Monday, February 28, 2011

February forecast to be released; Schedules posted

Today at the Capitol
The February forecast will be released this morning at 11:30 a.m.

11:15 AM
Senate in Session

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

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda: A presentation by the Foundation for Excellence in Education

3:00 PM
House in Session

4:00 PM (or 30 minutes after session ends)
House State Government Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Morrie Lanning
Agenda: Budget overview by Explore Minnesota Tourism
Budget overview by Administrative Hearings
HF577 (Lanning) Legal fees imposed by federal courts funding provided, reimbursement of expenses provided relating to the recount in the 2010 gubernatorial election, and money appropriated.
HF299 (Quam) Executive branch agency retained savings program established.
HF89 (Benson) Voter picture identification required before receiving a ballot, voter identification card provided at no charge, notice required, and provisional balloting procedure established.

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

Looking Ahead

Tuesday, March 1


8:15 AM
House Education Reform
Room: Basement Hearing Room State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda: Presentation: Career and Technical Education in the 21st Century Presenters:
Dr. Jim Stone, University of Louisville, National Research Center for Career and Technical Education
Mike Mieron

8:30 AM
Senate Finance
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Claire A. Robling
Agenda:
Presentation of February 2011 Economic Forecast:
Commissioner Jim Schowalter
Tom Stinson, State Economist
Margaret Kelly, Budget Director

10:30 AM
Senate Jobs and Economic Growth
Room 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Geoff Michel
Agenda: S.F. 1-Michel: Job creation; business tax reductions; department of natural resources (DNR) permitting efficiency; environmental review requirements modifications.

12:30 PM
House Higher Education Policy and Finance
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bud Nornes
Agenda: University of Minnesota Academic Health Center presentation
Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics
Presentation (University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic)

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

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda: S.F. 451-Stumpf: School districts career and technical levy formula modification; career and technical education academic credit requirement.

5:00 PM
House Ways and Means
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mary Liz Holberg
Agenda: HF110 (Kahn) Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement membership increased.
Overview of February forecast by MMB Commissioner Jim Schowalter and State Economist Tom Stinson

Wednesday, March 2
10:30 AM
Senate Jobs and Economic Growth
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Geoff Michel
Agenda: Budget Overview from MN Housing Finance Agency/Commissioner Mary Tingerthal
Budget Overview from DEED/Commissioner Mark Phillips

3:00 PM
Senate Higher Education
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Michelle L. Fischbach
Agenda: Presentations from student and faculty groups from the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda:
S.F. 325-Hann: MNovate commission to provide leadership for the creation of new and innovative models of public schools and schooling establishment.
S.F. 289-Limmer: School finance capital expenditure health and safety revenue program modifications; health and safety policy.
S.F. 95-Bonoff: Independent school district #284, Wayzata; alternative facilities revenue program eligibility.
S.F. 315-Olson, G.: School lease levy authority modification.


Thursday, March 3

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.

11:00 AM
Senate in Session

Friday, February 25, 2011

System presents budget to House; Trustees to be confirmed next week

Yesterday at the Capitol

House Higher Education committee members heard from folks with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities about the system's budget and the impact of further cuts. CFO at Central Lakes College Kari Christiansen said they have had an extensive consultation process on campus planning for $1.2 million to $2.4 million in cuts. She said they are looking at a variety of ways to solve the reduction, including layoffs, program suspensions, operating budget reductions and some type of tuition increase.

Chancellor Jim McCormick and CFO and Vice Chancellor of Finance Laura King, said if the system took a 15 percent reduction, a cut of that magnitude would have an enormous impact. If solved with just reductions to staff, McCormick said it would mean almost 1,000 full-time staff people. If solved with just faculty reductions, McCormick said it would mean 880 faculty, which means the reduction of 9,200 course sections; a reduction of 166,500 credit registrations; and a decrease in enrollment of more than 16,100 students. McCormick said if a 15 percent reduction to the system was solved with just tuition, it would mean an increase of 12 percent. They emphasized that a 15 percent reduction is the equivalent of closing two large universities, five of the largest colleges, or closing at least 10 of the smallest colleges in the system. Both Chancellor McCormick and Vice Chancellor King said obviously none of these solutions alone would be acceptable, but it gives committee members an idea of the impact a 15 percent reduction would have to the system.


Today at the Capitol


There are no higher education related hearings scheduled today.

House Republican leaders will hold their media briefing at 10:00 a.m. today, and Senate leadership will address the media at 10:30. DFL legislative leaders will respond immediately following.


Looking Ahead

Monday, February 28


11:30 AM
February Forecast released

4:00 PM
House State Government Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Morrie Lanning
Agenda: Budget overview by Explore Minnesota Tourism
Budget overview by Administrative Hearings
HF577 (Lanning) Legal fees imposed by federal courts funding provided, reimbursement of expenses provided relating to the recount in the 2010 gubernatorial election, and money appropriated.
HF299 (Quam) Executive branch agency retained savings program established.
HF89 (Benson) Voter picture identification required before receiving a ballot, voter identification card provided at no charge, notice required, and provisional balloting procedure established.

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

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda: A presentation by the Foundation for Excellence in Education


Tuesday, March 1


8:30 AM
Senate Finance
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Claire A. Robling
Agenda:
Presentation of February 2011 Economic Forecast:
Commissioner Jim Schowalter
Tom Stinson, State Economist
Margaret Kelly, Budget Director

10:30 AM
Senate Jobs and Economic Growth
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Geoff Michel
Agenda:
S.F. 1-Michel: Job creation; business tax reductions; department of natural resources (DNR) permitting efficiency; environmental review requirements modifications.

12:30 PM
House Higher Education Policy and Finance
Room: Basement Hearing Room
Chair: Rep. Bud Nornes
Agenda:
University of Minnesota Academic Health Center Presentation
Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics Presentation (University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic)

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

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda: S.F. 451-Stumpf: School districts career and technical levy formula modification; career and technical education academic credit requirement.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

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.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

University of Minnesota presents budget; Schedules posted

Yesterday at the Capitol
President Bob Bruininks and CFO Richard Pfutzenreuter of the University of Minnesota presented the U's budget to House Higher Education committee members yesterday. Bruininks told members that he believes it is the University's obligation to be the state's partner in helping solve the problem, but he hopes lawmakers make the University a priority in their budget decisions.

