Federal stimulus update, Asset preservation heard, Students rally at Capitol, Election bill advances

Legislative Update
February 20, 2009

Impact of federal stimulus bill on Minnesota

Much of the legislative committee discussion this week was devoted to the federal stimulus bill and understanding its impact on Minnesota. Commissioner Tom Hanson of Minnesota Management and Budget said Minnesota will be receiving approximately $4 billion from the federal stimulus package, with potential estimates totaling $9 billion when tax impact is included. Hanson informed lawmakers that it will be a fair, communicative process in spending the federal dollars. Many details are still unknown, but his office is meeting with the Minnesota federal delegation to wade through the details, and a core group of agency heads also has been formed. Given what is known about the federal stimulus bill’s impact on Minnesota, as well as the updated economic forecast tentatively scheduled to be released March 3 with an expected worsening of the state budget deficit, lawmakers are interested in learning what Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s supplemental budget proposal will look like.

The Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy chair, Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, said she is interested in hearing from agencies in the coming weeks about "shovel-ready" projects. Kelliher said she would like the executive branch and legislative branch to work together as much as possible to maximize the federal dollars, and she emphasized the importance of transparency in allocating the stimulus money and strict audit control. In regard to timing, Kelliher said, "We are going to have to sprint to the end to make a May 18 adjournment date."

Implementation of the federal stimulus package, known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or ARRA, will be carried out with unprecedented transparency, oversight and accountability. All announcements of contract and grant competitions and awards and formula grant allocations will be posted on a special Web site created by the White House. You may find it here. Also, the U.S. Department of Education has created a specific ARRA Web page. Currently, the site offers more information including a more detailed fact sheet and links to budget information, including state-by-state allocations for formula-based programs and a brief video statement by Education Secretary Arne Duncan. Additional information on the act will be posted to the site as it becomes available.

Specifically related to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, CareerOneStop, housed within the system, is referenced in the federal stimulus bill, which states that entities receiving federal money must post available job opportunities on the site. The CareerOneStop site, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, is a tool to help job seekers, students, businesses and career professionals locate employment. You can access this site at www.careeronestop.org/.

Hundreds attend town hall meetings

Minnesotans want their voices heard. People across the state are showing up by the hundreds at their local meetings to tell lawmakers how to balance the state's budget. The first weeklong series of the meetings began Thursday evening and lawmakers visited with community members on how the state budget affects them.

In Mankato, hundreds of people showed up at the Intergovernmental Center to comment. Testimony was scheduled for two hours, but because so many people wanted to speak, the meeting went longer. Ryan Anderson, Minnesota State University, Mankato student body president, told lawmakers that cuts to higher education hurt. “Minnesota’s quality of life depends on the quality of its workforce,” Anderson said.

At the St. Cloud City Hall, about 250 people shared their ideas. Abdi Rashid Abdi, community member and student at St. Cloud Technical College, told lawmakers to raise taxes: “Cutting the budget and services is not the best way to solve the problem. I’m concerned about education, about health care, about the judiciary. This is touching everything and everybody.”

Nearly 400 people attended the Rochester event. Dozens spoke and asked lawmakers to minimize cuts but not raise taxes. The Willmar event had “standing-room only” with 50 community members talking for 3.5 hours.

To find out more about upcoming hearings or to register to speak, visit here.

Asset preservation needs heard in Senate

The Senate Capital Investment Committee met for the first time this week to discuss asset preservation projects throughout the state. Al Johnson, associate vice chancellor for facilities with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, presented the system's repair and replacement project needs to committee members. Johnson detailed the projects and told committee members that many of the projects will be able to start very quickly. He said the object of the asset preservation list this year is fast execution throughout the state.

A bill has been introduced (SF781/HF855) by the Capital Investment chairs, Sen. Keith Langseth, DFL-Glyndon, and Rep. Alice Hausman, DFL-St. Paul, appropriating $35 million in bond proceed funds for repair and replacement projects at the University of Minnesota and $50 million for repairs and replacement projects to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is scheduled to testify on bonding Tuesday, Feb. 24, to the House Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division.

Students advocate protecting public higher education from cuts

Imagine the state with no teachers, law enforcement officials or nurses. This was the message that nearly 200 students delivered to lawmakers Wednesday at the Capitol. Students recognize that the state is in a tough economic time and cuts have to be made. “We simply ask that higher education be a priority,” said Jacob Littler, president of the Minnesota State College Student Association.

“There is no question that we are gong to be part of that solution,” said Chris Frederick, Minnesota State University Student Association chairman and a student at Minnesota State University, Mankato. “We are just looking to make sure it is not all on our backs this time.”

The Capitol Rally was the final event in a series of press conferences held by students throughout the state on university campuses. For press coverage of the events, please go here.

Election bill advances

The Senate State and Local Government Operations and Oversight Subcommittee on Elections met this week to consider three election bills. Members advanced all three bills to the full committee. Included was SF661, authored by Sen. Sandra Pappas, DFL-St. Paul. The bill expands requirements for postsecondary institutions to report resident student information to the secretary of state for voter registration purposes. The bill also requires enhanced access to voter registration records and records of returned absentee ballots on the Internet. Sen. Pappas said the bill also authorizes the Secretary of State to provide a process for online registration for individuals with a Minnesota driver's license, identification card or learner's permit.

Becky Boe, co-president of the student senate at Bemidji State University, said in an increasingly digital world, students are accustomed to doing things online and the ability to register to vote online is a natural extension.

