Political Notebook

Nelson goes after 'little cigars,' backs cigarette tax hike

A Rochester lawmaker is helping lead the charge at the Capitol to raise taxes on cigarettes and go after so-called “little cigars.”

Assistant Senate Minority Leader Carla Nelson, R-Rochester, introduced two tobacco-related bills on Monday. One would boost taxes on cigarettes by $1.29 a pack so they are taxed at the same rate as they are in Wisconsin. The money raised by the tax hike would be used to reduce the statewide business property tax. The other bill seeks to get rid of a tax loophole that would require little cigars to be taxed as cigarettes. These products, which come in candy and fruit flavors, are taxed at a much lower rate than cigarettes because they have some tobacco in their wrapping paper. As a result, a pack of little cigars costs $1.50 versus more than $5.00 for a pack of cigarettes.

“Our bill simply says this is a cigarette and the research shows that if someone does not pick up smoking before the age of 20, they are much less likely to be addicted for life,” she said.

Both bills have bipartisan support. Nelson introduced them last year but they failed to pass the GOP-led Legislature. Supporters are optimistic that these bills have a chance of passing this year noting that DFL Gov. Mark Dayton's budget calls for a 94-cent increase on a pack of cigarette tax.

Dayton meeting with lawmakers today about silica sand

Southeast Minnesota lawmakers are scheduled to meet with DFL Gov. Mark Dayton today to talk about silica sand mining.

Legislators in Senate District 21 and Senate District 28 were invited to attend. The governor is expected to discuss his position on the issue. Mining opponents have been pushing hard for a statewide Environmental Impact Statement to be done on silica sand mining and a moratorium be put in place. Red Wing Republican Rep. Tim Kelly has expressed support for such a study and possibly a temporary moratorium. Others, such as Mazeppa GOP Rep. Steve Drazkowski, oppose a the idea of a study or any other additional state regulations on the industry. He said the state already has strong regulations in place to protect the environmental and public health.

Sen. Matt Schmit, DFL-Red Wing, has said he plans to put forward a comprehensive bill shortly addressing the silica sand issue. He is still working out the details, but in the past he has indicated he is concerned a statewide EIS could end up taking too long. Rather, he has suggested working with state agencies to study some of the issues.

Norton's election bill headed to House floor

ST. PAUL — A bill making it easier to remove a deceased candidate's name from the ballot is headed to the Minnesota House floor.

The legislation was inspired by the 2012 Rochester City Council president election. Assistant House Majority Leader Kim Norton, DFL-Rochester, authored the bill with the goal of making sure other communities don't find themselves in the awkward position of having a dead candidate's name on the ballot. In June, longtime Rochester City Council President Dennis Hanson died unexpectedly of a brain aneurysm. Hanson had filed for re-election, so, under state law, Hanson's name could not be removed from the ballot and the filing period could not be reopened. That left one living candidate on the ballot — Jan Throndson, a retired maintenance mechanics supervisor at the Federal Medical Center.

Ultimately, Hanson's family and friends campaigned on his behalf to force a special election so voters would have a choice between multiple candidates on the ballot. Rochester attorney Jeff Thompson also launched a write-in campaign. Hanson ended up winning the election.

Norton's bill would allow for a candidate's name to be removed from the ballot in a nonpartisan race if the death occurs more than 84 days before the general election. A five-day filing period would open up, and there would be no primary. It also aims to make sure voters have a choice on the ballot. If a candidate ends up withdrawing within two days of filing for office, leaving only one candidate or no other candidates on the ballot, a five-day filing period would open up.

The Minnesota House Elections Committee approved the bill Thursday on a voice vote with no discussion. It now heads to the Minnesota floor for a vote. Sen. Dave Senjem, R-Rochester, has introduced a similar measure in the Senate.

Norton attributes the bill's easy passage to other lawmakers understanding the tough situation Rochester faced as a result of recent changes to the state's election law.

"People understood that problems were going to come up ," she said. "We just serve as the sad and unfortunate example that forces the issue, maybe faster or sooner than anyone thought."

Meanwhile, in Rochester, Thompson on Wednesday filed as a candidate for the upcoming Rochester City Council president special election.