Committee Chair Bud Nornes, R-Fergus Falls, had earlier asked the University what a 15 percent and 20 percent cut would mean to them. Bruininks said that the trade-offs are not insignificant, and told members that the University could cut all four of its coordinate campuses and still not save enough to address the cuts.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is scheduled to discuss its budget with Higher Education committee members Thursday at 12:30 p.m.

Today at the Capitol
Greater Mankato Day at the Capitol

8:15 AM
House State Government Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chairs: Rep. Morrie Lanning,
Agenda: Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board (CAAPB)
Department of Military Affairs
HF384 (Dettmer) Campus veterans representative program sunset repealed.

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

12:30 PM
House Education Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Pat Garofalo
Agenda: HF442 (Loon) Professional development two percent set-aside repealed

2:30 PM (televised)
House Capital Investment
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Larry Howes
Agenda: HF607 (Howes) Capital improvement funding provided to acquire and better public land and buildings and for other improvements of a capital nature, nonprofit housing bond authorization changes made, bonds issued, appropriations modified, and money appropriated.
Testifying: Minnesota Management and Budget

3:00 PM
Senate Higher Education
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Michelle L. Fischbach
Agenda: Confirmation hearing for Office of Higher Education Director, Dr. Sheila Wright

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda: Governor's Budget-MN State Academies
Governor's Budget: Perpich Center for Arts Education
S.F. 209-Daley: School districts state-aid payments reduction prior to short-term borrowing for cash flow needs repeal.
S.F. 242-Bonoff: School districts state-aid payments reduction prior to short-term borrowing for cash flow needs repeal.
S.F. 185-Bonoff: Charter schools accelerated aid payment shift special education percentage eligibility requirement adjustment.

Looking Ahead
Thursday, February 24
8:15 AM
House Education Reform
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda: HF269 (Downey) Teacher contract qualified economic offer provided.

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
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

3:00 PM
House in Session

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

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.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

State budget discussed; Regents approved

Yesterday at the Capitol
The Commissioner of Minnesota Management and Budget, Jim Schowalter, told members of the House Ways and Means committee yesterday that Gov. Dayton’s budget plan would balance the budget, but would not necessarily fix the state’s ongoing cash flow problems.

The weak economy and lower-than-expected tax revenue have caused the state to draw down its cash reserves over the last couple years. State budget officials have kept the state’s day-to-day operations funded by transferring money between different accounts and delaying payments to schools. Schowalter told members that the state’s cash flow problems would remain whether the deficit is solved by tax increases or spending cuts, because the problem stems from several years' worth of accumulated budget pressure. "Cash flow is closely linked to level of reserves. Ultimately, we need to get those reserves back up, and increase them as the economy gets better," Schowalter said.

Schowalter indicated that the February forecast set to be released Feb. 28, might show an increase in tax revenues and a smaller projected deficit, and if that happens, Gov. Dayton would replenish the state's cash flow account.

Also yesterday, lawmakers approved four new regents for the University of Minnesota. Steve Sviggum, a former House speaker, was chosen to represent the 2nd Congressional District; business executive David McMillan, was chosen to represent the 8th Congressional District; David Larson, a retired Cargill executive, was selected for a second term representing the 3rd Congressional District; and Laura Brod, a former Republican representative, was selected for the at-large seat over current regent Steven Hunter, the secretary/treasurer of the AFL-CIO.

The Board of Regents is the only governmental body in Minnesota whose members are elected by the Legislature. The Board is comprised of 12 members who serve staggered six-year terms, with one regent selected from each of the state’s eight congressional districts and four who serve at-large.


Today at the Capitol


Congressman Erik Paulsen will host a "Congress on Your Corner" event at Bloomington City Hall today from 9:30-10:30 a.m.

The University of Minnesota "Rally to Restore Affordability" will be at noon today in the Capitol Rotunda.

The Minnesota AFL-CIO will hold a rally at the State Capitol in support of Wisconsin union members from 4-5 p.m.

8:15 AM
House Education Reform
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda: HF511 (Erickson) Public school unneeded mandates removed.

10:30 AM
Senate Jobs and Economic Growth
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Geoff Michel
Agenda:
Overview from Dr. David Crowe, Chief Economist at the National Association of Home Builders
S.F. 283-Howe: Minnesota business investment company credit establishment and appropriation.

12:30 PM
House Higher Education Policy and Finance
Room: Basement Hearing Room, State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bud Nornes
Agenda: University of Minnesota:
Response to Gov. Dayton's proposed budget
Detailed discussion of organization and finances

12:30 PM
House Jobs and Economic Development Finance
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bob Gunther
Agenda: Presentation of the Metro Business Plan from Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and Doug Baker, CEO of Ecolab.
-Presentation and overview of the Minnesota Youth Program
-Presentation from Dr. David Crowe - National Assoc. of Home Builders

12:30 PM
House Education Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Pat Garofalo
Agenda: Presentation of governor’s proposed budget
HF576 (Kelly) Aid shift extended.

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda: Governor's Budget-MN Department of Education Testimony

Looking Ahead

Wednesday, February 23

8:15 AM
House State Government Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chairs: Rep. Morrie Lanning,
Agenda: Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board (CAAPB)
Department of Military Affairs
HF384 (Dettmer) Campus veterans representative program sunset repealed.

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

2:30 PM
House Capital Investment
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Larry Howes
Agenda: HF607 (Howes) Capital improvement funding provided to acquire and better public land and buildings and for other improvements of a capital nature, nonprofit housing bond authorization changes made, bonds issued, appropriations modified, and money appropriated.
Testifying: Minnesota Management and Budget

3:00 PM
Senate Higher Education
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Michelle L. Fischbach
Agenda: Confirmation hearing for Office of Higher Education Director, Dr. Sheila Wright

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda: Governor's Budget-MN Department of Education Testimony

Thursday, February 24
8:15 AM
House Education Reform
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda: HF269 (Downey) Teacher contract qualified economic offer provided.

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
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

3:00 PM
House in Session

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

Monday, February 21, 2011

February forecast next Monday;

Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Jim Schowalter announced that the February budget forecast will be released on Monday, February 28th. Details will be announced this week.

Today at the Capitol

10:15 AM
House Ways and Means
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mary Liz Holberg
Agenda: Presentation of Gov. Dayton's Budget - Commissioner Jim Schowalter, Minnesota Management & Budget
HF103 (Murray) Unemployment insurance eligibility and extension provisions modified.

