PIM Confidential
Introducing Politics in Minnesota: Confidential, a daily email roundup of key developments in and around the Capitol.
Learn the buzz that’s dominating hallway chatter at the Capitol. Track committee action. Keep tabs on the movements and actions of bills and lobbyists. Discover what’s next in politics outside of session.
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Monday, March 21 Edition
WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK
EVENTS:
MONDAY
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.: LifeSource event, State Capitol Rotunda.
TUESDAY
8:00 – 9:30 a.m: Green Ideas and Ham Breakfast Forum. Topic: Public Transportation. $15. Red Stag Supper club, 509 1st Ave N.E., Minneapolis. 612-767-7766 or RSVP here.
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. AFSCME Council 5 Day on the Hill.
THURSDAY
10:15 – 11:15 a.m.: Fifth Judicial District Drug Courts event, State Capitol Rotunda.
Noon – 1:30 p.m.: Minnesota Zoo at the Capitol, State Capitol Rotunda.
3:00 p.m. – 4: 30 p.m. American Red Cross event, State Capitol Rotunda.
4:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Edward Burdick visitation. Roseville Memorial Chapel, 2245 Hamline Ave. N., Roseville.
7:00 p.m.: U.S Farm Bill Discussion Panel. Experts in Agricultural production and policy participate in an open forum and Q&A. Sponsor: Universities Fighting World Hunger. Free with museum admission ($5/adults. $3/students and seniors). Bell Museum, University Ave. & 17th Ave. S.E., Mpls.
FRIDAY
11:00 a.m.: Edward Burdick Memorial Service, Roseville Lutheran Church, 1215 Roselawn Ave., Roseville.
SATURDAY
11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Organic Consumers Rally, South Steps of Capitol.
WHAT’S COMING UP
BUDGET: This week at the Capitol figures to be dominated by long committee hearings as the GOP’s self-imposed early fiscal deadline of this Friday approaches. There will be no shortage of big bills with little time to pass them through committee. “It’s pretty much budget, budget, budget all week long,” House Speaker Kurt Zellers (pictured right) said Friday.
Here’s a list of some big bills and when they’ll be dropping this week:
- The K-12 bill was posted over the weekend, and can be found here. The committee will walk though the bill today.
- Reps. Jim Abeler and Steve Gottwalt will hold a news conference to roll out their Health and Human Services bill this morning at 11 a.m.
- The Senate Taxes bill is scheduled to be released Wednesday.
- Bill language for Senate Judiciary will be made public today.
- In the House, budget details are also available for Higher Education, Environment and Transportation. Go here to keep track of House fiscal spreadsheets, and here for Senate ones.
HOUSE TAXES: The House Taxes Committee completed work on its bill (HF 42) over the weekend, with the panel voting the bill out on Saturday. Here’s an updated fiscal spreadsheet compiled Saturday evening for the bill. It does not include full tax conformity for the next biennium, which is expected to cost the state as much as $400 million, but does include income tax relief. It doesn’t appear that full updated bill language is available yet, so we hope to give you a fuller rundown of what is and isn’t in the bill on Tuesday — particularly with proposed changes to Local Government Aid.
FISCAL NOTES: Expect howls from the DFL this week if Republican chairs go forward with plans to get omnibus finance bills out of committee with or without fiscal notes. House Speaker Kurt Zellers said some committees were having trouble getting notes back from staffers — or more specifically, getting notes back that jibe with their impression of the costs and savings at stake. He said Friday the intent was to have fiscal notes completed for all bills in time for committee deliberations, but he added that not having them wouldn’t delay the process.
CD CHAIRS: Minnesota Republican Party activists gathered over the weekend in a couple of Congressional Districts to elect CD chairs. In the 6th CD, Republicans re-elected Dave FitzSimmons. FitzSimmons was Tom Emmer’s campaign manager last year during the contest for the GOP endorsement for governor. In the 5th CD, Adam Weigold, who has been the CD deputy chair, was elected chairman. He replaces outgoing chair Carleton Crawford. In the 7th CD, Craig Bishop was re-elected as chairman.