He joins the council's interim president, Randy Staver, and Throndson as candidates. Staver and Throndson filed on the first day of the filling period, which was Tuesday. The last day to file is Feb. 5.

The election is March 19.

Senjem says Brodkorb in his prayers

Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem said he was saddened to hear that former Senate staffer Michael Brodkorb had been in a serious car crash Wednesday night.

According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Brodkorb was listed in critical condition this morning at Regions Hospital in St. Paul after his car crashed into the wall of the Minnesota 13 bridge on northbound I-35E last night. Brodkorb was fired from the Senate in December 2011 after having an affair with then-Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch.

Then-Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem, R-Rochester, hired Brodkorb as the Republican caucus' communications director.

"There is a lot of water over the dam since then, but I still respect Michael as a person," Senjem said. "Hopefully he is going to recover and certainly his family and children are in our thoughts and our prayers are with him through this ordeal. " It’s not something you would hope for anybody. It’s another I think unfortunate chapter in what has been frankly part of his life over the past year."

Norton backs election law changes in wake of Rochester City Council president race

A Rochester lawmaker is backing a bill that would make it easier to remove a candidate's name from the ballot if he or she dies after filing for office.

Assistant House Majority Leader Kim Norton, DFL-Rochester, introduced the bill today. The goal is to prevent what happened during Rochester's most recent city council president race. In June, long-time Rochester City Council President Dennis Hanson died unexpectedly of a brain aneurysm shortly after filing for office. But under state law, Hanson's name could not be removed from the ballot and the filing period could not be reopened. That left one other candidate on the ballot — Jan Throndson. Ultimately, Hanson's family launched a campaign urging voters to vote for Hanson as a way to force a primary election and provide voters with a choice. Rochester attorney Jeff Thompson also launched a write-in bid. Hanson ended up winning with more than 51 percent of the vote. The special election is set for March 19, with a filing period from Jan. 22 to Feb. 5.

Norton's bill would allow for a candidate's name to be removed from the ballot in a nonpartisan race if the death occurs at least 84 days before the general election. A five-day filing period would open up and there would be no primary with all the candidate's names appearing on the general election ballot. She has asked Sen. Dave Senjem, R-Rochester, to sponsor the bill in the Senate.

While the legislation is not ideal, Norton said it's the best option lawmakers have to address the problem. Tying their hands is a strict election timeline to ensure there is enough time to mail and receive back military and overseas ballots. The bill also excludes judicial elections from the new provisions because of a recent judge race where 23 candidates appeared on the general election ballot. There is the potential this new law could result in a slew of candidates ending up on a ballot for nonpartisan races, but Norton said this law will only be triggered on very rare occasions and appeared to be the best option available. After working with officials at the Minnesota Secretary of State's office on the bill, she discovered there simply would not be enough time to allow for a primary election if a death happened within 84 days of a general election because of a requirement enough time be available for a recount.

"This was very sensitive and tough for our community. It was tough certainly for Dennis' family to have to go through that, and I anticipate that others will be interested in signing on (to the bill)," she said.

Senjem seeks money for vets home, Lake Zumbro

The first two bills introduced by Rochester GOP Sen. Dave Senjem seek funding for two major local projects.

The former Senate majority leader's very first bill seeks $4 million to build a veterans home in Rochester. It's an idea that Senjem came up with after visiting veterans homes in other cities across the state. He said it only makes sense that Rochester have its own home as well. He is eyeing the former Bethany Samaritan facility on Assisi Heights as a potential spot for the home, but the project faces some major hurdles. Read more about that in a story I wrote last week. Some lawmakers in northern Minnesota have introduced a bill seeking $250,000 to design a veterans home in Bemidji.

Senjem has also filed a bill seeking $2 million in Legacy amendment funds toward a $10 million project to dredge Lake Zumbro. That is $2 million less than Olmsted County officials had asked lawmakers to seek. Last session, the Legislature approved $3 million for the project, which requires a local match. Rochester Public Utilities has pledged $1 million and Olmsted and Wabasha counties are working to set up a taxing district to help pay for the project. Senjem has voiced concerns about Olmsted County being unwilling to contribute funding toward the project to move 1 million cubic yards of silt from the man-made lake.