11:00 AM
Senate in Session

4:00 PM
House in Session

4:15 PM
Joint Convention of the House and Senate
Agenda: Elect regents to the University of Minnesota Board of Regents

Looking Ahead

Tuesday, February 22


Congressman Erik Paulsen hosts a "Congress on Your Corner" event at Bloomington City Hall from 9:30-10:30 a.m.

8:15 AM
House Education Reform
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda: HF511 (Erickson) Public school unneeded mandates removed.

10:30 AM
Senate Jobs and Economic Growth
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Geoff Michel
Agenda:
Overview from Dr. David Crowe, Chief Economist at the National Association of Home Builders
S.F. 283-Howe: Minnesota business investment company credit establishment and appropriation.

12:30 PM
House Higher Education Policy and Finance
Room: Basement Hearing Room, State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bud Nornes
Agenda: University of Minnesota:
Response to Gov. Dayton's proposed budget
Detailed discussion of organization and finances

12:30 PM
House Jobs and Economic Development Finance
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bob Gunther
Agenda: Presentation of the Metro Business Plan from Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and Doug Baker, CEO of Ecolab.
-Presentation and overview of the Minnesota Youth Program
-Presentation from Dr. David Crowe - National Assoc. of Home Builders

12:30 PM
House Education Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Pat Garofalo
Agenda: Presentation of governor’s proposed budget
HF576 (Kelly) Aid shift extended.

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda: Governor's Budget-MN Department of Education Testimony

Wednesday, February 23

8:15 AM
House State Government Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chairs: Rep. Morrie Lanning,
Agenda:
Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board (CAAPB)
Department of Military Affairs
HF384 (Dettmer) Campus veterans representative program sunset repealed.

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

2:30 PM
House Capital Investment
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Larry Howes
Agenda: HF607 (Howes) Capital improvement funding provided to acquire and better public land and buildings and for other improvements of a capital nature, nonprofit housing bond authorization changes made, bonds issued, appropriations modified, and money appropriated.
Testifying: Minnesota Management and Budget

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda: Governor's Budget-MN Department of Education Testimony

Thursday, February 24

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

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
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

Friday, February 18, 2011

Governor's budget heard in higher education committee; Schedules posted

Yesterday at the Capitol
House Higher Education committee members heard about the governor's budget plan for higher education yesterday. Sheila Wright, the director of the Office of Higher Education told members that the core missions of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and the University of Minnesota must be protected. When asked what the governor's budget would look like if his plan didn't include any new revenue, Wright said the academic core would be breached, but said she was unable to provide specifics at this time.

Mark Misukanis with the Office of Higher Education explained that the governor did not reduce the state grant program because projections indicate a need to ration grants to serve the increasing numbers of students. The state work study program however is being reduced 33 percent, which means approximately 3,500 fewer students will be employed on state work study funds. Dayton's budget proposal also eliminates the Achieve Scholarship program

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system will respond to Gov. Dayton’s proposed budget on Thursday in the House Higher Education committee, and provide a detailed discussion of the system’s finances.

Today at the Capitol
There are no higher education related hearings today.

At 10:00 a.m., legislative leaders will hold their weekly media availability to discuss the week events and the upcoming week.

Looking Ahead
Monday, February 21
10:15 AM
House Ways and Means
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mary Liz Holberg
Agenda: Presentation of Gov. Dayton's Budget - Commissioner Jim Schowalter, Minnesota Management & Budget

11:00 AM
Senate in Session

4:00 PM
House in Session

Tuesday, February 22
8:15 AM
House Education Reform
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda: HF511 (Erickson) Public school unneeded mandates removed.

10:30 AM
Senate Jobs and Economic Growth
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Geoff Michel
Agenda:
Overview from Dr. David Crowe, Chief Economist at the National Association of Home Builders
S.F. 283-Howe: Minnesota business investment company credit establishment and appropriation.

12:30 PM
House Higher Education Policy and Finance
Room: Basement Hearing Room, State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bud Nornes
Agenda: University of Minnesota:
Response to Gov. Dayton's proposed budget
Detailed discussion of organization and finances

Wednesday, February 23
2:30 PM
House Capital Investment
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Larry Howes
Agenda: HF607 (Howes) Capital improvement funding provided to acquire and better public land and buildings and for other improvements of a capital nature, nonprofit housing bond authorization changes made, bonds issued, appropriations modified, and money appropriated.
Testifying: Minnesota Management and Budget

Thursday, February 24
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

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Students testify on tuition; schedules posted

Yesterday at the Capitol

College and university students spent the day at the Capitol yesterday educating lawmakers about student issues, including tuition. A bill that would freeze tuition for the 2012-2013 biennium was heard in the Senate Higher Education committee yesterday, and students and faculty spoke to the bill. Sen. John Carlson, R-Bemidji, explained his bill and said the state cannot continue to balance the budget on the backs of students. Carlson explained that SF 268 addresses the short-term impact of tuition increases and provides guidance for Minnesota families.

Minnesota State University Student Association Chair Andrew Spaeth told committee members that in 1980, the state funded 80 percent of higher education costs, today that number is more in the area of 50 percent. Spaeth said he's concerned with the debt load of students and said the average student is graduating with $26,000 in debt.

Also testifying was Travis Johnson, President of the Minnesota State College Student Association, or MSCSA. Johnson said he is concerned about the pattern of rapidly increasing tuition rates. Geoff Dittberner, Vice President of MSCSA said he believes the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees is sincere in their desire to keep tuition low. He said in 2003 when the system's budget was reduced by $191 million, the cut was made up in tuition increases which still have a negative consequence on students today. Dittberner said students are willing to be part of the solution, but not the entire solution. He said while they cannot fully support a tuition freeze as the bill proposes, they would like to work with the committee to impose a tuition cap.

Russ Stanton with the Inter Faculty Association, or IFO, also spoke to the tuition freeze bill and said the IFO has always been an advocate of low tuition and affordable higher education, but state funding has not kept up with enrollment growth or inflation. He said the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is highly efficient and the cost of delivering instruction is among the lowest in the nation. Stanton said faculty are doing their share with a negotiated salary freeze for two years during the last contract negotiations. He said the IFO opposes setting tuition rates in the political arena, but would rather leave the Board of Trustees with the flexibility to make tuition decisions.

The bill was laid over for possible consideration in the omnibus bill. There is no companion bill in the House.

