Minnesota Senate

Budget Cutting Gov Adds To His Budget- Full Meeting

03/19/2010
Minnesota's Senate Finance Committee hears testimony about how Governor Tim Pawlenty makes his office's budget larger by taking money from other state agencies to pay his employees. The practice called "inter-agency payments" has been used by other Governors, but Pawlenty has escalated its use.
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Some Compromise, But Still No MN Budget Agreement

05/17/2009
DFL and GOP legislative leaders detail their meeting with Governor Tim Pawlenty. All parties have ruled out gambling as a source of revenue to solve the budget problem. The question is will the budget be cut by $1.2 billion or will the state raise the same amount in revenue?
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Pawlenty's Payment System-"Does Left Hand Know What Right Hand Is Doing?"

03/18/2010
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty's increased use of "inter-agency payments" has made it hard to track what is actually being funded. Senate Finance Chair Richard Cohen wondered "does the left hand know what the right hand is doing?" "I think it was a surprise to other (legislative) Division Chairmen to find out the depth of the Governor's involvement through other agencies." said Senator Cohen.   Senator Don Betzhold agreed. He said when the Governor redirects funds it is hard for the legislature which has oversight to know what is going on. Betzhold said the amounts individually may be small, but when you add them up "we're talking about some real money here".
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Sen. Marty calls out Pawlenty : "You broke the law...now it's your turn to fix it."

05/14/2010
John Marty:  "Democrats right now at the Capital --are losing the debate. First of all we're losing because we say the Governor has got all the cards and he's going to win. So he's said no new taxes, no new revenue, no new this, yes we're going to cut this and cut this and cut this and we're going to borrow in these weird ways and do everything else. You're going to do it my way or not at all, and even when we give him what he wants, he sometimes changes his mind and then adds new things to the picture."    Craig Stellmacher: "We' ve had two veto overrides--that doesn't really mark a history of cooperation--does it?"   JM : "So what I'm saying--let's take it a different approach : The Legislature passed a bill, I didn't like it last year to balance the budget, the Governor rejected it, he signed the bills and then he vetoed some and unallotted other things.   "He broke the law, the courts--the Supreme Court ruled that he broke the law, and he can't do that. He broke the law, he failed, he's got a problem. It's not a problem we can fix, because whatever we do he is going to veto it because he doesn't want anything we're going to do, because if its ours, he learned that politically the more often he says no to us, the more his political standing rises. So he's going to keep saying no--even if we're giving him stuff that he wants."   CS : "The Wall Street Journal, faulted him for the GAMC Compromise."   JM: "So he gets all the credit for doing the wrong thing. We ought to recognize at the legislature--if we believe people ought to be held accountable--hold him accountable. He broke the law, he had the court rule against him, he's got a problem. We can't fix it for him, we can help him, we should offer to help him.   "We should tell him : "Governor, offer your proposal on how to fix the problem." And he'll come in with something with no new revenue, probably it'll look like a list of unallotments he wants us to adopt. We can look at it and say : "Look this one we don't like it but we can live with it. This one--no we're not going to accept that. This one, raising taxes on low income people, no we're not going to accept that one either, because cutting rent credit is--cutting that is an increase in their property taxes. So we're going to say we're not going to accept this, this, this, we list the ones we're not going to accept and the things we have wrong--we fault--there' some things we can't accept.   "Pass it back to him. Tell him : "Governor--it's time to come up with a new proposal. Here's what we can accept." And then he comes back with a new proposal, now if he comes back with the same thing, we should--what we would normally do is say we crossed off 20 things--he must be serious. So he won't accept these things, we rejected so we better accept these 10 that we already rejected, and we pass it back to him. And he comes back with another one, "oh he must be really serious", so we cross off a few others we had planed to reject.     CS: "It sounds like the "Bush Compromise"   JM: "What if we would make him responsible for his behavior. Do what he's done to us. He gives us this bill, we cross out these 20 things, tell him to come back with a new proposal, he comes back with the same thing, and we say: "Governor--what part of no--don't you understand?"   "And to add insult to injury, in order to make his point, this is all theater on his part, he's trying to score points with the national delegates. How's he do that? He says : 'Oh those guys at the capital, all they do is bicker.' 'I'm going to go fishing for the fishing opener.' So he's going to leave town, you know 'I'll bet they'll still be bickering when I come back.'   "What I think we should do is just say : 'Look Governor--it's your problem. You broke the law, it's your fault, you've got a problem, we offered a solution you didn't like it. You've got to fix it. We're here to help you. We're going home, when you come in a with a new proposal, call us back. We won't ajorn for sine die, until Sunday night, so we'll go home but we'll be ready to come back Saturday if you want. Soon as you have a proposal, and if you can't come up, if you're not going to be serious before the end of the session o.k. then we got to adjourn then because we're out of time, but we'll come back for a special session, should only be a one day one, we just got to have you send us something we can agree to.'   "Send it back to him. Who is in control there? I think the Democrats might have a chance to get some of what they want. Instead, what we're going to get is 1% of what we want, and we're going to get 95-99% of his stuff? We're going to get kicked in the teeth. It looked like we gave in to him, because we did. I'm say--why don't we just stand up to him? "   CS : "If we have done this perhaps for his Presidential Candidacy, we can look now and say he's polling about 1%, and we've done it for that... We've sacrificed Minnesota it looks like..."   JM: "We are helping him sacrifice Minnesota for his Presidential ambition. And that's wrong."    CS : "You're sounding like an "Enabler" then..."   JM: "That's what the legislature has effectively done. If the legislature would say : "No we're not going to take this anymore, Governor it's your problem, you broke the law, we offered a solution and you broke the law rather than respond to that. Now it's your turn to fix it. We're here to help you, but if you go up north we're just going to go home because we are just waiting for you. It's his problem, and we can help him with it, but we're not going to enable him."     Craig Stellmacher for TheUptake.org
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DFL To Governor: This Is Not A Monarchy

