Political Notebook

Local Republicans reject state employee contract

Two local lawmakers joined fellow Republicans on Thursday in rejected a state employee contract proposal negotiated by DFL Gov. Mark Dayton's administration and labor unions.

Rep. Mike Benson, of Rochester, and Rep. Steve Drazkowski, of Mazeppa, serve on the Subcommittee on Employee Relations and voted against the contract. The committee rejected the contract 6 to 4 on a straight party-line vote. That means the full Legislature will have to vote on the proposal when it reconvenes in January.

The contract covers more than 27,000 employees represented by two unions — the American Federal of State, County and Municipal Employees and the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees.

Republicans spoke out against the plan, which included a 2 percent across-the-board pay increase and tenure-based pay increases known as "steps."

“Wage increases based on seniority are a poor proxy for rewarding performance,” Drazkowsi said in a written statement “Minnesota can no longer afford to reward people based on how long they have been in state service. A 7 to 9 percent increase in salary is simply unsustainable, particularly looking into the next biennium.”

Under that agreement, individual state employees would not have to contribute anything toward their health insurance coverage. Republicans argue it's time these employees start chipping in.

Democrats on the committee said this is the latest example of union bashing at the hands of Republicans. State Rep. Ryan Winkler, DFL-Golden Valley, issued the following statement after the vote:

"Today anti-union extremists chose to attack a fair and modest contract for our hard-working employees. Unlike the legislators who constantly attack them, state employes have sacrificed. State employees lost $65 million in wages — nearly 6 percent pay cut — during the Republican government shtudown last year."

State employees will continue to work under the terms of an existing contract that expired in June 2011.

 

 

 

 

 

The proposal included a 2 percent across-the-board pay raise for employees beginning next year. It also allowed for tenure-based pay increases known as "steps."

Rochester Democrats to host town hall on election law

Two Rochester Democrats are hosting a town hall meeting Monday night to talk about ideas for changing state election law to deal with the problem created by the sudden death of Rochester City Council President Dennis Hanson.

Hanson died unexpectedly June 27 of a ruptured brain aneurysm. A 2011 change in state election law prevents Hanson's name from being removed from the ballot. One other candidate, Jan Throndson, is running for the four-year term. That leaves three options: Thronsdon wins the seat, Hanson wins and the city council calls a special election or a write-in candidate wins.

Rep. Kim Norton and Rep. Tina Liebling say it's clear there is not enough time to change the law before this fall's election. But they said they want to brainstorm ideas for ways to change the law so that other communities aren't faced with this situation.

"Sometimes out of tragedy you can kind of heal by taking a bad situation and making some positive progress come out of it,” Liebling said.

The lawmakers have invited the Rochester City Council, Olmsted County Board, Rochester School Board, other local legislators and local leaders to attend. It will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Olmsted County Government Center.

The Democrats say this should be a nonpartisan issue and they want to work with their Republican colleagues on a solution. Norton added they wanted to hold the meeting now before the campaign season really ramps up and legislators' schedules become too crowded.

But at least one local Republican was skeptical about the timing of the event. Rep. Mike Benson, who serves on the state's Election Integrity Task Force, said he thinks it's too soon to be holding a town hall on the issue.

“I think it’s more election year politics to have a hurry up (approach) when there’s really no immediate need,” he said.

Vikings bill headed to Senate for final vote

In the early morning hours Thursday, the Minnesota House gave its blessing to a nearly $1 billion Minnesota Vikings stadium plan. The Senate is expected to take up the bill today and, if it passes, it heads to DFL Gov. Mark Dayton for his signature.

As part of the final bill negotiated between House and Senate lawmakers, the Vikings are being asked to pay $50 million more than they had pledged for a total of $477 million. The state's share of $348 million will be paid for through electronic pull-tabs and linked bingo. The bill passed 71-60 with Democrats putting up the majority of votes.

Rochester Rep. Kim Norton was among the DFLers voting yes. she was pleased to see that the Minnesota Vikings will have to put in more money toward the project and that a tax on luxury seats would kick in if electronic pull-tabs don't raise the money needed.

"I think the people of Minnesota will benefit not only from the financial and jobs aspects of having the Vikings here, but also having a professional sport in the state is an asset in and of itself," Norton
said.

Other lawmakers could not sign onto the bill because of its reliance on electronic pull-tabs. Rep. Mike Benson, R-Rochester, said while he has serious concerns about how increased gambling impacts society, he also  has questions about whether electronic pull-tabs will generate the revenue necessary to pay the state's share of the cost.

"The revenue stream that we are going to rely on to pay this back is just so untested and suspect and so it was important for me to make the case we rushed the bill," he said.