Today at the Capitol

8:15 AM
House Education Reform
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda: HF355 (Kiffmeyer) Home school mandates reduced, and superintendents relieved of reporting requirements.
HF511 (Erickson) Public school unneeded mandates removed.
Please note that the agenda has been updated to include the last bill's number

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

10:15 AM
House Government Operations and Elections
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joyce Peppin
Agenda: HF52 (Peppin) City, county, and town zoning control and ordinance variances provided.
HF305 (Persell) Northern Township detached facility authorized.
HF281 (Carlson) State primary election returns canvassing time increased.

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

12:30 PM
House Education Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Pat Garofalo
Agenda: Testimony from:
Minnesota High Tech Association
Minnesota Department of Education

1:00 PM
Senate Agriculture and Rural Economies
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Doug Magnus
Agenda:
Budget Overview (Minnesota Department of Agriculture)

3:00 PM
House in Session

Looking Ahead

Monday, February 21


10:15 AM
House Ways and Means
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mary Liz Holberg
Agenda:
HF103 (Murray) Unemployment insurance eligibility and extension provisions modified
Presentation of Gov. Dayton's Budget - Commissioner Jim Schowalter, Minnesota Management & Budget

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Governor releases budget; Melin wins special election

Yesterday at the Capitol
Gov. Dayton released his budget plan yesterday that resolves the $6.2 billion budget with mostly tax increases for the wealthiest 5 percent of Minnesotans. He does make almost $1 billion in permanent expenditure reductions, with an offset of new spending for a net reduction of $485 million. Dayton's reductions include a 6 percent cut to both the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and the University of Minnesota. A 6 percent reduction to the system equates to $37.8 million a year, which reduces the system's base to $592.6 million for each year of the biennium. Director of the Office of Higher Education, Sheila Wright, said the governor will protect the state grant program.

Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Jim Schowalter said the state is unable to repay the K-12 shift this biennium, but will begin buying back the shift at 10 percent a year starting in 2014. As for K-12 education, Dayton pledges to increase funding $52 million, with $33 million of it dedicated to all-day kindergarten.

Also included in Dayton's budget plan is a 6 percent reduction in the state workforce. Schowalter said 800 state workers would lose their jobs, some through resignations and retirement but others through layoffs.

Schowlater said in preparing the budget the administration was looking for a balance, including spending reductions and revenue increases. Gov. Dayton said the Legislature will now have the opportunity to present their plan as they work towards an agreement. The governor said there is plenty of time to resolve differences with the Legislature, and a government shutdown is not an option.

In response to the proposed budget, Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, R-Buffalo, said the governor's tax increases are not going to be approved by the Legislature. Speaker Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove, said the governor's proposal releases a whole new level of uncertainty to small businesses.

Dayton is expected to travel to Duluth, Moorhead, Mankato and Rochester today to discuss his budget proposal. Republican leaders will discuss their reaction to his budget today starting in St. Paul, then heading to Rochester, Mankato, Moorhead and Duluth. The details of the budget may be found at the Minnesota Management and Budget Web site.

Also yesterday, DFL candidate for District 5B, Carly Melin, won the special election to replace former Rep. Tony Sertich who left to head up the IRRRB. Melin defeated Paul Jacobson with 60 percent of the vote.

Today at the Capitol
Student Rally Day

Duluth Day

AFL-CIO rally at 11:30 a.m.

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

10:15 AM
House Government Operations and Elections
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joyce Peppin
Agenda: HF299 (Quam) Executive branch agency retained savings program established.
HF206 (Dittrich) Permanent School Fund Advisory Committee membership modified.

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

12:30 PM
House Education Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Pat Garofalo
Agenda: Testimony from:
Ready for K
Minnesota Community Education Association
Minnesota Head Start Association

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: S.F. 203-Hann: Early graduation achievement scholarship program creation and appropriation.

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

Looking Ahead
Thursday, February 17


8:15 AM
House Education Reform
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda: HF355 (Kiffmeyer) Home school mandates reduced, and superintendents relieved of reporting requirements.
HF511 (Erickson) Public school unneeded mandates removed.

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

10:15 AM
House Government Operations and Elections
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joyce Peppin
Agenda: HF52 (Peppin) City, county, and town zoning control and ordinance variances provided.
HF305 (Persell) Northern Township detached facility authorized.
HF281 (Carlson) State primary election returns canvassing time increased.

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

12:30 PM
House Education Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Pat Garofalo
Agenda: Testimony from:
Minnesota High Tech Association
Minnesota Department of Education

3:00 PM
House in Session

Monday, February 21
10:15 AM
House Ways and Means
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mary Liz Holberg
Agenda: Presentation of Gov. Dayton's Budget - Commissioner Jim Schowalter, Minnesota Management & Budget

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Governor recommends 6 percent cut to system

Gov. Dayton released his budget plan this morning, and said, "A budget is about values and priorities as well as about dollars and sense." Dayton said the budget raises taxes on the wealthiest 5.5 percent of Minnesota taxpayers, increases funding for K-12 education and protects state aid to cities, counties and townships to preserve services like police and fire.

Dayton's budget makes almost $1 billion in permanent expenditure reductions, including a 6 percent reduction to both the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and the University of Minnesota. A 6 percent reduction to the system equates to $37.8 million a year, which reduces the system's base to $592.6 million for each year of the biennium. Director of the Office of Higher Education, Sheila Wright, said the governor will protect the state grant program.

Commissioner of Minnesota Management and Budget Jim Schowlater said in preparing the budget the administration was looking for a balance, including spending reductions and revenue increases. The detailed budget documents are available on the Minnesota Management and Budget Web site; however, that site has crashed likely due to the high volume. We will forward the documents once the site is back up and running.

House hears veterans bill; Governor to release budget

Campus Veteran Centers bill heard

HF384, a bill sponsored by Rep. Bob Dettmer, R-Forest Lake, that repeals the sunset on campus veteran centers, allowing veteran services to remain on higher education campuses, was heard yesterday in the House Veterans Services Division.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has had representatives on college and university campuses to help veterans returning to school since 2006. However, the Veterans Higher Education Assistance Program is set to expire on June 30, 2012 unless the sunset is repealed.

Donald Pfeffer, the Dept. of Veterans Affairs director of higher education veterans programs, told committee members the program has grown to more than 60 service centers on both public and private campuses. He said that today, there are more than 12,000 residents eligible for veterans’ benefits and last year, 7,000 new veterans sought help.

The bill was approved and sent to the State Government Finance committee. There is no Senate companion bill at this time.

