Political Notebook

Sen. Howe to meet with governor

So far, no meetings have been scheduled between GOP legislative leadership and DFL Gov. Mark Dayton to restart budget negotiations. But one area GOP lawmaker will be sitting down with the governor.

The governor invited Howe to have lunch with him on Thursday. Howe had asked if the governor might have a minute to talk with him before or after he signed one of his bills. To his surprise, the governor responded by extending the lunch offer.

Howe said he expects that a lot of the discussion will center on the budget impasse. The governor wants to raise $1.8 billion in taxes on the state's top 2 percent of income earners. The GOP budget does not include tax increases and relies instead on spending cuts. Howe has made clear he is not a fan of raising taxes or expanding gambling to help solve the state's project $5 billion budget shortfall. But he did say he is open to the idea of revamping the state's tax system by trying to move away from relying so heavily on property and income taxes and putting more attention on consumer-based taxes like the sales tax. He said it would make sense to keep exempting clothes, prescriptions and food from the sales tax, but perhaps that tax should be raised while others are reduced. He also expects there may be discussion about the constitutional amendment that would prohibit same-sex marriage.

 

Powers to challenge Kline — again

Burnsville resident Dan Powers announced he will once again challenge 2nd District GOP Rep. John Kline. The construction contractor made the announcement in an open letter to Kline posted yesterday on his Facebook page. He starts off the letter by writing, "I wanted to let you know that I do not think you understand what our congressional district or the country really need."

He cites four specific reasons he believes Kline does not represent the constituents of the 2nd Congressional District.

"Continuing this disregard for our district you have,

1) voted for a draconian budget proposed by Paul Ryan, that would end Medicare as we know it for those less than 55,

2) voted to continue a tax break for big oil without regards to the record profits these companies are earning,

3) voted to borrow 700 billion dollars and increase the deficit to extend tax cuts to the richest Americans while cutting(taking) money away from the poorest and

4) you voted to repeal health care while retaining your own knowing that the cost of repealing it would add to the federal deficit."

Powers ran against Kline in 2010. He won the DFL party nomination but lost in the primary to former state Rep. Shelley Madore. Kline easily won re-election defeating Madore with 63 percent of the vote.

The 2nd Congressional District has been a safe seat for Republicans in recent years. But there is one unknown for the 2012 election — how the congressional district lines will be redrawn as part of redistricting. A Republican legislative proposal calls for making the 2nd Congressional District more rural — including the absorption of Wabasha County. DFL Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed the redistricting plan so it appears likely the issue will be headed to the courts.

 

What does veto mean for Roch sales tax plan?

With DFL Gov. Mark Dayton and GOP legislative leaders still far apart on a budget deal, it remains uncertain what will happen with Rochester's local option sales tax proposal.

Dayton vetoed the tax bill — along with eight other GOP budget bills — earlier this week. That tax bill had language giving the city of Rochester the authorization to ask voters at the 2012 general election to approve a $139.5 million extension of its half-cent sales tax. That money would be used for a wide range of projects in the areas of economic development, transportation, higher education and community facilities. City officials are stuck in limbo waiting for a budget deal in hopes the tax bill passes with the city sales tax authorization.

So is there a risk the sales tax could expire before the election? Potentially. The tax is expected to expire late this year or early next year based on tax collections. But Assistant City Administrator Gary Neumann said at this point officials are very optimistic that lawmakers will get the sales tax authorization passed as part of a special session. If they do, there is language including in the authorization that would allow the city's sales tax to continue through the end of 2012 so that a vote can take place before it would expire.

Getting Rochester's sales tax plan through the legislature was not easy. The city of Rochester originally wanted authorization for $160 million. The Minnesota House version restricted the level to $101.5 million. A deal was worked out in conference committee restoring $38 million of the cuts made by the House.

 

 

Conservative groups launch effort to repeal Legacy Amendment

The Minnesota Voters Alliance, North Star Tea Party Patriots and the Northern Liberty Alliance have teamed up in an effort to repeal a constitutional amendment that raised the state's sales tax and dedicated the funds to the environment, outdoors, arts and cultural heritage.

The Legacy Amendment passed in 2008 with 56 percent of voters in support. The amendment raised the state's sales tax by three-eights of 1 percent.

Those backing the amendment repeal argue tax rates do not belong in the state's constitution. They also say that the amendment prevents these dollars from being used for more important government functions such as healthcare, education, infrastructure and law enforcement.