Below is a rundown of how the southeast Minnesota House delegation voted on the stadium bill.

Voting yes: Rep. Greg Davids, R-Preston; Rep. Tim Kelly, R-Red Wing; Rep. Rich Murray, R-Albert Lea; Rep. Kim Norton, DFL-Rochester; Rep. Gene Pelowski, DFL-Winona; and Rep. Jeanne Poppe, DFL-Austin.

Voting no: Rep. Mike Benson, R-Rochester; Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa; Rep. Tina Liebling, DFL-Rochester; and Rep. Duane Quam, R-Byron.

 

Benson's push for stadium user fees fails

 

Rochester Republican Rep. Mike Benson on Monday afternoon led an effort to impose user fees to pay for the stadium instead of relying on generated from electronic pull-tabs. He offered an amendment that would impose a 9.98 percent user fee on several stadium-related items including tickets, concessions and sports memorabilia. He said he has serious concerns about the social costs that come with expanding gambling.

“My definition of fun is certainly not seeing somebody lose their house, kids going without something to eat, daddy coming home and beating mommy because she complained that he lost the paycheck again because he bought the whole box of pull tabs,” he said.

The Vikings are fiercly opposed to user fees saying it would put the team at a competition disadvantage. Benson’s amendment ultimately failed 57-74. He did successfully amend the bill to request the legislative auditor do a study two years after the bill takes effect on the impacts of lawful gambling.

The stadium plan calls for building a 1.5 million square foot stadium on the site of the Metrodome in Minneapolis. The original deal called for the state to contribute $398 million toward the project, with the Minnesota Vikings paying $426 million and Minneapolis kicking in $150 million. But lawmakers overwhelming supported lowering the state’s contribution by $105 million, requiring the Vikings to pick up that cost. They also would require the Vikings sign a 40-year lease instead of the proposed 30-year lease.

 

Olmsted Republicans pick Valeriano over Sullivan

Olmsted County Republicans last night picked nurse Melissa Valeriano over Realtor Max Sullivan to run against DFL Rep. Kim Norton at their endorsing convention on Thursday night.
Republican Party of Olmsted County Chairman Bruce Kaskubar said Valeriano won endorsement for the House District 25B seat on the first ballot. Sullivan said Friday morning he plans to abide by the endorsement. Also winning endorsement was Rochester School Board member Breanna Bly for the House District 26A seat. She will take on DFL Rep. Tina Liebling in the fall.
All four local incumbents were endorsed and none of them faced a challenge from within the party. Winning endorsement were Rep. Mike Benson of Rochester, Rep. Duane Quam of Byron, Sen. Carla Nelson of Rochester and Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem of Rochester.
The Olmsted County DFL endorsed its candidates back in March. Below is a list of the candidate match-ups.
House District 25A: John Vossen, DFL-Kasson, vs. incumbent Duane Quam, R-Byron
House District 25B: Incumbent Kim Norton, DFL-Rochester, vs. Melissa Valeriano, R-Rochester
Senate District 25: Judy Ohly, DFL-Rochester vs. incumbent Dave Senjem, R-Rochester
House District 26A: Breanna Bly, R-Rochester, vs. incumbent Tina Liebling, DFL-Rochester
House District 26B: Incumbent Mike Benson, R-Rochester, vs. Pat Stallman, DFL-Rochester

Senate District 26: Ken Moen, DFL-Rochester vs. incumbent Carla Nelson, R-Rochester

Olmsted County GOP gathers today for endorsing conventions

While local Republican lawmakers are working at the state Capitol, Republicans back in Olmsted County will be gathering at Byron Middle School to endorse candidates.

Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem, Sen. Carla Nelson, Rep. Mike Benson and Rep. Duane Quam will likely miss tonight's convention. The Senate is slated to vote on the bonding bill put together by Senjem, which now no longer includes $32 million for the Mayo Civic Center expansion. Senjem faced fierce criticism from Tea Party members opposed to bonding for the center.

There will be at least one endorsing battle for the House District 25B seat, which is currently held by DFL Rep. Kim Norton. Rochester Realtor Max Sullivan and nurse Melissa Valeriano are expected to face-off. Rochester School Board member Breanna Bly will be seeking the endorsement for the House District 26A seat with hopes of taking on DFL Rep. Tina Liebling in November.

Benson proposes tax increases to pay for stadium

At a press conference this morning, Rochester GOP Rep. Mike Benson said he plans to offer an amendment on the House floor to the Minnesota Vikings stadium bill that would raise money through targeted tax increases instead of charitable gambling.

"I will be the first one to tell you I don't like taxes," Benson told reporters.

But he said he would rather the stadium be financed with taxes aimed at people who would use the stadium than rely on gambling money, which he see as a tax "on the people who can least afford it."