U.S. House addresses remaining FY2011 budget

The U.S. House of Representatives is set to debate legislation that makes $61 billion in cuts for the remaining seven months of the current fiscal year. The continuing resolution Congress is currently operating under, is set to expire March 4. This means Congress needs to pass an operating budget for the current 2011 fiscal year before then. There is much talk about a government shutdown, however, there is still a long ways to go. This week, the House will take up the bill. We can expect long debates and many amendments. The Senate is expected to take up the bill the week of Feb. 28, as Congress is scheduled to be on recess next week.

Students are affected greatly by the House proposal with cuts to the Pell Grant program. The bill would cut the maximum grant award by $845 from $5,550 to $4,705. The bill zeroes-out all campus-based federal aid, except for the Federal Work-Study Program; eliminates all funds for the Teacher Quality Partnership Grants; reduces TRIO funding by $25 million and GEAR-UP funding by $20 million


Today at the Capitol


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
HF300 (Erickson) Comprehensive eye exams recommended for early childhood screening will not be taken up at this meeting. Notice will be given on the schedule when the bill will come back before the committee.

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
Gov. Dayton releases his budget plan

10:30 AM
Senate Jobs and Economic Growth
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Geoff Michel
Agenda:
Presentation and overview from the BioBusiness Alliance
Presentation and overviews from:
Minnesota Youth Program
Youthbuild
Minneapolis Summer Youth Program
Learn to Earn
St. Paul Summer Youth Program

12:00 PM
Republicans will respond to Gov. Dayton's budget proposal

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: Education Evolving Testimony
S.F. 334-Olson, G.: Charter school authorizer restrictions modifications.

Looking Ahead

Wednesday, February 16

Student Rally Day

Duluth Days

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

8:15 AM
House Education Reform
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda: HF355 (Kiffmeyer) Home school mandates reduced, and superintendents relieved of reporting requirements.
HFXXXX (Erickson) Removal of unneeded mandates on public schools

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

10:15 AM
House Government Operations and Elections
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joyce Peppin
Agenda: HF299 (Quam) Executive branch agency retained savings program established.
HF305 (Persell) Northern Township detached facility authorized.
HF281 (Carlson) State primary election returns canvassing time increased.

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

3:00 PM
House in Session

Monday, February 21

10:15 AM
House Ways and Means
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mary Liz Holberg
Agenda: Presentation of Gov. Dayton's Budget - Commissioner Jim Schowalter, Minnesota Management & Budget

Monday, February 14, 2011

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

Friday, February 11, 2011

Budget reduction vetoed; Deadlines set; State of the state given; Voter ID movement; Students and faculty testify; Zero-based budgeting; D.C. Update

Legislative Update
February 11, 2011

Governor Dayton rejects budget bill, prepares to release his own plan


What was termed the “phase one” budget reduction bill, which reduced the $6.2 billion state budget deficit by about $900 million, did not sit very long on Gov. Mark Dayton’s desk. After making its way through committee and the respective floors, conferees came to agreement between the House and Senate versions of the bill Monday evening in record time. The fiscal year 2011 cuts the governor and his administration were required to make were reduced from the House's $200 million and the Senate's $125 million to $100 million. Many had questioned how much unencumbered funding could be found from state agencies yet this year. The agreed-upon report also specified that short-term cuts to specific programs, including the state grant program, would not apply in the $100 million cut. Conferees did not accept the House's language on freezing state employee wages, and the final bill reduces higher education $185 million, which was in both the Senate and House version. The effect on the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system was a base reduction of $23 million from $605 million to $582 million.

The conference committee report was re-passed Wednesday by the House and then the Senate took its turn Thursday afternoon. The governor did not waste any time vetoing the bill when it reached his desk Thursday. He cited its potential to raise property taxes, its piecemeal approach and its vague approach to calling for $100 million in cuts without specifying what those cuts should be.

Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, R-Buffalo, said she was disappointed to see the veto and pointed out a main difference between Republican leadership and the governor is cutting spending versus growing spending. When asked if the honeymoon is over, given the veto, Koch said she doesn’t think so. They still have a lot of work ahead of them, she said, and they have had good discussions with the governor on upcoming bills.

Sen. Julianne Ortman, R-Chanhassen, said she had hoped lawmakers and the governor would keep their eye on the goal - to reduce some of the deficit before the February forecast comes out the week of Feb. 28. Legislators will have a little more than three weeks once the forecast is released to craft a budget bill. The House approved a resolution on the floor this week that sets the committee deadlines. Unique this year is that the first deadline applies to finance bills. All budget bills must be out of their respective committee and headed to Ways and Means by March 25. The Senate indicated today they will have the same deadlines. House Republican leaders said they want the deadlines to reflect their commitment to getting the state’s budget shortfall resolved before policy issues are addressed.

The second and third deadlines are for the policy bills. The second deadline, April 29, is when policy bills are to be out of the committee of origin, and the third deadline, May 6, is when policy bills must pass out of the other body.

All eyes are now on Dayton’s budget plan, which will be released Tuesday. Deputy Majority Leader Geoff Michel, R-Edina, said governors across the country are reining in spending and lowering taxes. He said he gives the governor credit for being consistent but is concerned that when the governor comes out next week with a tax increase, it will put Minnesota out of step with other states. “How do we attract people to do business in Minnesota?” he asked. House Majority Leader Matt Dean, R-Dellwood, said lawmakers will take the governor’s budget and begin reviews immediately. Sen. Terri Bonoff, DFL-Minnetonka, said legislators need to work together to craft legislation that has a chance to become law. “The governor made it very clear from day one that he would not support a piecemeal approach to budgeting,” she said.

Gov. Dayton hints at what his budget will look like by calling on lawmakers to invest in the future of Minnesota

The first hints from the governor about his budget recommendation came Wednesday when Gov. Dayton delivered his State of the State address with a focus on investing in the future of Minnesota. Dayton invited legislators to join with him to pledge to the people of Minnesota that they will not shut down government, but rather will reach a shared solution to resolve the $6.2 billion budget deficit. “If this happens, the people of Minnesota will win,” Dayton said.

Although he didn't provide details about his budget proposal, Dayton did say the state needs to invest in job creation; better education; improved transportation; the health of citizens, communities and the environment; and the transformation of government services.

