House passes tax bill with $2.1 billion in increased revenues
The House passed a tax bill that includes just over $2 billion in tax increases by a 69-65 vote early Monday morning. The legislation now heads to the Senate and is the lynchpin of the budget deal needed to conclude the legislative session.
House passes tax bill with $2.1 billion in increased revenues
The House passed a tax bill that includes just over $2 billion in tax increases by a 69-65 vote early Monday morning. The legislation now heads to the Senate and is the lynchpin of the budget deal needed to conclude the legislative session.
Sunday notes: Tax bill wraps up
Late Saturday night, House and Senate conferees adopted a tax bill containing $2 billion in new taxes and a handful of provisions added at the last minute.
House passes K-12 funding bill
The bill will increase the basic funding formula to schools by $234 million, or 3 percent, which Marquart said would break down to more than $300 in new spending per student.
Proposed constitutional amendment dealing with legislator pay headed to ballot
A proposed constitutional amendment that would give an independent panel the authority to set salaries for House and Senate members passed the Senate on Monday morning by a 43-23 vote margin. The amendment is expected to be on the ballot in 2016.
‘Lights on’ transportation finance bill clears final hurdle
The Senate passed a transportation finance bill that includes no significant new revenue by a 43-24 vote on Sunday evening. The bill already cleared the House and is now headed for a signature by Gov. Mark Dayton.
Dayton asks Senate to remove Tax Court Judge George Perez
In his letter to Skoe, Dayton wrote, "Had I known about the Board's findings, I would not have reappointed him to the Tax Court."
Legislature sends environment and ag budget to Dayton
The House and Senate on Saturday night passed their negotiated deal on funding for the next two years for the environment and agriculture. The conference report is the settlement between the opposing viewpoints in the DFL majorities between business and environmentalists.
Broadbased state regulations emerge for frac sand mining
House and Senate conferees have agreed on a set of regulations for frac sand mining in southeastern Minnesota. One conferee said the breadth of the issues that are addressed makes the legislation the first of its kind in the country.
Health and human services budget headed to Dayton’s desk
The legislation, which includes a 5 percent rate increase for nursing homes next year and additional spending for mental health services in schools, passed of the chamber floor on a 39-28 vote. At the start of the debate, bill author Tony Lourey, DFL-Kerrick, said the final budget bill was considerably better than a proposal passed earlier in the year. That’s because both chambers originally faced a $150 million targeted budget cut in health and human services, but that number was scaled back to $50 million when leadership reached final budget targets with Gov. Mark Dayton.
Mayo DMC language adopted in taxes conference committee
The Mayo Clinic's "destination medical center" took another step towards gaining up to $400 million in state financial support on Friday evening. The tax conference committee adopted language laying out the financial terms and governing structure for the estimated $5.5 billion project.
Bakk changes tone on minimum wage deal
Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, who earlier this week said a proposal to increase the state’s minimum wage was likely dead, now says there’s a “very good chance” something could get done on the issue yet this year.
Higher ed bill headed to Dayton’s desk
The House passed a higher education finance bill that increases spending by $250 million and freezes tuition for two years on 76-56 vote on Friday. Just three Republicans voted for the bill, sponsored by Rep. Gene Pelowski, DFL-Winona.
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THEPOLITICSPORTAL
COMMENTARY
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David Strom: There ought (not) to be a law…
It’s almost impossible to argue against tightening the rules intended to prevent hazards. After all, who is in favor of hazardous activity, especially when one person’s hazardous activity can put other people in danger?
ELECTIONS
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Stripped down elections bill passes Senate unanimously
Sen. Katie Sieben, DFL-Newport, removed all controversial provisions from the omnibus elections bill when it came up for a vote on the floor Wednesday evening. The stripped down legislation passed unanimously.
BUDGET / TAXES
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House passes tax bill with $2.1 billion in increased revenues
The House passed a tax bill that includes just over $2 billion in tax increases by a 69-65 vote early Monday morning. The legislation now heads to the Senate and is the lynchpin of the budget deal needed to conclude the legislative session.
EDUCATION
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Higher ed bill headed to Dayton’s desk
The House passed a higher education finance bill that increases spending by $250 million and freezes tuition for two years on 76-56 vote on Friday. Just three Republicans voted for the bill, sponsored by Rep. Gene Pelowski, DFL-Winona.
ENERGY / ENVIRONMENT
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Legislature sends environment and ag budget to Dayton
The House and Senate on Saturday night passed their negotiated deal on funding for the next two years for the environment and agriculture. The conference report is the settlement between the opposing viewpoints in the DFL majorities between business and environmentalists.
HEALTH CARE
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Health and human services budget headed to Dayton’s desk
The legislation, which includes a 5 percent rate increase for nursing homes next year and additional spending for mental health services in schools, passed of the chamber floor on a 39-28 vote. At the start of the debate, bill author Tony Lourey, DFL-Kerrick, said the final budget bill was considerably better than a proposal passed earlier in the year. That’s because both chambers originally faced a $150 million targeted budget cut in health and human services, but that number was scaled back to $50 million when leadership reached final budget targets with Gov. Mark Dayton.