One of the interesting developments at the 5th Congressional District GOP’s gathering on Saturday at the Minneapolis Convention Center was a successful move by former legislative candidate Tim Utz to demand that state spending be limited to $32 billion for the 2012-2013 biennium. That contrasts with the $34 billion budget targets that Republican legislative leaders have handed down to committee chairs. Utz, who lost to DFLer Carolyn Laine in the November general election, contends that Republicans in the Legislature aren’t “living within their means” by spending $34 billion in the next biennium. Utz, in a news release, said a delegation will hand-deliver the proclamation to House Speaker Kurt Zellers.
LESSARD-SAMS PR: The Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council now has a PR arm. The council’s proposal details that Matthew Kucharsk of Padilla Speer Beardsley will do the communications work pro bono and as a private citizen.
RACINO OUT OF THE GATE: At 10:00 a.m. today, backers will be launching their 2011 efforts to advance operation of video lottery terminals at Canterbury Downs and Running Aces racetracks. Chief authors Sen. Dave Senjem and Rep. Bob Gunther will be there, along with last year’s Senate author, Dan Sparks. Pro-racino interests have bulked up over the past year, adding 4 contract lobbyists and a team of 3 attorneys from Messerli & Kramer to supplement the efforts of former senator-turned-lobbyist Dick Day, who to date has maintained a low profile at the Capitol. Republican leadership on Friday said they have yet to see the full proposal, but that their main focus is on budget work — and reducing spending, they said — rather than considering racino proposals.
POLLIE AWARD WINNERS: Among locals, Team Michele Bachmann was the big winner at the American Association of Political Consultant’s annually Pollie Awards, receiving a total of seven honors. There’s a dizzying array of awards categories for those who plan and execute campaign strategy on behalf of their clients. Bachmann online consultants Campaign Solutions/Connell Donatelli, took home 6 awards in the online category, garnering a gold for Best Use of New Technology, 3 silver awards in Overall Campaign, Best Use of Mobile Technology, and Best Use of search engine marketing, and two bronzes in the Best Use of Online and Best Use of Email arenas. Jeff Larson‘s FLS Connect grabbed the gold for Best Use of Telephone Town Hall/Forum. Gold Communications won a gold in the Direct Mail for Democratic U.S. House category for their work with U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum. Terra Eclipse got an honorable mention in Website-National Organization category for Tim Pawlenty‘s Freedom First PAC website. On the legislative front, td/Richter won silvers and bronze respectively for their work on John Kreisel‘s House and Geoff Michel‘s Senate campaigns. Of note: Adman Bill Hillsman‘s NorthWoods Advertising took home 5 Pollies: 3 bronze, a silver and an honorable mention for his work outside of Minnesota. Did we miss any? You can check yourself here.
NON-BUDGET: GOP leadership distanced themselves from any attempt to pass certain controversial social issue bills through before completing budget work. House Speaker Kurt Zellers, for example, said a bill blocking abortions after 20 weeks won’t come to the floor until later, and wouldn’t belong in the HHS budget bill.
BURDICK EULOGIZED: Saturday’s Strib contained a heartfelt look at the life of Edward Burdick, former chief clerk of the House. Former diplomat and military professor Patrick Mendis reminisces about working for Burdick, staying with Ed while attending the U of M, and attending him during his final days. Find the article here.
LIQUOR LOBBIES: Chicago-Lake Liquors has signed on 5 lobbyists from Leonard, Street & Deinard to help owner John Wolf‘s push to promote Sunday liquor sales. Wolf’s position puts him at odds with the Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association, which, along with many of its members, has lobbied against the measure to allow liquor stores to remain open not just Sundays, but 365 days a year.
MORE MINING LOBBIES: Teck America is back in play. One of the first companies to look at nonferrous mining in Northeastern Minnesota, they have hired Dorsey & Whitney lawyer-lobbyists Mike Ahern and Teresa Lynch. The Dorsey law firm’s global practice includes clients in the mining industries.
TODAY’S CAPITOL SCHEDULE
The Senate will be in session at 11 a.m.
The House will be in session at 3 p.m.
HOUSE
The Education Finance Committee will hear HF 934, education finance statute obsolete reference removed, and walk through its omnibus bill at 9 a.m. in Basement SOB, will adjourn at 2:15 p.m. and resume 30 minutes after session in Room 5.
The Civil Law Committee will hear HF 936, abortions at or after 20 weeks gestational age prohibited unless exceptions apply, and civil and criminal penalties provided, and HF 1130, Student record and data use provided, at 12:30 p.m. in 10 SOB, will recess at 2:15 p.m. and resume 15 minutes after session in room 300 North.