Education was a big part of Dayton’s 43-minute speech. He asked legislators to join him in increasing funding to K-12 education every year he is governor. “In our shared desire to improve our elementary and secondary schools, our colleges and our universities, I urge all of us to work together, instead of against one another,” he said. Dayton called for working cooperatively to enlist ideas from those most in touch with children's needs - parents and teachers. He again asked every business in Minnesota to adopt a school, college or university. When asked by the media what she thought about the governor's education plan, Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, R-Buffalo, said it is still shy on details, “but it appears he is making promises he doesn't have the money to keep.”

Dayton also addressed the tax issue and announced his intentions to increase income tax for wealthy Minnesotans, something he promised on the campaign trail. He said: “Fewer people paying lower taxes has meant state per-pupil aid for our students from kindergarten through 12th grade has been reduced by 14 percent in real, after-inflation dollars during the past eight years. Tuition in our state’s two-year public colleges has risen to the third highest in the nation, and tuition in our four-year universities are among the top 10 highest.” In response to Dayton’s tax plan, House Speaker Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove, said that raising taxes during tough economic times is detrimental to the state.

Voter identification bills moving through committee process

Earlier this week, the House Government Operations and Elections committee approved two bills that would require Minnesotans to show a government issued photo identification before voting. The bills, HF 210, sponsored by Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer, R-Big Lake, and HF 89, sponsored by Rep. Mike Benson, R-Rochester, would provide a way for voters with the proper documentation to obtain an ID card free of charge. The passage of the bills in committee marks the first time since 2006 that a photo ID measure has cleared a House or Senate committee.

With the number of times college students move, showing a valid Minnesota identification card that demonstrates an address of residence in the precinct where the person votes can be difficult for many students. Also many students choose to use their parents’ address as their permanent address on their identification card, which also can prove problematic for college students to vote on Election Day.

Currently in Minnesota, registered voters do not have to show a photo identification when they go to vote, but rather they sign their name on a printed roster. Benson and others argue that unless voters are required to show a current ID, there’s no guarantee they’re not voting illegally.

Both bills head next to the House State Government Finance Committee.

Students and faculty talk higher education with House committee

Every college or university student has a story to tell about how he or she chose their college or university and what their education means to them. Earlier this week, House Higher Education committee members heard the story of Maureen Wanous, a student at South Central College in Faribault, who went back to school to make a better life for herself and her daughter. Samantha Potter-Rank, a PSEO student at Inver Hills Community College, shared with the committee that she will graduate from high school with a two-year college degree at the same time, which will help her family save on tuition.

Just as every student has a story, every faculty member who teaches and mentors these students also has a story. Ken Ryan, director of the mechatronics program at Alexandria Technical and Community College, shared with lawmakers the success of the program he oversees. Ryan indicated there are far more jobs in the field of mechatronics than graduates available to fill them.

Students and faculty from both the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and the University of Minnesota shared their stories with policy makers in light of the budget cuts facing both systems. Students told committee members that it is getting harder to obtain a degree with declining state appropriation and increasing tuition. Monte Bute, a faculty member at Metropolitan State University, said that any other cuts to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system will hinder young people from getting an education. “The key to prosperity is an educated workforce,” Bute said.

Zero-based budgeting concept gains legs at the Capitol

HF 2, sponsored by Rep. King Banaian, R-St. Cloud, presented his bill to the House State Government Finance committee earlier this week. Banaian explained that the bill provides for periodic review of state agencies through a zero-based budgeting process. The bill was amended to clarify how often state agencies are to go through the process. In the amendment, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is to prepare the system's budget every four years beginning July 1, 2013, assuming the base to be zero and each proposed expenditure must be justified as if it were new. Committee members passed the bill by a vote of 12-7 and sent it to the Ways and Means committee. The Senate companion, SF 146, sponsored by Sen. Roger Chamberlain, R-Lino Lakes, has not yet received a hearing.

News from Washington

As reported last week, Republican leadership in the United States House of Representatives was supposed to release their funding proposal for the remainder of fiscal year 2011 this week; however, conservative Republicans are demanding that the bill come in $100 billion below the president's request, so leadership and appropriators need to find an additional $26 billion. The American Association of State Colleges and Universities is reporting that the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee needs to find an additional $11 billion on top of the $6.7 billion that committee members already are assigned to cut. The president and Congress also begin crafting the budget for fiscal year 2012. President Obama is scheduled to release his 2012 budget Monday.

The below link provides the 2011 Congressional calendar for the 112th Congress. Both Senate and House recess dates are noted and useful to consider when planning for meetings or inviting congressional members to visit your campus. Congressional members spend time in their home districts during their recess, visiting and listening to constituents. You may link to the calendar here.

Here's What's Happening at the Capitol:

This schedule shows all meetings that we are aware of at the time of publication that MAY have an impact on the system. This schedule may change. Please watch the House and Senate schedules posted on the Legislature web site.

Monday, February 14

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

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

Budget reduction passes Senate; Students and faculty testify in House

Yesterday at the Capitol
The Senate passed the budget reduction conference committee report yesterday by a vote of 37-28, but shortly thereafter, the bill became Gov. Dayton's first veto. In his veto message, Dayton cited a Revenue Department estimate that the bill would increase property taxes by $428 million in the next biennium. He also said legislators were wrong to make him allocate the $100 million in cuts rather than doing it themselves. Sen. Julianne Ortman, R-Chanhassen, said she had hoped the lawmakers and the governor would keep their eye on the goal, to reduce some of the deficit before the February Forecast comes out.

The forecast is expected to come out the week of Feb. 28, which gives legislators a little more than three weeks until the first committee deadline. The House approved a resolution on the floor yesterday setting the deadlines, and this year, the deadlines are different. The first deadline, March 25, is when all finance bills must be out of committee and sent to the Ways and Means committee. The second and third deadlines are for the policy bills. The second deadline, April 29, is when policy bills are to be out of the committee of origin and the third deadline, May 6, is when policy bills must pass out of both bodies. House Republican leaders said they want the deadlines to reflect the commitment to getting the state’s budget shortfall resolved before policy issues are addressed.

Students and faculty testify before House committee
Every college or university student has a story to tell about how they ended up at the college or university they're at, and what their education means to them as they work their way toward graduation, with the ultimate goal of joining the workforce. Whether it's Maureen Wanous, a student at South Central College in Faribault, who went back to school to make a better life for herself and her daughter, or Samantha Potter-Rank, a PSEO student at Inver Hills Community College who will graduate from high school with a two-year college degree to help her family save on tuition, every student has a story.

