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

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