Higher education budget explained; Schedules posted

Yesterday at the Capitol
Senate Higher Education committee members received a briefing on the higher education budget from committee fiscal analyst Maja Weidmann yesterday afternoon. Weidmann told members that higher education makes up 7.6 percent of general fund spending. Senators were interested in learning more about tuition and the tuition increases over the last 20 years, particularly in relation to the state grant program. Sen. Claire Robling, R-Jordan, compared the increase in state appropriation to the state grant program to tuition going up.

Today at the Capitol
8:15 AM
House State Government Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Morrie Lanning
Agenda: HF110 (Kahn) Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement membership increased.
Finish up Public Pension fund overview from January 18th:
Mary Vanek, Executive Director of Public Employees Retirement
Association (PERA); Laurie Hacking, Executive Director of Teachers Retirement Association (TRA); and Dave Bergstrom, Executive Director, or another representative of Minnesota State Retirement System (MSRS)

8:15 AM
House Education Reform
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda: Agency update and priorities from the Minnesota Department of Education - Commissioner Brenda Cassellius

8:30 AM
Joint Meeting: Senate Finance and Taxes
Room: 15 Capitol
Chairs: Sen. Claire Robling and Sen. Julianne
Agenda: State Budget Trends Study Commission Report presentation - Kevin Goodno, Co-Chair
State Rankings presentation - Mark Haveman, Executive Director Minnesota Taxpayer Association

10:15 AM
House Government Operations and Elections
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joyce Peppin
Agenda: HF89 (Benson) Voter picture identification required before receiving a ballot, voter identification card provided at no charge, and provisional balloting procedure established.
HF210 (Kiffmeyer) Voter picture identification required before receiving a ballot, identification cards provided at no charge, provisional ballot procedures established, election administration procedures specified, electronic polling place required, recount procedures enacted, and money appropriated.
HF1 (Fabian) Environmental permitting efficiency provided, and environmental review requirements modified.
NOTE: The committee will only take testimony on HF89 and HF210 and will not take action.

11:00 AM
Senate in Session
Will take up SF 60 - Budget reduction bill

*No meeting
12:30 PM
House Higher Education Policy and Finance
Room: Basement Hearing Room, State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bud Nornes
Agenda: Will not be meeting

12:30 PM
House Education Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep.Pat Garofalo,
Agenda: Agency update and priorities
Minnesota Department of Education
Brenda Cassellius, Commissioner

3:00 PM
House in Session

4:00 PM (Note: Chair will announce start time on the House floor)
House Ways and Means
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mary Liz Holberg
Agenda: HF63 (Garofalo) Teacher licensure provisions amended, alternative teacher preparation program and limited-term teacher license established, and report required.
Meeting Documents: HF 63 A5 Amendment

Looking Ahead

Wednesday, February 9
12:00 PM
Governor’s State of the State Address
House Chamber