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

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

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