Bonding bill passed in Senate, House hearing tonight

Yesterday at the Capitol

There was bonding activity in both the House and Senate yesterday. The Senate took up the omnibus bonding bill on the floor and after approximately 4 hours of debate, passed the bill by a vote of 52-14.

In the House, the Capital Investment committee took up the bonding bill, and after amending it, passed it on a split voice vote. It heads next to the House Finance Committee this evening at 6:30. There were no amendments in either body related to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. After the Senate passed their version of the bill, SF 2360 was laid on the table while they wait for the House bill to pass.

In a letter to Capital Investment Chairs Rep. Alice Hausman, DFL-St. Paul and Sen. Keith Langseth, DFL-Glyndon, Gov. Pawlenty called the bills "unaffordable, irresponsible, and filled with local projects," and threatened to veto the entire bill, rather than line-item veto projects he does not support.

Today at the Capitol

There are no hearings scheduled during the day today due to a legislative workshop. The bonding bill will be heard this evening.

6:30 PM
House Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Lyndon Carlson
Agenda: HF2700 (Hausman) Omnibus capital investment bill.
HF2680 (E. Murphy) Mental health urgent care and consultation services established, general assistance medical care program modified, and money appropriated.

Looking Ahead

Thursday, February 11

8:30 AM
House State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Gene Pelowski
Agenda: Overview on the financial status of the retirement systems of Minnesota: Public Employees Retirement Association, Minnesota State Retirement System, Teachers Retirement Association.

8:30 AM
House K-12 Education Policy and Oversight
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Agenda: SciMathMN briefing: Lessons from Minnesota Trends in International Math and Science Study (TIMSS) Science results - Dr. Bill Schmidt, Michigan State University
Closing the achievement gap in math and science education - Dr. Natalie Rasmussen, teacher, Minneapolis North Community High School
HF2360 (Davnie) Minneapolis; Special School District No. 1; Two member appointment provided on the Minneapolis reapportionment commission, and standards established.

10:30 AM
House in Session

11:00 AM
Governor’s State of the State

10:30 AM
Meeting Time Note: half hour after session
House Ways and Means
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Loren Solberg
Agenda:
HF2700 (Hausman) Bonding bill; providing capital improvement funding, new programs established and existing programs modified, previous appropriations canceled and modified, bonds issued, and money appropriated.

1:00 PM **Canceled**
House Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tom Rukavina
Agenda: Fiscal condition of state financial aid programs
David Metzen, Director of the Office of Higher Education

Friday, February 12

10:30 AM
House in Session

Monday, February 15

10:30 AM
House Ways & Means and Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Loren Solberg and Rep Lyndon Carlson
Agenda: Governor’s supplemental budget

1:00 PM
House in Session

Tuesday, February 16

12:30 PM
Senate Higher Education Budget and Policy Division
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Sandra L. Pappas
Agenda:
State Grant Shortfall
Achieve Program

7:00 PM
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen Betzold
Agenda: One-person/small group legislation:
SF1374/HF1569 - PERA-P&F; Joint and survivor annuity for the divorced spouse of a deceased retiree who elected a single life annuity.
SFXX/HF2550 - MSRS/MnSCU/TRA; Permitting the repayment of certain member contribution refunds; authorizing a second chance option to elect TRA retirement plan benefit coverage; mandating certain contributions.
SFXX/HFXX - PERA; Authorizing a late disability benefit application in certain cases.
SFXX/HFXX - SPTRFA; Service credit purchase for uncredited prior teaching service
SFXX/HFXX - PERA-P&F; Revise Social Security leveling option to single-life annuity.
SFXX/HFXX - PERA; Purchase of prior service credit for a period of omitted member deductions for certain Inver Grove Heights public school employees.
SFXX/HFXX - TRA; Alternative retirement annuity computation for former Red Lake Senior High School principal.

Wednesday, February 17

10:30 AM
House Bioscience and Workforce Development
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tim Mahoney
Agenda: Office of the Legislative Auditor report: Workforce Programs

12:30 PM
Senate Business, Industry and Jobs
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. James P. Metzen
Agenda: Unemployment Trust Fund Update
Legislative Auditor's Report: Workforce Programs