda: Office of Higher Education:
Governor Dayton's Proposed Budget for Higher Education
Detailed Discussion of Agency's Organization and Finances