Political Notebook

Senate hearing on Senjem's racino bill cancelled

Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem said today he decided against going ahead with a planned hearing in the Senate Education Committee on his racino bill, which would use the gambling money to help repay money owed to K-12 schools.

"We weren't ready. I wasn't sure about the votes," Senjem said.

The Rochester Republican is sponsoring four racino-related bills. The would allow video slot machines at the state's two horseracing tracks — Canterbury Park and Running Aces Harnass Park. Senjem's bills vary on how the money raised from racinos would be used. The bill scheduled to be discussed at today's hearing would have required the bulk of the funding go towards repaying the $2.2 billion borrowed from K-12 schools to help with the state's budget woes. Estimates suggest allowing racinos would generate more than $130 million per year for the state.

But Senjem's racino proposals faces fierce opposition from Minnesota Indian Tribes that have their own casinos. That includes Prairie Island Indian Community, which owns and operates Treasure Island Resort and Casino near Red Wing. They argue that if video slot machines are added to horseracing tracks it will hurt business at tribal casinos and lead to job losses in greater Minnesota. Also opposing the bill are lawmakers concerned about the social costs associated with expanding gambling in the state.

There is still the potential that racinos could end up being part of the proposal to fund a new Minnesota Vikings stadium. But DFL Gov. Mark Dayton has raised concerns that trying to move ahead with racinos could lead to a lengthy legal fight that would delay the state getting the money. He has said of all the gambling proposals that electronics pull tabs appear to have the most support in the legisalture.

Bill to raise Rochester's lodging tax introduced

Byron Republican Rep. Duane Quam has introduced a bill aimed at changing how the city of Rochester would pay for its share of the $77 million Mayo Civic Center expansion. The bill gives the city the authorization to raise its lodging tax by 3 percent. It also gets rid of an authorization given to the city in 2009 by the legislature allowing them to raise the city's food and beverage tax by 1 percent.

Initially, city officials wanted to pay for its share of the civic center project by raising the city's lodging tax by 1 percent and the food and beverage tax by 1 percent. But officials changed their mind late last year after concerns were raised about the impact of the food and beverage tax on local residents. Instead, the city council decided to raise the lodging tax by 3 percent with the idea that tax is generally paid by people who live outside of the community.

The city is seeking $35 million in bonding money from the state. DFL Gov. Mark Dayton's $775 million bonding proposal includes the civic center project. Republican legislative leaders have said they expect to pass a much smaller bonding bill, and it remains to be seen whether the Rochester project will be included.

This bill as bipartisan support from local lawmakers. Bill co-sponsors are Rep. Mike Benson, R-Rochester, Rep. Tina Liebling, DFL-Rochester, Rep. Kim Norton, DFL-Rochester and Rep. Greg Davids, R-Preston. A Senate version of the bill has not yet been introduced.

Mayor Ardell Brede helped organize the meeting at the urging of local lawmakers who support the civic center project. The first meeting will be at noon on Feb. 28, and the second will be at 6 p.m. on March 6. Both will be at Mayo Civic Center.

Quam blasts new political boundaries in Dodge County

Republican Rep. Duane Quam said the special redistricting panel did a poor job when it came to redrawing the boundaries in Dodge County. The county of just over 20,000 people to the west of Rochester has spent the past decade being represented by one senator and one representative. But the redistricting maps released yesterday show the county being carved up among five representatives and four senators.

"That doesn't serve them well," Quam said. "I think it's poor drawing. There is some identity to a county."

Of the House members whose districts will include Dodge County, three are Republicans and two are Democrats. Among senators, three are Republicans and one is a Democrat. So, here is a breakdown of how Dodge County's cities are divided up among incumbents.

— Hayfield and Blooming Prairie will be part of House District 27A with incumbent Rep. Rich Murray, R-Albert Lea. The Senate incumbent is Sen. Dan Sparks, DFL-Austin.

— Claremont, Ashland Township and Ripley Township will be part of House District 24B with incumbent Rep. Patti Fritz, DFL-Faribault. The Senate incumbent is Sen. Mike Parry, R-Waseca (who, incidentally, is running for the 1st Congressional District seat).

— West Concord will be within House District 21B with incumbent Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa. The Senate incumbent is Sen. John Howe, R-Red Wing.

— Kasson, Mantorville and Dodge Center would be in House District 25A with incumbent Rep. Duane Quam, R-Byron. The Senate incumbent is Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem, R-Rochester.