The Transportation Policy and Finance Committee will hear HF 1149, Aeronautics activities money appropriated, and HF 1140, the omnibus transportation finance bill, at 12:30 p.m., recess at 2:15 p.m. and reconvene at 6 p.m. in room 300 South if need be.
The Taxes Committee will hear HF 113, gross revenue payment exemption provided, at 1 p.m. in 200 SOB.
The Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee will discuss its omnibus bills at hear agency testimony on budget reductions at 6 p.m. in 10 SOB.
SENATE
The Health and Human Services Committee will hear three bills at 1 p.m. in 15 Capitol.
S.F. 87 Nursing facility operating payment rates proximity adjustments modification.
S.F. 370 Medical assistance (MA) medical nonemergency transportation single administrative structure proposal requirement.
S.F. 541 Medical assistance (MA) nonemergency medical transportation eligibility assessments frequency and special transportation eligibility time length proposed changes requirements.
The Local Government and Elections Committee will hear three bills at 1 p.m. in 112 Capitol.
S.F. 275 Anoka county countywide public safety improvements bonding authority expansion- will be presented by Senator Nienow.
S.F. 573 Minnesota zoo Dakota county lands interest extension.
S.F. 260 County agricultural society and county boards authority to exchange lands clarification.
The State Government Innovation and Veterans Committee will hear seven bills at 1 p.m. in 123 Capitol.
S.F. 692 Natural resources department (DNR) peatland area management; recreational trail and snowmobile watercross requirements and mineral coordinating committee membership modifications; Blakeley state wayside repeal.
S.F. 759 Coon Rapids dam commission creation; Three Rivers park district grant appropriation.
S.F. 604 Secretary of state legal fees payment; 2010 gubernatorial election county recount reimbursement costs appropriations.
S.F. 907 State building efficiency, fleet management improvements, and Medicaid and tax fraud prevention and detection consulting services contracts for improvements to state-operated systems and services requirements.
S.F. 908 Strategic sourcing request for proposals.
S.F. 813 State and public employees retirement plans member and employer contribution rates modifications.
S.F. 812 Salary reduction for state employees and elected officials.
The Education Committee will hear its omnibus bill at 3 p.m. in 15 Capitol.
The Higher Education Committee will hear four bills at 3 p.m. in 107 Capitol.
S.F. 591 University of Minnesota and Mayo foundation research partnership appropriation.
S.F. 799 Student records and data usage liability clarification.
S.F. 897 Higher education provisions modifications and appropriations.
S.F. 695 Human cloning prohibition.
BILLS HEARD IN COMMITTEE FRIDAY
HOUSE
HF 976 Town road state aid allocation formula amended. Laid over by Transportation Policy and Finance Committee for possible inclusion in omnibus bill.
HF 1140 Fixed guideway transit and rail line project requirements amended, governing capital requests requirements established, and financial reporting amended. Laid over by Transportation Policy and Finance Committee for possible inclusion in omnibus bill.
HF 1196 Metropolitan area transportation sales and use tax funds allocated for transit operations. Laid over by Transportation Policy and Finance Committee for possible inclusion in omnibus bill.
HF 1197 Temporary transfers authorized from the metropolitan livable communities fund accounts and the right-of-way loan acquisition fund for transit operating deficits, and funding sources modified for metropolitan livable communities fund accounts. Laid over by Transportation Policy and Finance Committee for possible inclusion in omnibus bill.
SENATE
SF 351 Medical assistance (MA) and MinnesotaCare managed care plans and county-based purchasing plans department of human services withhold creation. Amended and laid over by Health and Human Services Committee for possible inclusion in omnibus bill.
SF 578 Integrated online eligibility and application portal for food support, cash assistance, child care, and health care programs human services department request for proposals and contract requirements. Amended and laid over by Health and Human Services Committee for possible inclusion in omnibus bill.
SF 703 County human services duties streamlining and computer system simplification. Amended and laid over by Health and Human Services Committee for possible inclusion in omnibus bill.
SF 726 Medical assistance (MA) employed persons with disabilities program modification; asset limitation modification; appropriation. Amended and laid over by Health and Human Services Committee for possible inclusion in omnibus bill.
