Political Notebook

Mayo Clinic gets shout-out in State of State address

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton made a point of recognizing Mayo Clinic President and CEO Dr. John Noseworthy during his State of the State address on Wednesday night and reiterating his support for the clinic's $6 billion Destination Medical Center initiative.

"The renowned Mayo Cinic wants us to help them continue to outclass their competitors in other state and other countries and to continue doing so from Rochester. I thank Mayo, whose CEO Dr. John Noseworthy is with us tonight as a guest of Speaker (Paul) Thissen, for giving Minnesota the change to partner with them and help assure their world medical pre-eminence for decades to come in Rochester, Minnesota," Dayton said.

That proved to be one of the few statements made by the governor during his speech that won strong bipartisan support. The governor's decision to talk about Destination Medical Center was somewhat of a surprise. His spokeswoman Katharine Tinucci said on Tuesday she did not expect him to bring it up.

Assistant Majority Leader Kim Norton, DFL-Rochester, said she appreciated the governor’s statement.

“That was really nice. I think he was showing his serious concern about Mayo Clinic’s health and their growth and their growth here in Minnesota,” she said.

Mayo Clinic is asking lawmakers for more than $500 million to pay for public infrastructure that would support its plans to expand in Rochester. As part of the deal, the clinic has pledged to spend $3.5 billion over the next 20 years and leverage an estimated $2 billion in private investment. Funding for the infrastructure would come from the increased state taxes generated by the clinic’s expansion. Norton plans to introduce the Destination Medical Center bill today in the House and Sen. Dave Senjem, R-Rochester, plans to carry it in the Senate.

Noseworthy said in an interview after the speech he was honored to be invited to the Capitol for the State of State address and to have the clinic's project mentioned by the governor.

“We are very pleased to have the governor express support for the proposal, and we look forward to working to make it a reality, to make Minnesota a destination site for health care,” he said.

Democrats to mark one-year anniversary of government shutdown

Minnesota Democrats want to make sure voters don't forget about last summer's government shutdown.

DFLers have scheduled a Capitol press conference for this afternoon to talk about last summer's shutdown — the longest in state history. House Minority Leader Paul Thissen is expected to attend and will be joined by people affected by last summer's shutdown. Expect Thissen to make the case that with another budget deficit expected, Minnesotans run the risk of another shutdown if Republicans keep control of the House and Senate.

The shutdown happened last year after the GOP-led legislature and DFL Gov. Mark Dayton could not agree on how to solve the state's $5 billion budget deficit. Dayton had wanted to raise taxes on the state's wealthiest Minnesotans to help close the budget gap. Republicans were fiercely opposed to raising taxes as part of the budget fix. The shutdown idled 22,000 state employees and required the closure of state parks and rest areas. It also put a halt to road construction projects.

After three weeks, the governor and lawmakers signed off on a budget deal that included borrowing money from K-12 schools and selling tobacco payment bonds.

Despite 'a change of clothes and toothbrush,' special session appears likely

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Republican Speaker of the House Kurt Zellers vowed that he and other legislative leaders were willing to work day and night to reach a deal with DFL Gov. Mark Dayton before the midnight Monday deadline.

"We're going to keep working through the night tonight, through the night tomorrow night," he said.

Zellers added, "We've all got a change of clothes and a toothbrush."

But as the hours countdown, little progress apears to have been made on how to solve the state's projected $5 billion. Since Monday, legislative leaders and Dayton have been engaged in a budget standoff. That's when Dayton announced he was scaling back his tax proposal to $1.8 billion — down from $3.3 billion — in order to reach a deal with Republicans. He said he was willing to do $1.8 billion in cuts.

But Republicans have said they are not willing to consider any tax increases to balance the budget Dayton has said he is open to other forms of revenue like gambling, but GOP legislative leaders have been cool to that idea. Instead, Republicans argue they have already compromised by agreeing to increase the state's budget by $3 billion for the upcoming biennium because of additional revenue that came into the state.

"If we raise taxes during this economic recovery and squelch whatever growth we have, the next two years are going to be even worse," Zellers said.

Democrats blasted Republicans saying they are unwilling to take any steps towards a compromise with the governor.

The Republicans' "refusal is based on the fact that they are unwilling to ask the richest 2 percent of Minnesotans to pay a single penny more in order to avoid the devestating cuts they have proposed," said House Minority Leader Paul Thissen.

As a Capitol reporter, I am preparing for the inevitable stakeout of the governor's office, where we bring our camping chairs and wait until the clock strikes midnight awaiting news of a budget deal. But at this point, a special session seems likley.

 

GOP leaders unveil bill to cut $1 billion

House and Senate Republican this morning released phase one of their budget-cutting proposals with a bill that would make permanent former Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty's unallotments.

Continuing those unallotments, which were approved as part of last year's budget deal between the governor and DFL-led Legislature, would net $840 million in savings. The bulk of the savings comes from freezing state aid and credit levels for cities and counties, which results in $460 million less than had been budgeted for the upcoming two-year budget cycle. It also means $185 million less for higher education than had been budgeted. The plan also asks Minnesota Management and Budget to identify $200 million in cuts to state agency spending that could be made in this budget cycle.

Senate Finance Committee Chair Claire Robling, a sponsor of the bill, said Republicans and Democrats have shown they are willing to support these unallotment cuts by passing them last year as part of the final budget deal.