"This Amendment should be repealed because it violates principles of government, is a political slush fund, and unfairly targets our poorest citizens who need their money more than they need the elite uses to which the $250 million per year raised by the tax are put," Minnesota Voters Alliance President Andy Cilek is quoted as saying in a press release.

The Legacy Amendment opponents have launched a website where residents can sign a petition calling for the repeal.

House Republican Reps. Mark Buesgens and Tom Hackbarth have introduced a bill that proposes a constitutional amendment repealing the Legacy Amendment. It would need to pass the House and Senate before it could be put on the 2012 general election ballot.

It should be noted that the Rochester Tea Party Patriots are members of the North Star Tea Party Patriots.

 

Dayton vetoes voter ID bill

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton announced this afternoon he has vetoed a bill that would require voters to show photo identification in order to cast a ballot.

In his veto letter, he said the ID requirement would set up barriers to voting and lacked broad bipartisan support.

"The push to require photo identification in order to vote has been based on the premise that voter fraud is a significant problem in Minnesota. I do not believe that to be the case. In particular, the offense most often cited — felons voting illegally — will not be addressed by a photo identification requirement; felons often have a driver's license which has a photo but does not indicate their voting eligibility status," Dayton wrote.

He also says the bill would violate the Military Voter Empowerment Act, which requires absentee ballots be sent to military and overseas voters at least 45 days before each federal election. He said the measure would also impose a $23 million unfunded mandate on counties, cities, townships and boards."

Click here to Download Dayton's voter ID veto letter

Dayton also announced he is issuing an executive order creating a task force on election integrity. That group will be charged with studying and making recommendations on how to modernize the state's elections and prevent fraudulent and felon voting.

Legislative Republicans have been strong supporters of voter ID saying it is needed to prevent voting fraud and ensure the integrity of Minnesota's elections. Rochester GOP Rep. Mike Benson introduced his own photo ID bill and has said he believes his position on this issue is one of the reasons he defeated DFL Rep. Andy Welti, a voter ID opponent.

With the bill's veto, it's likely Republican lawmakers will move ahead with a proposed constitutional amendment to requiring voters to show photo ID. That would not need Dayton's approval and would be put before the voters in 2012.

Senjem offers Dayton advice on reaching a budget deal

In the final hours of the legislative session, Rochester GOP Sen. Dave Senjem sat down for a one-on-one meeting with DFL Gov. Mark Dayton. The topic? Dayton wanted to get Senjem's perspective on what it takes to cut a budget deal.

The former senate minority leader was part of four final budget deals. Senjem said he told the governor the key is for him and legislative leaders to sit down together in a room and start really negotiating.

"We're not going to get this thing done with 201 people. We're not going to get it done with press conferences. We need to start intense negotiations, prolonged negotiations involving legislative leaders and him," Senjem said.

He also told Dayton that as governor he needs to take the lead to make that happen.

When it comes to who is at fault for the session ending without a budget deal, Senjem said everyone is somewhat to blame. He said he backed the Republican strategy of passing out budget bills and leaving them open in hopes of negotiating with the governor. The idea was to avoid having the bills vetoed. In retrospect, he said "maybe I was a little idealistic."

He added, "The idea as good as it might have been just didn't work and so then what do we do? We throw a whole bunch of frankly bad bills at him — bills we knew needed to be negotiated with the governor," Senjem said.

He adds that Dayton also shares in the blame for not empowering his commissioners to work with legislative committee chairs on making changes to those budgets.

In the end, he said those serious negotiations between legislative leaders and the governor should probably have started at least two or three weeks ago. He said his hope is that the governor calls a special session as soon as possible so a deal can be struck to avoid a July 1 government shutdown.

"If he waits until June 27 (to call us back) and puts us against the July 1 wall, then it's politics," he said.

Dayton vetoes two abortion-related bills

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton announced today he was vetoing two abortion-related bills. The first bill, HF 201, would limit the use of of state funding in state-sponsored health programs for abortions. The second bill, HF936 would prohibit abortions at or after 20 weeks of pregnancy except in cases where it could pose a serious threat to the mother's health.

In his veto letter, Dayton said the funding restriction bill "would interfere with critical and difficult medical decisions." He said the law already requires that state funding only be used for abortions "in cases of rape or incest, for health or therapeutic reasons, and when a woman's life is in danger."