05/15/2009
Minnesota's majority party on Friday reminded Governor Pawlenty that he is not a dictator and Minnesota is not a monarchy. Thursday the Governor issued an ultimatum saying he would line item veto spending bills to shape the budget close to the way he originally proposed. Assistant Majority Leader Senator Tarryl Clark said the Governor is trying to "go it on his own" and make decisions about the budget away from the public with "lobbyists whispering in his ears". Sen. Clark accused the Governor of trying to push the problems out past when his term ends leaving them for future administrations to solve. She predicts the Governor and Republicans will feel the pressure from hospitals, veterans and smaller communities that will need to lay off police and fire fighters.
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Not a Dollar Higher: Tax Negotiations

05/04/2009
By Mike McIntee and Noah Kunin   Consider it a reverse-bidding poker game between the Minnesota House, Senate and the Governor. At stake, how to overcome Minnesota's massive budget deficit - with each dollar taken off the table Minnesota faces reductions in everything from health care services to filling potholes on city streets.   This weekend House Tax Chair Ann Lenczewski and Senate Tax Chair Tom Bakk played a hand of tax negotiations, each trying to stare down the other.   The House, Senate and Governor's proposals are all separated by hundreds of millions of dollars and vary greatly on how revenue is raised and expenses cut. Governor Tim Pawlenty favors borrowing $1 Billion over 20 years at the expense of anywhere from $700 Million to $900 Million in interest as well as delaying $1.2 billion in education payments.   The House and Senate versions raise taxes now to overcome the structural deficit.  The House raises $1.5 billion and delays $1.7 billion in disbursments to schools.  The Senate proposal would increase state revenue to the tune of $2.2 billion without any borrowing or payment delays.   In this clip, the House and Senate Tax Chairs stake out their postions.
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MN GOP Hopes "Cooler Heads Prevail" On Budget And Gov's Vetos

05/15/2009
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has issued an ultimatum to the legislature saying he will line item veto the budget to shape it more to his liking. Minority Senator David Senjem said the Governor was showing leadership by issuing the ultimatum. But seemed to acknowledge that it may not have been the best action by indicating that "cooler heads need to prevail" on both sides of the budget negotiations.
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Republican Leader Parades Special Session And Govt Shutdown Talk In Front Of Press