Every faculty member that teaches and mentors these students also has a story, such as Ken Ryan, director of the Mechatronics program at Alexandria Technical and Community College, who can look a parent in the eye and tell him/her their child will find employment in the Mechatronics program with a placement rate of 400 percent.

These are the stories shared with House Higher Education committee members yesterday as students and faculty from both the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and the University of Minnesota shared their stories with policy makers in light of the budget cuts. Students told committee members that it is getting harder to obtain a degree with tuition going up. Monte Bute, a faculty member at Metropolitan State University said that another cut to the system will hinder young people from getting an education.

You can listen to the hearing here by clicking on the Feb. 10 link.

Today at the Capitol
1:00 PM
Redistricting Committee: Public Input Hearing in Marshall
Room: Lyon County Government Center
607 W. Main St. Marshall
Chair: Rep. Sarah Anderson
Agenda:
1. Tom Gillaspy: Population trends and shifts
2. Matt Gehring: 2010-2012 Minnesota Redistricting Timeline
3. Anthony Amato: Associate Professor of Demography and Geography chairs the Department of Rural and Regional Studies at Southwest State University

Looking Ahead

Monday, February 14

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

Tuesday, February 15
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 program

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

Wednesday, February 16

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

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

Thursday, February 10, 2011

State of the state reviewed; Students and faculty to testify

Yesterday at the Capitol

Gov. Mark Dayton delivered his State of the State address yesterday with a focus on investing in the future of Minnesota. Dayton invited legislators to join with him to pledge to the people of Minnesota that they will not shut down government, but rather will reach a shared solution to resolve the $6.2 billion budget deficit. "If this happens, the people of Minnesota will win," Dayton said.

While he didn't provide details about his budget proposal (which will be released Tuesday), Dayton did say the state needs to invest in job creation; better education; improved transportation; the health of our citizens, our communities and our environment; and the transformation of government services.

Dayton recognized President of the University of Minnesota, Bob Bruininks and Chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, Jim McCormick who were sitting in the gallery. He thanked them for their service and commitment to the state of Minnesota.

Dayton asked legislators to join him in increasing funding to K-12 education every year he is governor. "In our shared desire to improve our elementary and secondary schools, our colleges, and our universities, I urge all of us to work together, instead of against one another," he said. Dayton said policy makers need to work cooperatively to enlist ideas from those most in touch with children's needs; parents, and teachers, and he again asked every business in Minnesota to adopt a school, college or university.

Dayton addressed the tax issue and announced his intentions to increase income tax for wealthy Minnesotans, something he promised on the campaign trail. He said, "Fewer people paying lower taxes has meant state per-pupil aid for our students from kindergarten through 12th grade has been reduced by 14 percent in real, after-inflation dollars during the past 8 years. Tuition in our state’s two-year public colleges has risen to the third highest in the nation, and tuition in our four-year universities are among the top ten highest."

Dayton ended his address by saying, "We must reverse Minnesota’s past decline, and return our state to a path of growth, success, and prosperity."

In follow-up to the speech, House Speaker Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove, said that raising taxes during tough economic times is detrimental to the state. When asked by media what she thought about the governor's education plan, Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, R-Buffalo, said it is still shy on details, but it appears he is making promises he doesn't have the money to keep.

Also yesterday, by a vote of 68-61, the House approved the phase one conference committee report which cuts approximately $900 million from the state's $6.2 billion budget deficit. As a reminder, the bill reduces higher education by $185 million. For the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, this means a reduction in the system's annual base from $605 million to $582 million. The Senate is expected to take up the bill today. It is anticipated the bill will pass on a party-line vote. If the Senate approves the conference committee report, the next stop is the governor's desk.

Today at the Capitol


8:15 AM
House State Government Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Morrie Lanning
Agenda: HF4 (Downey) State workforce reduction required, and early retirement program created.

8:15 AM
House Education Reform
Room: Basement - State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda:
HF133 (Fritz) Trial placements for eligible children allowed at the Minnesota State Academies.
HF183 (Kieffer) Teacher candidates required to pass basic skills exam.
HF300 (Erickson) Comprehensive eye exams recommended for early childhood development screening.

10:15 AM
House Government Operations and Elections
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joyce Peppin
Agenda:
HF192 (Downey) Reinventing Government Employment Act proposed, public employee compensation freeze provided and future compensation method determined, state workforce reduction required, state employee gain sharing system established, state contract restrictions removed, and right to work constitutional amendment proposed.
HF102 (Mahoney) Minnesota science and technology program established.

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: Student and faculty testimony

12:30 PM
House Education Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Pat Garofalo
Agenda: HF257 (Bills) Early graduation achievement scholarship program created, and money appropriated.
HF341 (Greiling) Department of Management and Budget school district state-aid payment reduction requirement repealed
HF407 (Kriesel) Reduction of state short-term borrowing through school district payment modifications repealed

3:00 PM
House in Session

Looking Ahead

Monday, February 14


11:00 AM
Senate in Session

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

Wednesday, February 16

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.

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

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Zero-based budgeting discussed; State of the state to be delivered

Yesterday at the Capitol

Rep. King Banaian, R-St. Cloud, presented his bill, HF 2, to the House State Government Finance committee yesterday morning. Banaian explained that the bill provides for periodic review of state agencies through a zero-based budgeting process. The bill was amended to clarify how often state agencies are to go through the process. In the amendment, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is to prepare the system's budget every four years beginning July 1, 2013 assuming the base to be zero and each proposed expenditure must be justified as if it were new. Committee members passed the bill by a vote of 12-7 and sent it to the Ways and Means committee.

HF 2 can be found here.

Also yesterday, Gov. Mark Dayton completed his cabinet with three new appointments; Spencer Cronk for Administration, Kevin Lindsey for Human Rights and Josh Tilsen for the Bureau of Mediation Services.

The new commissioner for the Department of Administration, Spencer Cronk, most recently served as executive director of organizational development and senior adviser for the Department of Small Business Services in the administration of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Cronk is a graduate of Harvard University’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program. He grew up in Minnesota and received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison

"Spencer is a talented leader who has demonstrated his ability to get results in large, complex public sector organizations," Dayton said in a news release. "He brings great energy and experience to my administration. I welcome him as key player in our administration’s efforts to make state government work better for people."

MPR includes a full list of Gov. Dayton's 24-member cabinet here.