Lawmakers learn about smart investments in Minnesota's students

The Senate E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division heard a report this week about smart investments in Minnesota's students from Growth and Justice Minnesota. Angie Eilers, with Growth and Justice Minnesota, said the education goal for Minnesota is to increase by 50 percent the rate of students who finish postsecondary education by 2020. Eilers said that to do this, Minnesota needs to invest in goals for certain grade levels. She said all high-school students must be prepared for postsecondary education upon graduation and those qualified to enroll in postsecondary education should begin within three years of graduating from high school.

Eilers went on to say that of the students who go on to postsecondary education, 34 percent are spending at least one year on remediation. She said this is costing both the state and students unnecessary amounts of money, so the state needs to invest more in K-12 education so that remediation is not needed.

Eilers also spoke of the program “Admission Possible.” Through Admission Possible, volunteers mentor and tutor students throughout 10th and 11th grade who do not see themselves attending college to prepare and encourage the students to attend college. Eilers said Admission Possible students have a 99 percent acceptance rate to postsecondary institutions and an 80 percent graduation rate.


Here's What's Happening at the Capitol:

This schedule shows all meetings that we are aware of at the time of publication that MAY have an impact on the system. This schedule may change. Please watch the House and Senate schedules posted on the Legislature web site.

Monday, February 23

10:30 AM (televised live)
House Finance and Ways and Means Committees
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chairs: Rep. Lyndon Carlson, Rep. Loren Solberg
Agenda: Presentation and discussion of American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009

12:30 PM
Senate Committee on Business, Industry and Jobs
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. James P. Metzen
Agenda:
S.F. 400-Tomassoni: Mountain Iron economic development authority wind energy project limited liability company formation authorization.
S.F. 594-Higgins: Safe patient handling plans in clinical settings requirement.
S.F. 456-Sheran: Bioscience and business development public infrastructure grant program expansion.
S.F. 643-Sheran: Workforce Investment in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) program unemployment benefit eligibility.

12:30 PM
Senate State Government Budget Division
Room: 112 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Don Betzold
Agenda: Governor's recommendation for the Department of Administration

1:00 PM
House in Session

2:45 PM
House Tax Committee
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Ann Lenczewski
Agenda: Report to the Legislature of the Governor's 21st Century Tax Reform Commission

7:00-10:00 PM
House Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Representative Tom Rukavina
Agenda: Overview and budgets for small boards and organizations:
Mayo Medical School, Accountancy board, Architecture/Engineering board, Barber/Cosmetology board, Higher Ed Facilities Authority, IRRRB, Bureau of Mediation Services, Combative Sports Commission, Workers' Comp Court of Appeals

Tuesday, February 24

8:30 AM
Senate E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division
Room: 112 Capitol
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
Agenda: Governor's education bill

8:30 AM
K-12 Education Policy and Oversight
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Agenda: HF106 (Swails) P-20 education partnership established.
HF679 (Peterson, S.) School required to notify a parent when a student intimidates or bullies another student.
HF523 (Bigham) School background check requirements modified relating to disciplinary actions.

10:30 AM
House Bioscience and Workforce Development Policy and Oversight Division
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tim Mahoney
Agenda: Update from the Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics

1:00 PM
House Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Representative Tom Rukavina
Agenda: Higher Education Capital Project Presentation and Bills:
Al Johnson, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
Kathy O'Brien, University of Minnesota
HF191 (Anzelc) Rainy River Community College
HF283 (Brynaert) Southern MN women's hockey
HF859 (Rukavina) HEAPR projects
HFxxx (Rukavina) Higher education capital projects
HF 23 (Norton) Rochester community technical college steamline

1:00 PM
Senate Higher Education Budget and Policy Division
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Sandra L. Pappas
Agenda: University of Minnesota Oversight Review

Wednesday, February 25

8:30 AM
House K-12 Education Policy and Oversight
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Agenda: HF623 (Slocum) Charter school provisions modified, and charter school advisory council revived.
HF935 (Slocum) Charter school provisions modified.

A delete-everything amendment will be presented to combine these two bills. This hearing will focus on overview and discussion.

Thursday, February 26

8:30 AM
Senate E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division
Room: 112 Capitol
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
Agenda: Institute on Race & Poverty: Myron Orfield - Presentation on
Integration & the Achievement Gap

8:30 AM
House K-12 Education Policy and Oversight
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Carlos Mariani
Agenda: HF623 (Slocum) Charter school provisions modified, and charter school advisory council revived.
HF935 (Slocum) Charter school provisions modified.

Continuation of Wednesday's discussion, public testimony will be taken. Final action will be taken on the delete-everything amendment that combines the two bills.

12:30 PM
Joint Senate and House Higher Education Committees
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Sen. Sandra L. Pappas
Agenda: U of M Regent selection - interviews

Monday, March 2

7:00-10:00 PM
House Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Representative Tom Rukavina
Agenda: U of M Finance 101

Tuesday, March 3

12:30 PM
Joint Senate and House Higher Education Committees
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Sen. Sandra L. Pappas
Agenda: U of M Regent selection - voting

Wednesday, March 4

8:30 AM
Senate E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division
Room: 112 Capitol
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
Agenda: Testing and Assessments

6:00 PM
Joint Committee: House Finance and Ways and Means Committees
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chairs: Rep. Lyndon Carlson, Rep. Loren Solberg
Agenda: Presentation of the February Forecast

Thursday, March 5

8:30 AM
Senate Committee on Finance
Room: 123 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Richard J. Cohen
Agenda: February Forecast Briefing:
State Economist Tom Stinson
Commissioner Tom Hanson, Minnesota Management and Budget

8:30 AM
Senate E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division
Room: 112 Capitol
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
Agenda: Testing and Assessments