Political Notebook

Walz highlighted for donating part of salary

ABC News has a story today that highlights 1st District Rep. Tim Walz for donating part of his congressional salary towards paying down the national debt. According to the story, Walz is one of a handful of congressmen who have chosen to freeze their salaries and donate the rest towards the $1.3 trillion national deficit.

Here's an excerpt:

"Walz chose to keep his salary the same as his predecessor's, Republican incumbent Gil Gutknecht, whom he defeated in 2006. Walz donated approximately $6,588 to the deficit between January and September 2010, according to the House Statement of Disbursement a quarterly public report containing all official receipts and expenditures for members of the House of Representatives.

Reps. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., and Frank Lobiondo, R-N.Y., also disclosed that they'd donated their congressional pay increases to the debt."

Of course, these donations are just a drop in the bucket when it comes to solving the deficit. The article states that every American's share of the debt is nearly $45,0000. Asked about why does it, Walz responded he discloses his donations in order to be transparent.

"I don't want to sound self righteous on this," Walz said. "I just want to set an example. I'm proud of what I'm doing, but I don't want to be seen as the 'look at me, look at what I'm doing.' The theme for me is the transparency and the openness and doing my part."

 

Pawlenty's 'veto pen' to be part of Minnesota history

With a week left on the job, Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty officially retired his oversized "veto pen" giving it to the Minnesota Historical Society. Pawlenty also turned over other documents and artifacts from his eight years in office including the actual veto stamps he used.

Pawlenty was not shy about using his veto pen. He issued a grand total of 299 complete bill and line-item vetoes. In 2008, he set a record for the most bill vetoes issue in one year by a Minnesota governor. A press release notes Pawlenty vetoed a grand total of $7.5 billion in proposed tax increases.

 

Dayton opts for jeans — not tuxedo — at inaugural ball

DFL Gov.-elect Mark Dayton plans to keep the dress code casual at a People's Inaugural Ball planned for Saturday, Jan. 8. The official dress code according to Dayton "is blue jeans to black tie" with Dayton promising to wear jeans. The ball is open to the general public. The event runs from 6:30 p.m. to Midnight at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Tickets cost $30 ($15 for students and low-income individuals; further price reduction can be requested) to cover the cost of the inaugural celebrations. Tickets can be purchased at the door or at online.

Dayton will officially be sworn in as governor at noon on Jan. 3, 2011 at St. Paul's Landmark Center. Dayton and Lt. Gov-elect Yvonne Prettner Solon will start the day distributing breakfast to students at Wellstone Elementary in St. Paul. After the inaugural ceremony there will be an open house from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the State Capitol with activities for children and exhibits by the Minnesota Historical Society.

A look at the new House committee assignments

The Minnesota House recently released its list of committee assignments for its members. A couple of area Republicans secured vice chairmanship positions. Two newly elected lawmakers were named vice chairs — Rep.-elect Mike Benson of Rochester and Rep.-elect Rich Murray of Albert Lea. Benson will be vice chair of State Government Finance and Murray will be vice chair of Jobs and Economic Development. Also getting a vice chair position is Rep. Steve Drazkowski of Wabasha on the Civil Law Committee and Rep. Tim Kelly on Education Finance.

Here is a list of all the committee assignments for southeast Minnesota lawmakers.

Rep.-elect Mike Benson, R-Rochester: State Government Finance (VC), Health and Human Services Reform, Transportation Policy and Finance and Higher Education.

Rep. Greg Davids, R-Preston: Ways and Means, Taxes (C) and Veterans Division

Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Wabasha: Environment, Energy and Natural Resources, Capital Investment, Civil Law (CV) and Taxes.

Rep. Tina Liebling, DFL-Rochester: Health and Human Services Reform (DFL lead), Health and Human Services Finance and Judiciary.

Rep. Tim Kelly, R-Red Wing: Education Finance (VC), Rules and Legislative Administration, Public Safety and Crime Prevention and Ethics.

Rep.-elect Rich Murray, R-Albert Lea: Jobs and Economic Development, Government Operations and Elections (VC), State Government Finance and Transportation Policy and Finance.

Rep. Kim Norton, DFL-Rochester: Health and Human Services Reform, Higher Education, Rules and Legislative Administration and Higher Education.

Rep. Gene Pelowski, DFL-Winona: Ways and Means, Rules and Legislative Administration (DFL lead) and Higher Education.

Rep. Jeanne Poppe, DFL-Austin: Agriculture, Rural Development Policy and Finance, Redistricting and Higher Education

Rep.-elect Duane Quam, R-Byron: Education Finance, Environment, Energy and Natural Resources, Health and Human Services REform and Government Operations and Finance.

 

No Rochester lawmakers on Senate HHS Committee

No senators from Rochester or southeast Minnesota will serve on the Senate's Health and Human Services Committee in the coming year. That's pretty striking given that Rochester is home to Mayo Clinic and health policy decisions made at the Capitol can have a big impact on the clinic.

DFL Sen. Ann Lynch of Rochester, who was defeated by Republican Carla Nelson, previously served as vice chair of the Health and Human Services Budget Division Commitee and on the Health, Housing and Family Security Committee. Her predecessor Sen. Sheila Kiscaden, DFL-Rochester, served on the Health and Family Security committee along with some other health-related committees.

It should be noted that the new Republican-led Senate did drastically reduce the number of committees so there is only one left that deals with health.

Three newly-elected Republican senators from the area have scored vice chairmanships.

Sen.-elect Nelson of Rochester has been named vice chair of the Senate Education Committee. That makes sense given her background in education. She earned a bachelor's degree in education with an emphasis in special education from Drake University. She also worked as an elementary special education teacher.