Today at the Capitol

8:15 AM
House State Government Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Morrie Lanning
Agenda: Minnesota State Arts Board Overview: Sue Gens, Executive Director of the Minnesota State Arts Board
Minnesota Historical Society Overview: Michael Fox, Director of the Minnesota Historical Society
Minnesota Management and Budget presentation on recently released 2010 State Workforce Report: Judy Plante, Assistant Commissioner for State Human Resources
Workforce Report found here

10:15 AM
House Government Operations and Elections
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joyce Peppin
*Note: Change in Agenda
Agenda: HF89 (Benson) Voter picture identification required before receiving a ballot, voter identification card provided at no charge, and provisional balloting procedure established.
HF203 (Westrom) Legislative approval required for certain rules to take effect

10:30 AM *Note committee will end at 11:15
Senate Jobs and Economic Growth
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Geoff Michel
Agenda: Economic overview from Steve Hine, DEED

11:30 AM
Senate in Session

11:45 AM
House in Session

12:00 PM
Governor’s State of the State Address
House Chamber

20 minutes following the Governor's address, House and Senate legislative leaders will respond.

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda: Board of the MN State Academies confirmations
S.F. 251-Jungbauer: Teacher continuing contracts.
S.F. 104-Kubly: Noncustodial parent access to school records authorization.

Looking Ahead

Thursday, February 10


8:15 AM
House State Government Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Morrie Lanning
Agenda: HF4 (Downey) State workforce reduction required, and early retirement program created.

8:15 AM
House Education Reform
Room: Basement - State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda:
HF133 (Fritz) Trial placements for eligible children allowed at the Minnesota State Academies.
HF183 (Kieffer) Teacher candidates required to pass basic skills exam.
HF300 (Erickson) Comprehensive eye exams recommended for early childhood development screening.

10:15 AM
House Government Operations and Elections
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joyce Peppin
Agenda:
HF192 (Downey) Reinventing Government Employment Act proposed, public employee compensation freeze provided and future compensation method determined, state workforce reduction required, state employee gain sharing system established, state contract restrictions removed, and right to work constitutional amendment proposed.
HF102 (Mahoney) Minnesota science and technology program established.

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: Student and faculty testimony

Monday, February 14

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

Wednesday, February 16

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

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Budget reduction bill advances; Committees to meet

Yesterday at the Capitol
Conferees for the phase one budget reduction bill reached an agreement in conference committee last night. Conferees reduced the fiscal year 2011 cuts from the House's $200 million and the Senate's $125 million to $100 million, a concession granted after many questioned how much unencumbered funds could be found from state agencies yet this year. The bill specifies that short-term cuts to specific programs, including the state grant program, would not apply. Also, conferees did not accept the House's language on freezing state employee wages. The bill reduces higher education $185 million, which was in both the Senate and House version. The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities base is reduced to $582 million from $605 million. The report will now go to the House and Senate floors for a final vote prior to sending it to the governor.

Today at the Capitol
8:15 AM
House Education Reform
Room: Basement Hearing Room - State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda:
HF206 (Dittrich) Permanent School Fund Advisory Committee membership modified.
Overview of Permanent School Fund Advisory Committee
Overview of school assessment statutes
Overview of PER (Planning, Evaluation and Reporting to Public) law

8:15 AM
House State Government Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Morrie Lanning
Agenda: HF173 (Peppin) Sunset Commission created, sunset and review of state agencies provided, and money appropriated.
HF2 (Banaian) Zero-based budgeting required, and sunset advisory commission and sunset process established for state agencies.

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.

10:30 AM
Senate Jobs and Economic Growth
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Geoff Michel
Agenda:
DEED Overview/Commissioner Mark Phillips
DEED Overview of Unemployment Insurance
S.F. 114-Pederson: Unemployment insurance eligibility modification for children of business owners and extended unemployment compensation federal state conformance.

12:30 PM
House Higher Education Policy and Finance
Room: Basement Hearing Room, State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bud Nornes
Agenda: Increasing Educational Achievement:
Susan Heegaard, Bush Foundation - Vice President, Educational Achievement
Peter Hutchinson, Bush Foundation - President

12:30 PM
House Jobs and Economic Development Finance
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bob Gunther
Agenda: Agency overview from Mark Phillips - Commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)
Overview of Enterprise Minnesota from Robert Kill

12:30 PM
House Education Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Pat Garofalo
Agenda: Presentation by the Minnesota Principal’s Academy, Ken Pekel

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda: S.F. 170-Daley: Teacher candidates basic skills exam pass requirement.
Cecilia Retelle, MN Chamber of Commerce
Representative Andrea Kieffer
Vallay Varro, Executive Director of MinnCAN

Looking Ahead
When Gov. Mark Dayton delivers his State of the State address Wednesday at noon, Andrea Mokros, Dayton's deputy chief of staff, said the governor will talk of the need for "shared sacrifice," the need for transparency and accountability in government, and his plans for "getting Minnesota working again."

Wednesday, February 9
8:15 AM
House State Government Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Morrie Lanning
Agenda: Minnesota State Arts Board Overview: Sue Gens, Executive Director of the Minnesota State Arts Board
Minnesota Historical Society Overview: Michael Fox, Director of the Minnesota Historical Society
Minnesota Management and Budget presentation on recently released 2010 State Workforce Report: Judy Plante, Assistant Commissioner for State Human Resources

10:30 AM *Note committee will end at 11:15
Senate Jobs and Economic Growth
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Geoff Michel
Agenda: Economic overview from Steve Hine, DEED

11:30 AM
Senate in Session

11:45 AM
House in Session

12:00 PM
Governor’s State of the State Address
House Chamber

3:00 PM
Senate Education
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Gen Olson
Agenda: TBA

Thursday, February 10
8:15 AM
House State Government Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Morrie Lanning
Agenda: HF4 (Downey) State workforce reduction required, and early retirement program created.

8:15 AM
House Education Reform
Room: Basement - State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda:
HF133 (Fritz) Trial placements for eligible children allowed at the Minnesota State Academies.
HF183 (Kieffer) Teacher candidates required to pass basic skills exam.
HF300 (Erickson) Comprehensive eye exams recommended for early childhood development screening.

10:15 AM
House Government Operations and Elections
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Joyce Peppin
Agenda:
HF192 (Downey) Reinventing Government Employment Act proposed, public employee compensation freeze provided and future compensation method determined, state workforce reduction required, state employee gain sharing system established, state contract restrictions removed, and right to work constitutional amendment proposed.
HF102 (Mahoney) Minnesota science and technology program established.

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: Student and faculty testimony

Wednesday, February 16
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