— Vernon Township will be part of House District 27 B with incumbent Rep. Jeanne Poppe, DFL-Austin. The Senate incumbent is Sen. Dan Sparks, DFL-Austin.

So could these new maps encourage a bunch of politicos in Dodge County to run for office? We'll have to wait and see. For now the only candidate to announce running for the legislature from the county — Kasson-Mantorville Elementary School Teacher John Vossen — will still be taking on Quam.

 

Grand Meadow, Wanamingo looking to get a piece of Roch sales tax

Two more area cities would be eligible for Rochester sales tax dollars as part of a bill introduced this week.

House Taxes Committee Chairman Greg Davids is sponsoring a bill aimed at adding the cities of Wanamingo and Grand Meadow to the list of 17 area cities eligible to apply for economic development grants that would be funded by an extension of Rochester's local option sales tax. Last year, Davids came up with the idea of requiring the city to dole out $5 million in economic development grants to area cities as part of the sales tax extension. The Preston Republican said he realize that the cities of Wanamingo and Grand Meadow had inadvertently been left off the list.

Other cities that would be eligible for the economic development funds are: Byron, Chatfield, Dodge Center, Dover, Elgin, Eyota, Kasson, Mantorville, Oronoco, Pine Island, Plainview, St. Charles, Stewartville, Zumbrota, Spring Valley, West Concord and Hayfield.

Rochester Assistant City Adminstrator Gary Neumann said the city does not have a position on the bill. He said officials are still discussing how they would divvy up those economic development dollars if the sales tax renewal passes. This is the first time a city has been asked to share its sales tax revenue with area cities.

The $139.5 million local option sales tax proposal will be put before Rochester voters in November.

Parry and Quist to court local Tea Party voters

1st District Republican candidates Mike Parry and Allen Quist are both expected to attend a candidate's forum on Thursday night sponsored by the Rochester Area Tea Party Patriots.

Also scheduled to attend are two GOP candidates vying for the chance to run against DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar — Joe Arwood and Anthony Hernandez. A third candidate, Dan Severson, is unable to attend.

The "Meet the Candidates" event will be at 7 p.m. in the meeting room at Godfathers Pizza, 1611 16th Street N.W. in Rochester. Each candidate will be given a few minutes to introduce themselves, discuss their qualifications for office and outline their top political priorities.

Local banker to run for Minnesota House seat

After years of being active in DFL politics behind the scenes, Pat Stallman announced he will run for the Minnesota House.

According to current legislative district boundaries, that would pit Stallman against first-term Republican Rep. Mike Benson. But the courts will not release the new redistricting maps until Feb. 21.

Stallman, 60, of Rochester, works as a business banker at Olmsted National Bank. With plans to retire March 31, Stallman said he decided it was the right time to run for office.

"I have spent most of my time making a living and raising a family, and now that I have an opportunity to retire and devote full time to a political position and an office, it's time to do it," he said.

Stallman said he wants to run because he believes lawmakers have unfairly increased the tax burden on property owners by getting rid of the Market Value Homestead Credit program. He also opposes borrowing money from K-12 schools to help balance the budget.

"That's no way to run a government, that's no way to run a school district and it's no way to run a business," he said.

Stallman said he supports DFL Gov. Mark Dayton's proposal to raise income taxes on wealthier Minnesotans to help address the state's long-term budget problems.

Stallman is Olmsted County DFL treasurer. He has a degree in agricultural economics and has spent 40 years working in the financial services sector.

Walz's STOCK Act passes House with broad bipartisan support

1st District DFL Rep. Tim Walz's bill to ban insider trading passed the House today with overwhelming support. The Stop Trading on Congressional Knoweledge (STOCK) Act passed 417 to 2. "I believe this bill represents a good first step towards restoring faith in government and the work of democracy. This has always been about making sure public officials play by the same rules as everyone else. At a time when Americans are understandably frustrated, this legislation is long overdue." Walz said in a written statement. "Government reform is a journey, not a destination, and I will continue to fight to make government more transparent and accountable." A news release from the congressman's office notes that Walz won kudos on the House floor from Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor for his work on the bill. It quotes Cantor as saying, "I particularly want to recognize his willingness to reach across the aisle and keep the lines of communications open as we work to make clear that elected officials abide by the same rules as the American people." For several years, Walz struggled to win support for the bill. That all changed last year when 60 Minutes aired a report questioning well-timed stock trades by lawmakers and their staffers who had access to nonpublic information.