Benson's proposal would tax the income of Vikings players who make more than $200,000 a year, along with taxes on sports memorabilia, liquor sales at the stadium, ticket sales and online sales of NFL merchandise. It would also establish a Vikings license plate.

He was joined by eight other lawmakers who oppose the current Vikings stadium plan. They included Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, and Rep. Duane Quam, R-Byron. Drazkowski said he has serious concerns about the reliability of charitable gambling as a revenue source.

Would Benson's amendment have any chance of passing? House Taxes Committee Chairman Greg Davids doesn't think so.

"I don't think he has the votes," Davids said.

Regardless of whether he has the votes, Benson said the amendment is intended to generate conversation about other ways to fund the stadium instead of relying on gambling to do it.

Benson to fight against using gambling money for stadium

Rochester Republican Rep. Mike Benson is vowing to fight against plans to using gaming money to fund a new Minnesota Vikings stadium.

Benson will join Sen. David Hann, R-Eden Prairie, at a 9 a.m. press conference tomorrow where he plans to rip the idea of using charitable gaming to fund the state's $400 million share of the project's cost. A major portion of those dollars would come from electronic pull-tabs.

Benson said he has two problems with that idea. First, he said electronic pull tabs are not a reliable funding source. If not enough money comes in, there is the risk that state general fund dollars would have to go towards paying the stadium bond debt payments.

"We could end up taking money out of the general fund, which certainly means we are going to be robbing Peter to pay Paul," he said. "We're not going to have money for schools and hospitals and all the other things."

His other concern centers on the moral issues related to gambling.

"I support the Vikings. I want to build a stadium. I just don't want to do it on the backs of compulsive gamblers," he said.

So Benson is going to put forward his own funding idea that relies on taxing tickets, parking, sports memorabilia and luxury suites. Another possibliity would be having a Vikings license plate. He said these taxes would be targeted to people who use the stadium.

 

House to take up bonding bill with no local projects

The Minnesota House is expected to vote today will vote soon on a new $443.9 million bonding bill that has no local projects in it. Bill sponsor Larry Howes, R-Walker, put together the new bonding proposal after his $221 million bill to restore the state Capitol failed by one vote.

Originally, Republicans were looking to move two separate bonding bills — one focused on the state Capitol and the other on statewide projects. That second $280 million bill included $9 million to expand The Hormel Institute, $3.1 million to relocate the Rochester Work Force Center to Rochester Community and Technical College and $485,000 to renovate the Stewartville Fire Hall. This new bonding bill does not fund any of these projects. Instead, it allocates $221 million to the Capitol repairs, $102.5 million for transportation projects, $60 million for college and university building repairs, $30 million for flood mitigation, $20 million for wastewater infrastructure, $10 million for housing programs and $433,000 to cover cost of selling bonds. The big question is whether a bill without any local projects can get the 81 votes needed to clear the House. Republicans only have 72 members, meaning they must be able to get some votes from Democrats.

Rep. Mike Benson, R-Rochester, said right now he is not sure if he can support the bill. He said he wants to know who will make the decision on how to spend some of these dollars — especially in the area of transportation. He said the House Transportation and Policy Finance Committee spent a lot of time ranking projects and that lawmakers should have some input in determining where those dollars are spent.

Benson endorses Parry for congress

Rochester Republican Rep. Mike Benson is throwing his support behind state Sen. Mike Parry in the 1st Congressional District race.

Parry's campaign sent out an email last night with a note from Benson saying he believes Parry has what it takes to unseat three-term DFL Congressman Tim Walz. Parry is battling with former state Rep. Allen Quist of St. Peter for the Republican endorsement. Delegates will gather in Mankato on April 21 to decide which candidate to endorse. Here is what Benson wrote:

Conservative friends,

Like you, I am very concerned about the direction of our country. The election in November may be the most important of our lifetime. It is absolutely critical that we replace President Barack Obama. In addition, we must defeat out-of-touch politicians like Congressman Tim Walz.

I am supporting my friend, State Senator Mike Parry, for Congress. Having worked with Mike at the Capitol, I know he has what it takes to shake up Washington. Look at Mike's record since he's been in Saint Paul -- he's fought our liberal Governor on a number of issues important to conservatives. To name a couple: when Governor Dayton attempted to unionize home day-care providers, Mike led the charge against this. In addition, Mike proposed reforms to the state pension system -- which infuriated the union bosses in Saint Paul. Threats came into Mike's office but he stood strong.

I know that Mike is not afraid to stand up to BOTH parties to fight for our conservative principles. Please join me in supporting Mike Parry for Congress. 

Sincerely,

Rep. Mike Benson