05/05/2009
House Minority Leader Marty Seifert tries to frame a potential special session as the fault of the DFL. Seifert used the term "government shutdown" several times as a way to try to win sympathy for Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty. The Governor has repeatedly promised to veto any bill that has a tax increase.   Seifert made the comments after meeting with the Governor to discuss the pending omnibus bills. Seifert says a there is a proposal in the Economic Development bill to forgive a loan to the City of St. Paul for building the Xcel Center. Seifert says the loan forgiveness would cost the state $30 Million dollars and may jeopardize Governor Pawlenty from signing the bill. Seifert says the Transportation Bill will be signed.   He then took issue with a statement from Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher earlier today that she was going to take the tax and budget bills to the people. Seifert says the Speaker "is taking it to the people with a club" and is threatening to force a government shutdown with a special session.
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FACT CHECK: Sen Day Says "Hogwash", But Cuts To Fire And Police Are Real

05/15/2009
Republican Senator Dick Day said it is "hogwash" that cities and counties will need to lay off firefighters and police because of Governor Pawlenty's proposed cuts to local government aid. Senator Day is wrong on that point. Cities such as Winona, Minnesota have already cut police and fire positions because of the Governor's unallotment of LGA funds late last year and plan to cut more positions should the state cut funds again.   Examples of police and fire layoffs because of LGA funding cuts: Blue Earth now short two police officers because of LGA cuts - Fairmont Sentinel MN City drops cops to save $$$- KARE 11 List of cities plans on how to deal with LGA cuts, many which include Fire/Police layoffs -thanklga.org   Senator Day , a Republican, says he will not be afraid to run in 2010 defending Republican Governor Pawlenty's cuts. The Governor has issued an ultimatum to the legislature saying he will line item veto the budget to shape it more to his liking.
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MN Senate Passes $2.2 Billion Revenue Bill With Big Tax Break For Small Businesses

04/25/2009
Friday night the Minnesota Senate approved a proposal to raise income taxes by about $2.2 billion dollars in an effort to help erase the $4.8 billion dollar shortfall.    Most of the increase comes from the higher tax brackets and it allows small business owners to save about 10% on their taxes.  That's a $306 Million tax break over four years.  On the video clip: Senate Tax Chair Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, and Senator Satveer Chaudhary, DFL-Fridley, argue  in support of the bill's passage, while Senator Dick Day, R-Owatonna, and Senate Minority Leader David Senjem, R-Rochester, call for its defeat.
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Capitol Report-Vikings Stadium, Banking And High Speed Rail

10/09/2009
In this weeks program, Julie Bartkey sits down with Senator Linda Scheid, Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, to discuss whether Minnesota's banking system is sound. Gambling on revenue for a new Viking stadium, Rep. Tom Hackbarth proposes a constitutional amendment that would add slots to existing race tracks, and Senator Ann Lynch details why she thinks Rochester is the best route for high speed rail.
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Owls and Chinchillas and Skinks, Oh My!- MN Zoo at Capitol

03/09/2010
An armadillo, a chinchilla, a skink and a great horned owl visit Minnesota lawmakers as part of Minnesota Zoo day at the legislature.
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Safety Warning For iPhone App

03/11/2010
There's a warning for that. Video edited by David Born Falcon Heights Mayor Peter Lindstrom is encouraging people in his city to use a new iPhone app called "See Click Fix". The concept is simple. If you see a pothole you can take a picture of it and send it to the city. The city administrator is notified directly. The geo-coding on the picture tells the city where the pothole is and they can go fix it. The app also creates a file on the city's website so people can see if the pothole has been reported, how long ago it was reported and if (or when) it was fixed.   So what's the problem?   Minnesota has a law against texting while driving, reflecting a growing concern over distracted driving. When speaking before a Minnesota Senate committee on Wednesday, Senator Ann Rest interrupted Mayor Lindstrom's description of the app to remind him that people should stop their car before pulling out their phone to take a picture. He quickly agreed.
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Defending Gov Pawlenty's Redirection Of Veteran Plate Funds

03/18/2010
Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Michael Pugliese defends Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty's decision to use funding from the sale of veteran's license plates to fund an employee of the Governor's office. Pugliese testified that Lee Buckley who works for the Governor was paid by the funds for doing outreach work to veterans. Pugliese says 25% of Buckley's time was spent working as a Special Faith Advisor for the Department of Veterans Affairs, not the Governor's office.
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MN "Shovel Ready" Job Stimulus Package