Benson calls on governor to reverse decision to release sex offender

Rochester GOP Rep. Mike Benson is calling on Gov. Mark Dayton to reverse a decision that would allow the state's first civilly-committed sex offender to be released from the Minnesota Sex Offender Program.

In an email newsletter, Benson said he is angry state Human Services Commission Lucinda Jesson did not object to the release of Clarence Opheim. A three-judge panel ruled last week that the 64-year-old sex offender should be released to a halfway house after 19 years in the state program. He was convicted of criminal sexual assault of an 11-year-old boy in the 1980s and has admitted to a total of 29 victims.

Benson called Jesson's decision to sign-off on Opheim's release "simply outrageous." In the email, he states, "Having preyed on 30 victims, it’s clear Mr. Opheim can be classified as the worst of the worst, so I am extremely interested in learning why Governor Dayton’s commissioner feels it’s time for him to now live in a halfway house as opposed to being isolated from society."

House GOP leaders have also blasted the decision and plan to hold a legislative hearing on the issue Feb. 15 before the Health and Human Services Reform Committee, which Benson serves on. Click here to read Download GOP House leaders' letter

Jesson had originally opposed Opheim's release but changed her position after an independent, court-appointed examiner determined that Opheim deserved to be released because he had completed the states treatment program. He will be under 24-hour hour surveillance and required to wear an ankle-bracelet monitor. Gov. Mark Dayton defended Jesson's decision in a letter to GOP House leaders saying she reviewed it with him and they determined it was the right thing to do. He warns that since no civilly-committed sex offenders have ever been released from the program, it could be successfully challenged in court and lead to serious public safety concerns. Click here to Download Gov. Mark Dayton's letter

But Benson argues Opheim poses too great a risk to the community to be released from the state's ex offender program.

"I have no idea why sending a sexual predator to live in a densely populated area would be in the best interests of Minnesotans. With his extensive record of sex offenses, it’s clear this is a person that cannot and should not be trusted.

Governor Dayton needs to do the right thing and reverse this decision. This man has already wrecked the lives of 30 children; do we really want to put another child at risk?"

Bly to run for Minnesota House

Rochester School Board member Breanna Bly chose the Republican caucuses to make her big announcement — she will run for the Minnesota House seat held by DFL Rep. Tina Liebling.

In an interview, Bly said she had gotten several calls from people asking her to consider running for the seat. She said she had already decided not to run for re-election to the school board. After much consideration, Bly decided it was the right time to run. She said her time on the school board highlights what makes her a strong candidate.

"I can make tough decisions and tough decisions are going to continue to need to be made at the state level," she said.

It is still unknown what the final legislative boundaries will be for the 2012 election. The courts are expected to release the final redistricting maps later this month. Liebling has said that if redistricting results in a Senate district that is mostly contained within the city of Rochester and she lives within the district, she will run for the seat. That would potentially pit Liebling against GOP Sen. Carla Nelson. Another Democrat, Rochester attorney Ken Moen, has already announced he is running for the Senate seat.

Will Romney repeat in Olmsted County and Minnesota?

Four years ago, Mitt Romney dominated in the Minnesota caucuses snagging nearly 42 percent of the vote. He trounced eventual GOP presidential nominee John McCain's 22 percent.

The former Massachusetts governor also won big in Olmsted County getting 36 percent of the vote. McCain took second place with 24 percent, followed by Mike Huckabee with 23 percent and Ron Paul with 17 percent.

The big question is whether Romney can pull off another victory this time around. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum has a slight advantage over Romney, according to Public Policy Polling. That poll puts Santorum at 33 percent with Romney at 24 percent. The poll predicts former U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich will take the third place spot with 21 percent of the vote and Paul will get 13 percent.

Both Santorum and Paul made a point of visiting Rochester in advance of the caucuses to build support. Paul held a town hall meeting that drew a crowd of 700 people to Mayo High School. Santorum did a fundraising breakfast at the Canadian Honker and later gave a health policy speech at the Kahler Grand Hotel.

One interesting note from 2008 — every county in southeast Minnesota went for Romney except for Fillmore and Mower counties. Voters in those two counties went with Huckabee.