House debates bonding bill; Schedules posted

Yesterday at the Capitol

Rep. Larry Howes, R-Walker, chair of the House Capital Investment committee and author of Gov. Dayton's bonding proposal, held a hearing yesterday to discuss Dayton's $1 billion bonding bill, which includes $127.6 million in projects and HEAPR for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. Rep. Bev Scalze, DFL-Little Canada, questioned Howes about the future of proposed capital projects. Howes said if the bills are referred to his committee, they would get a hearing. After much testimony and discussion, the bill was laid over for further consideration.

In the Senate, Higher Education committee members confirmed Dr. Sheila Wright, director of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, by a unanimous voice vote. The confirmation now moves to the full calendar to be taken up on the Senate floor. The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities new Board of Trustees members will receive a confirmation hearing Monday, Feb. 28.

Committee members also heard more about Gov. Dayton's budget plan for higher education. Director Wright said the governor's budget recognizes the core services to students and the higher education institutions, and called it a "student centered budget." Wright also said that holding cuts to higher education at a minimum is about an investment in Minnesota's long-term viability. As a reminder, the governor's budget reduces the system 6 percent, which brings the base down to $592.6 million for each year of the biennium.

Today at the Capitol

8:15 AM
House Education Reform
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda: HF269 (Downey) Teacher contract qualified economic offer provided.

8:15 AM
House State Government Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Morrie Lanning
Agenda: Budget overviews: Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs: Major General Larry W. Shellito; Reggie Worlds, Deputy
Commissioner of Programs and Services; Gil Acevedo
Deputy Commissioner of Health; Sherry Kromschroeder
Financial Director Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board: Gary Goldsmith, Executive Director
Dept. of Veterans Affairs Presentation

10:15 AM
House Government Operations and Elections
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joyce Peppin
Agenda: HF191 (Downey) Redundant Technology Elimination Act proposed, state agency information technology systems and services consolidated, Office of Enterprise Technology duties transferred, and money appropriated.
HF297 (Kahn) State agency information technology system and service consolidated, and duties transferred to the Office of Enterprise Technology.

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: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities:
Response to Gov. Dayton's proposed budget
Detailed discussion of organization and finances

12:30 PM *Meeting Canceled*
House Education Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Pat Garofalo
Agenda:
Presentation on the collective bargaining process from Education Minnesota and Minnesota School Boards Association

12:30 PM
House Jobs and Economic Development Finance
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bob Gunther
Agenda: Presentations and overviews from:
Lifetrack Resources
Vocational Rehab
State Services for the Blind
Boys and Girls Club

1:00 PM
Senate Agriculture and Rural Economies
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Doug Magnus
Agenda:
Budget Overviews (continued)
- MN Department of Agriculture
- Board of Animal Health
S.F. 123-Dahms: County agricultural societies grants appropriation for county fair facilities preservation and improvement.
S.F. 397-Magnus: Agricultural growth, research, and innovation (AGRI) program appropriation.

3:00 PM
House in Session

Looking Ahead

Monday, February 28

3:00 PM
Senate Higher Education
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Michelle L. Fischbach
Agenda:
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Trustee Confirmations:
Trustee Duane Benson
Trustee Philip Krinkie
Trustee Alfredo Oliveira
Trustee Thomas Renier
Trustee Michael Vekich

5:00 PM
House Education Reform and Education Finance Joint Hearing
Room: 15 State Capitol
Chairs: Rep. Sondra Erickson, Rep. Pat Garofalo
Agenda: "The Florida Story"
Foundation for Excellence in Education
Patricia Levesque, executive director, Foundation for Excellence in
Education
Jay Greene, Department Head and 21st Century Chair in Education Reform, University of Arkansas

Tuesday, March 1

12:30 PM
House Jobs and Economic Development Finance
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bob Gunther
Agenda: DEED budget overview
HF102 (Mahoney) Minnesota science and technology program established.