Lawmakers get back to work

With the ceremonial first day behind them, Democrats are moving ahead with their legislative agenda. At 1 p.m., House Speaker Paul Thissen, House Majority Leader Erin Murphy, Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk and Assistant Majority Leader Katie Sieben will outline the majority party's vision for the 2013 session.

Later in the afternoon, Democrats will unveil a bipartisan bill to set up a health insurance exchange in Minnesota. The exchange will be an online marketplace where Minnesotans will be able to shop for and compare health insurance plans. The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, gives states the option of setting up their own exchange or one set up by the federal government. The effort got little support from Republican lawmakers last session who opposed the federal health care bill.

The bill's sponsors, Rep. Joe Atkins of Inver Grove Heights and Sen. Tony Lourey of Kerrick, will discuss the legislation. They will be joined by Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Jim Schowalter, Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman, Administrative Commissioner Spencer Cronk, Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson and other state lawmakers.

This year's bill will have at least two Republican co-sponsors — Rep. Greg Davids of Preston and Rep. Jim Abeler of Anoka. Davids said he prefers having a state-run exchange versus one run by the federal government.

"If I have a problem, I would rather call 651 than 202," Davids said.

 

Kline and Walz vote for fiscal cliff deal

While both 1st District Rep. Tim Walz and 2nd District Rep. John Kline made clear they were not thrilled with the last-minute fiscal cliff deal, they both voted for it yesterday in the House. Below are their statements regarding the deal.

Kline was the lone Republican member of the Minnesota congressional delegation to vote for the deal. 

"For too long, I have called on the administration to work with Congress toward creating an environment that helps families by preserving tax relief and providing economic certainty so private-sector employers can create jobs. While I am pleased tax relief for the middle class and small businesses is made permanent by this bipartisan legislation, the sobering reality is our nation remains in a debt crisis caused by reckless, runaway spending that is killing jobs and threatening the future of our children and grandchildren," Kline said in a statement.

He added that looking ahead it is time that President Obama gets serious about solving the nation's debt problems and reforming entitlement programs.

Walz said he was pleased to see congress reach a compromise to avoid the fiscal cliff. But he said the bill is far from perfect.

"I’m deeply disappointed with the Farm Bill extension, which doesn’t include funding for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Program. Rural America needs certainty. We passed a five-year Farm Bill out of committee in July and there is simply no good reason why House leadership continues to block it from being brought forward for a vote," he said in a statement.   

Two Democrats, Rep. Betty McCollum and Rep. Keith Ellison, joined Kline and Walz in voting for the deal. Voting no were Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson and Republican Reps. Michelle Bachmann, Chip Cravaack and Erik Paulsen.

 

 

 

A fiscal cliff deal just in time?

It's up to the Republican-controlled House to determine the fate of a last-minute deal to avoid the fiscal cliff.

The U.S. Senate passed the deal early this morning. The agreement, worked out between Vice President Joe Biden and Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell, would prevent taxes from being raised on individuals making less than $400,000 per year. It also delays for two months steep spending cuts that were scheduled to take effect in the new year.

The bill passed 89 to 8 in the Senate with both of Minnesota's DFL senators — Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar — voting yes. Below are statements released by the senators' offices.

Sen. Al Franken's statement:

“I voted for this bill because it contains a number of very important provisions, including tax cuts for working and middle-income Minnesotans, an extension of unemployment insurance for so many Americans who are looking for work, and the production tax credits that mean so much to our state’s renewable energy producers. And it was crucial to me that Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security beneficiaries were protected.

 “There are some provisions I most certainly don’t like, particularly those in the extension of the Farm Bill: cuts in conservation and energy, and the gutting of the Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program. But I’ll continue to work to pass a five-year Farm Bill this year so that Minnesota’s ag community has the support and certainty it needs. 

“While I don’t think this package raises sufficient revenues toward paying down the debt or to make the investments in infrastructure, education, and research and development needed to grow our economy, I knew that no bill would have 100 percent of what I wanted, and I will continue to fight for the priorities that I believe will best serve Minnesota.” 

Sen. Amy Klobuchar's statement:

 “I voted for this compromise because the last thing we should be doing this New Year’s is sticking middle class families with a tax hike. I fought for and wanted a larger, more comprehensive plan that balanced revenues and spending cuts. I will continue to push for a broader plan to reduce our debt and give businesses and families the certainty they need.”