Friday, March 11, 2011

Budget targets released; Governor to visit Mesabi Range Community and Technical College

Yesterday at the Capitol

Republican leadership announced the budget targets yesterday. Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, R-Buffalo, said government needs to live within their means and Republican senators do not support tax increases. She said they implemented aggressive budget deadlines, and now the targets are turned over to committee chairs who will work to meet the March 25 deadline.

Sen. Geoff Michel, R-Edina, said, "We're building a budget on what is currently in Minnesota's checking account." Michel said this is a framework, but doesn't include any details. He said that's what the committee process is for.

For higher education, the budget target is about a 16 percent reduction, which brings the proposed spending level for all of higher education to $2.505 billion. Gov. Dayton's budget proposal for higher education puts the fiscal year 2012-13 spending at $2.745 billion, a difference of $240 million.

We now turn our attention to the higher education committees in the Senate and House to see how they recommend spreading the cut. The Senate Higher Education committee has said they expect to pass a budget bill March 23 and the House Higher Education committee has indicated discussion of a budget bill in committee on March 22.

Today at the Capitol

Gov. Mark Dayton is on the Iron Range today, and one of his stops will include Mesabi Range Community and Technical College.

10:00 AM
Weekly legislative leader media availability

12:30 PM
House Education Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Pat Garofalo
Agenda:
HF133 (Fritz) Trial placements for eligible children allowed at the Minnesota State Academies.
HF669 (Loon) Early childhood education scholarship finance system created, early education worker training and retainment tax credits provided, early childhood education programming quality improved, and money appropriated.

Looking Ahead

Monday, March 14


10:15 AM
House Ways and Means
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mary Liz Holberg
Agenda: Adopt budget targets

11:00 AM
Senate in Session

1:00 PM
Senate Local Government and Elections
Room: 112 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Ray Vandeveer
Agenda:
S.F. 509-Limmer: Voter photo identification requirement; picture identification issuance provisions; provisional balloting procedure establishment; electronic polling place roster use requirement; recount procedure enacting; appropriating money.
S.F. 479-Howe: Voter photo identification and issuance requirement; picture identification and issuance at no charge; provisional balloting procedure establishment.

1:00 PM
Senate State Government Innovation and Veterans
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Mike Parry
Agenda:
S.F. 208-Hann: Teacher employment contracts negotiating process establishment.
S.F. 650-Gazelka: Compulsive gambling appropriation.
S.F. 739-Lillie: Deputy commissioner and assistant commissioner positions reduction.
S.F. 146-Chamberlain: Priority-based budgeting process creation and state agencies sunset process establishment.

3:00 PM
Senate Higher Education
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Michelle L. Fischbach
Agenda:
S.F. 698-Magnus: University of Minnesota (U of M) agriculture experiment station and extension service appropriation.

3:00 PM
House in Session

5:30 PM
House Education Reform
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda:
HF945 (Petersen) Teacher licensure, evaluations, and tenure modified.
HF947 (Erickson) Alternative teacher pay system modified.

Tuesday, March 15

8:15 AM
House Education Reform
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda:
HF638 (Myhra) School grading system created, school recognition program created, school report cards modified, rulemaking authorized, and report required.
HF558 (Downey) Graduation-Required Assessment for Diploma mathematics exception removed.
HF329 (Bills) Public school employees prohibited from using public funds and resources to advocate to pass, elect, or defeat a political candidate, ballot question, or pending legislation.

10:30 AM
Senate Jobs and Economic Growth
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Geoff Michel
Agenda:
S.F. 428-Sieben: Boiler inspector provisions modifications.
S.F. 437-Dahms: Minnesota inventors congress grants appropriation.
S.F. 501-Nelson: BioBusiness Alliance appropriation.
S.F. 708-Pederson: Twin Cities RISE! job training programs appropriation; job training and retention grant requirements modifications.

12:30 PM
House Higher Education Policy and Finance
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bud Nornes
Agenda:
HF900 (Abeler) Board of Trustees of MnSCU required to implement a policy on credit transfers relating to the Anoka STEP program, and report to the legislature required.
HF243 (Anderson) Optional student fees increase vote required.
HF862 (Benson) University of Minnesota and Mayo Foundation Partnership money appropriated.
HF849 (Nornes) College and university mandates eliminated.

12:30 PM
House Jobs and Economic Development Finance
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bob Gunther
Agenda:
HF645 (Mullery) Minority population grant program provided for collaborative activities to reduce unemployment, and money appropriated.
HF995 (McFarlane) Womenventure funding provided for business development programs, and money appropriated.
HF983 (Gunther) Enterprise Minnesota, Inc. funding provided, and money appropriated.
HF893 (Gunther) Vinland Center for rehabilitation services funding provided, and money appropriated.
HF693 (McFarlane) Minority business development programs money appropriated.

Wednesday, March 16

1:00 PM
Senate Local Government and Elections
Room: 112 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Ray Vandeveer
Agenda:
S.F. 509-Limmer: Voter photo identification requirement; picture identification issuance provisions; provisional balloting procedure establishment; electronic polling place roster use requirement; recount procedure enacting; appropriating money.
S.F. 479-Howe: Voter photo identification and issuance requirement; picture identification and issuance at no charge; provisional balloting procedure establishment.

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