Sen.-elect Jeremy Miller of Winona will serve as vice chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee. Winona is home of course to Winona State University and Saint Mary's University.

Sen.-elect John Howe of Red Wing will be vice chair of the Senate Transportation Committee.His predecessor DFL Sen. Steve Murphy was the longtime chair of this committee.

One important thing to note. There are no lawmakers from Rochester or southeast Minnesota appointed to the Health and Human Services Committee. That's notable considering that Rochester is home to the Mayo Clinic and health policy decisions at the state can have a big impact on the clinic.

Below is a roundup of all the committee assignments for southeast Minnesota senators.

Howe: Energy, Utilities and Telecom, Jobs and Economic Growth and the Transportation (VC)

Miller: Capital Investment, Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, Higher Education (VC) Jobs and Economic Development

Nelson: Capital Investment, Education (VC), Local Government and Elections

Sen. Dave Senjem, R-Rochester: Capital Investment (C), Taxes, Rules, Higher Education and Transportation

Sen. Dan Sparks, DFL-Austin: Agriculture, Commerce and Consumer Protection, Energy, Utilities and Telecom

 

 

 

New Census numbers mean Minnesota avoids the 'really ugly battle'

Good news for Minnesota in today's 2010 Census announcement. The North Star state will keep all eight of its congressional seats. Why does it matter? It means billions of extra dollars flowing into the state over the next decade, according to Hamline University professor David Schultz.

In addition to more money, keeping the seats spares the state from what could have been a particularly nasty round of redistricting.

"By keeping the seat we avoid the really ugly battle," Schultz said.

Still, that doesn't mean it will be easy. The Republican-controlled House and Senate legislature will draft their own redistricting plan. The temptation will be to redraw the lines to benefit Republicans. That could include trying to put Minneapolis and St. Paul into one congressional district. They could also reconfigure the 1st Congressional District lines — perhaps putting more of GOP 2nd District Rep. John Kline's area into DFL Rep. Tim Walz's district. But with Democrat Mark Dayton in the governor's office, odds are he will not agree with the work of Republican lawmakers. That would send the issue to the courts. The new map must be done by Feb. 12, 2012.

For more detailed numbers from the 2010 census, go here.

Liebling, Pelowski to serve as DFL committee leads

Two Democrats from southeast Minnesota have been picked to serve as the lead Democrats on a couple of key House Committees. Rep. Tina Liebling of Rochester will be the DFL lead member of the Health and Human Services Reform Committee. The chair of that committee will be Republican Rep. Steve Gottwalt of St. Cloud. I would venture to guess there will be some pretty feisty committee discussions on this topic given the major philosophical differences between Liebling and Gottwalt.

Rep. Gene Pelowski of Winona will be the lead Democrat on the Rules Committee and Legislative Administration Committee. He previously served as chair of the State and Local Government Operations Reform committee tasked with dealing with election reform proposals. First elected in 1986, Pelowski is one of the most senior members of the House DFL caucus and hence his appointment to the powerful Rules Committee. The Republican chair of that committee will be incoming House Majority Leader Matt Dean of Dellwood.

 

 

Kline and Walz vote for tax deal

Looks like taxpayers will be getting an extra gift in their Christmas stocking with the passage of a bipartisan tax deal in the U. S. House. The bill now heads to President Obama for his signature.

Both Republican 2nd District Rep. John Kline and 1st District DFL Rep. Tim Walz voted for the deal worked out between the White House and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell. But neither Kline nor Walz was thrilled with everything in the bill.

Here's the statement Kline released after voting for the measure.

“The legislation is far from perfect, but I am pleased the President is heeding the call of Republicans and the American people to ensure no one faces a tax increase next year. Without immediate action from Congress, tax rates for virtually all Americans who pay income taxes would rise Jan. 1, 2011. Americans deserved to know what their tax burden would be months ago, and it is disappointing that Congressional Democrats waited until the 11th hour to join us in stopping the largest tax increase in history from hitting every American taxpayer. I look forward to working in the 112th Congress as a member of the majority party where we will take further action to provide certainty that enables Minnesota families to plan and businesses to put Americans back to work.”

Here's Walz's take on the bill.

"I am disappointed with measures in this compromise that add to the debt and do not help grow our economy, such as tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires. However, while I am unhappy with several items included in this compromise, I recognize that compromise means giving some things up in return for important things you want. I cannot in good conscience vote against tax relief for the middle class, unemployment benefits, and tax incentives for renewable energy initiatives that could help create jobs in Minnesota. Minnesota families will spend those dollars at the local grocery store or putting gas in their car, putting dollars right back into our communities. That is why I decided to support this legislation."

Three member of Minnesota's congressional delegation voted against the bill — Republican Michele Bachmann and Democrats Keith Ellison and Betty McCollum. For a breakdown of what is in the bill, go here.

 

Mayo Clinic hires new lobbyist

Mayo Clinic has hired Erin Sexton as its new director of state government affairs. Sexton most recently served as senior manager of state government relations for Medtronic. She has also worked for the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and the Minnesota Medical Association. Sexton's first day will be Jan. 10.

She will be replacing longtime Mayo Clinic lobbyist Frank Iossi who is retiring at the end of the year. Iossi has represented the clinic at the Capitol since 1979.

(H/T to MPR's Tom Scheck)

It's official — Dayton's election certificate signed

This morning Secretary of State Mark Ritchie signed DFL Gov.-elect Mary Dayton's election certificate. State law requires waiting seven days after the State Canvassing Board declares the general election results before the certificate can be signed. No election lawsuits were filed during that time so the signing went ahead as scheduled.

Click here to Download Election certificate