He said the language did not define "state-sponsored health programs" making it possible the restrictions could apply to state employees who pay premiums to state healthcare plans and to private healthcare programs regulated by the state.

In his veto letter regarded the 20 week abortion restriction bill, Dayton wrote "Our place is not between a woman and her doctor. Imposing civil penalties and making it a felony to deliver care that is in the best interest of the patient is unconscionable."

Click here to Download Dayton's abortion veto letters

One area GOP lawmaker, Rep. Mike Benson of Rochester, co-authored the abortion funding restriction bill. Local co-sponsors of the 20 week abortion restriction bill included Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa; Rep. Greg Davids, R-Preston; and Benson.

Dayton symbolically vetoes same-sex marriage ballot question

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton announced today he vetoed a bill that proposes a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in the state. Despite the veto, it will still be on the November 2012 ballot. That's because constitutional amendments only need do not need the governor's approval to go the voters. The Minnesota Legislature recently passed the measure, which asks voters to decide whether marriage should be defined as solely between a man and a woman.

In a letter sent to Republican leaders, Dayton said he was symbolically vetoing the measure calling it "divisive and destructive." He writes: "I urge Minnesotans to reject this mean-spirited, divisive, un-Minnesotan and un-American amendment."

In his letter, Dayton says this amendment violates the principle of separation of church and state. He said it also goes against the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which states in part "No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States."

Dayton writes, "All American citizens are entitled to equal rights and protections under the law. That would clearly include the right of a citizen to marry legally the person he or she loves.

Click here to Download Dayton's veto letter

Lawmakers, governor fail to reach a budget deal

Lawmakers and DFL Gov. Mark Dayton are headed into overtime to try and solve the state's projected $5 billion budget deficit.

The Republican-led legislature and Dayton were unable to reach a budget agreement by the midnight Monday deadline. Unlike in past years where lawmakers and governor worked frantically up until the deadline to reach a deal, this year's end of session fizzled early with Republicans and the governor appearing resigned to a special session.

Republicans put the blame on Dayton saying he failed to get involved and negotiate despite lawmakers getting their budget proposals done in record time. Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, said Republicans made clear from the start they would not support any tax increases to balance the budget.

"We've got 200,000 Minnesotans that are unemployed right now. To put forward more job-killing tax increases will not only squelch their hope for employment but possibly employment for other people — that is ridiculous to me," Drazkowski said.

Democrats countered that Republicans have been unwilling to compromise with the governor, insisting the budget be capped at $34 billion and include no additional revenue.

"The mass of their caucus are people who came here to not compromise. And I do think that is the problem," said Rep. Tina Liebling, DFL-Rochester. "They are still saying, 'Not a penny more.' How can you compromise with that?"

It will be up to Dayton to decide when to call lawmakers into a special session. He supports raising $1.8 billion in income tax increases on the state's top earners and cutting $1.8 billion to solve the gap. The rest of the savings would come from holding off repaying school districts, which had payment delayed as part of last year's budget deal. He has said he is willing to consider other types of revenue increases besides taxes including gambling.

In a statement, the governor said he has already compromised by scaling back his original proposal to raise $3.3 billion in taxes.

"Tomorrow, I’ll still be here, waiting for the legislature to take even one step toward the middle, and to answer the calls for balance and compromise we’re hearing from every corner of Minnesota," Dayton said in the statement.

Republicans argue they have already compromised by agreeing to increase spending by $2 billion compared to the last two-year budget cycle. Sen. Carla Nelson, R-Rochester, said there is concern that raising taxes could put in jeopardy the state's slow economic recovery.

"The worst thing we could do is kill the goose that lays the golden egg. We've got to be really careful we don't damage our economic recovery, and that is going to be the balancing act," she said.

Pawlenty announces via YouTube he's running for president

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty made it official Sunday in a YouTube video — he is running for president.

HIs campaign released the video a day before the Republican is expected to make the big announcement during a town hall meeting in Iowa. At the end of the video, Pawlenty looks into the camera and says, “Tomorrow, my first campaign stop will be in Iowa, and that is where I am going to begin a campaign that tells the American people the truth. I am Tim Pawlenty, and I am running for president of the United States.”

To see the video, go here.

Meanwhile, it appears another Minnesotan may soon join him in the race. Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is mulling a potential presidential bid and has planed a two-day visit to Iowa starting on Thursday.