05/02/2009
Senator James Metzen, DFL-South St. Paul, outlines his bill to the media Friday, May 1st. It provides $100M for private construction projects. Metzen says there are about $5B in 'shovel ready' construction jobs that are having a difficult time securing financing. Metzen, Asst. Majority Leader Tarryl Clark, and Minority Leader David Senjem give their thoughts on the bill. Video from Senate Media Services
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MN GOP Has "Opposition To Everything" As Session Stalls

05/14/2010
  Senator Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller takes Senator Geoff Michel and Senate Republicans to task for having "opposition to everything". That oppositon combined with Governor Tim Pawlenty's vetoes and now his fishing trip has brought work at the legislative session to a halt. Work must be finished by Sunday.  
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U of M Stadium Booze Bill Gains In MN Senate

03/23/2010
A key Senate committee today advanced a bill allowing the University of Minnesota to only sell liquor at the football stadium's suites and premium seating. Currently,the U of M is required to sell liquor throughout the stadium if liquor is allowed. Video from Senate Media Services.
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MN Senate Will Still Meet At A Moment's Notice

05/16/2010
Senator Ortman and Senator Pogemiller spent some time discussing the spirit of Senator Ortman's amendment to rules regarding recess. Senator Ortman believes a 1-hour warning to convening time would be an appropriate decision and Sen. Pogemiler agreed with the spirit of the proposal, but did not think it would be practical. Senator Pogemiller pointed out that during the final days of session there is little certainty of when the House will pass things, so the effect would be calling the Senate back into session every hour.
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Jimmy Carter Not Needed To Reach MN Budget Compromise

03/28/2010
After a long day of negotiations with the Governor's office, House and Senate members agreed to a compromise to cut Minnesota's budget. At an unusual Saturday meeting of the House-Senate Budget Conference Committee, Senator Richard Cohen outlines the basic agreement. Senator Cohen also notes that the budget dispute between Representative Phyllis Kahn and Senator Don Betzhold had been resolved and then jokes that former President Jimmy Carter was ready to come in and negotiate an agreement in case he was needed in hopes of winning another Nobel Peace Prize.
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Sen. Mee Moua Surprise Retirement Announcement

05/17/2010
Minnesota Senator Mee Moua surprises her colleagues as she announces she will not seek another term in the Senate. News Release from Senator Mee Moua followed by a list of Senators retiring at the end of this session: My life has afforded me the opportunity to see the best of what Minnesota has to offer. Serving in the Minnesota Senate has given me the opportunity to have experiences and break down barriers that I never could have imagined.   Over the last nine years I have been blessed to be surrounded by an extraordinary group of staff, supporters and colleagues - all of whom gave me the strength and inspiration to keep fighting for Minnesota's future.   I will always treasure their partnership and I am forever grateful to my supporters for allowing me to stand on their shoulders as I have realized the greatest honor of my life - serving the people of Saint Paul's East Side and the state of Minnesota.   Above all - I am humbled by the sacrifices my family has made in support of my commitment to public service, sacrifices that were amplified by the recent loss of my mother-in-law. Their love, support, and sacrifices made these ten years possible.   I want the next decade to be about my family and my children's future. The time has come to start a new chapter in my life - one that puts my family first. It is with this new focus that I am announcing that I will not seek reelection to the Senate. Senators Retiring At End Of Session Sen. Tarryl Clark, DFL-St. Cloud, Assistant Majority Leader   Sen. Steve Dille, R-Dassel, Ranking minority member of the Agriculture and Veterans Committee   Sen. Dennis Frederickson, R-New Ulm, Senate President Pro Tem   Sen. Debbie Johnson, R-Ham Lake   Sen. Mee Moua, DFL-St. Paul, Judiciary Chair   Sen. Steve Murphy, DFL-Red Wing, Transportation Committee Chair   Sen. Pat Pariseau, R-Farmington, Ranking minority member of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee   Sen. Jim Vickerman, DFL-Tracy, Agriculture and Veterans Committee Chair
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