"They are cuts that have been supported by the majority of the legislators in the past and we think that they will be accepted again and expected by folks who have received them in the past," Robling said.

But Democrats blasted the proposal saying these cuts in projected spending will result in higher college tuition, increases in local property taxes and reductions in service to the elderly and people with disabilities.  House Minority Leader Paul Thissen said the Republicans are already breaking their campaign promises with this bill.

He said Republicans said during the campaign "they are going to focus on protecting kids and people with disabilities and the elderly and they have already broken that promise with this proposal because these are going to hit exactly those items as well as the property tax increases that every Minnesotan is going to feel."

Click here to Download GOP bill's fiscal spreadsheet

Thissen headlines Olmsted County DFL luncheon

Area Democrats will get a chance to hear from the incoming House minority leader at a luncheon on Friday, Dec. 10. Rep. Paul Thissen of Minneapolis will be the keynote speaker at the Darn Fine Ladies Holiday Luncheon at the Kahler Grand Hotel in Rochester. Thissen became much more well known statewide this year after running for governor. He lost the DFL endorsement to Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher.

Thissen takes the helm of the party after it suffered serious losses in the Nov. 2 election causing Republicans to regain control. It will be interesting to hear Thissen talk about his approach to the upcoming session as Democrats adjust to life in the minority.

Swanson, Dayton and Thissen pay a visit

Rochester is proving to be a popular spot today for DFL candidates.

Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson spoke at an Olmsted County Darn Fine Luncheon today. After the presentation, she took questions from the audience. Some of those questions centered on letters received by Swanson calling on her to join in a federal lawsuit to block the health care reform bill. Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty and all 68 GOP members of the state legislature are asking her to consider joining in a lawsuit filed by attorneys general in 13 other states that argues the bill violates the Constitution.

Swanson emphasized that the lawsuit centers on a provision in the bill that would  require people to buy insurance, which does not take effect until 2014. She said she wants to take time to review the bill before making a decision.

"I believe in reviewing things before I comment on them," she said.

Swanson said she is slowly beginning to review the bill.

"I have printed it off, it is 2,400 pages long and it's about this high and I am reviewing the bill. I am on page 5 or so," she said.

This afternoon, the Southeast Minnesota Area Labor Council is organizing a march and rally that starts at 4 p.m. at the Labor Temple in Rochester and will stop at Wells Fargo at 21 1st St. S.W. The march is part nationwide protests by labor groups focused on banks that took bailout money. They want these banks to loosen tightened lending restrictions to help average citizens. The march will end at the Kahler Grand Hotel at 20 2nd Ave. S.W.

DFL gubernatorial candidates Mark Dayton and Paul Thissen are expected to attend and address the crowd. Thissen is also having a meet and greet from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Dos Amigos Restaurant, 20 4th St. S.E.

Swanson, Dayton and Thissen pay a visit

Rochester is proving to be a popular spot today for DFL candidates.

Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson spoke at an Olmsted County Darn Fine Luncheon today. After the presentation, she took questions from the audience. Some of those questions centered on letters received by Swanson calling on her to join in a federal lawsuit to block the health care reform bill. Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty and all 68 GOP members of the state legislature are asking her to consider joining in a lawsuit filed by attorneys general in 13 other states that argues the bill violates the Constitution.

Swanson emphasized that the lawsuit centers on a provision in the bill that would  require people to buy insurance, which does not take effect until 2014. She said she wants to take time to review the bill before making a decision.

"I believe in reviewing things before I comment on them," she said.

Swanson said she is slowly beginning to review the bill.

"I have printed it off, it is 2,400 pages long and it's about this high and I am reviewing the bill. I am on page 5 or so," she said.

This afternoon, the Southeast Minnesota Area Labor Council is organizing a march and rally that starts at 4 p.m. at the Labor Temple in Rochester and will stop at Wells Fargo at 21 1st St. S.W. The march is part nationwide protests by labor groups focused on banks that took bailout money. They want these banks to loosen tightened lending restrictions to help average citizens. The march will end at the Kahler Grand Hotel at 20 2nd Ave. S.W.

DFL gubernatorial candidates Mark Dayton and Paul Thissen are expected to attend and address the crowd. Thissen is also having a meet and greet from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Dos Amigos Restaurant, 20 4th St. S.E.

Entenza and Thissen to court Olmsted DFL voters

Two DFL gubernatorial candidates will be in Rochester tomorrow for the Olmsted County DFL convention.

Former House Minority Leader Matt Entenza, of St. Paul, and state Rep. Paul Thissen, of Minneapolis, will make their pitch to delegates. A representative for Sen. John Marty, of Roseville, will also be at the convention.

There is plenty at stake for candidates hoping to win the party's endorsement. Olmsted County boasts one of the largest pool of delegates in the state. Given that, it is interesting that only two of the dozen DFL gubernatorial candidates making a visit.

Gubernatorial candidate and current Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak won the Olmsted County DFL Caucus straw poll in February with nearly 23 percent of the vote. But the second place spot with 17 percent of the votes went to "uncommitted." Entenza placed third with more than 13 percent.

1st District Rep. Tim Walz is also expected to speak to the delegates along with Rep. Tina Liebling, Rep. Kim Norton, Rep. Andy Welti and Sen. Ann Lynch. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. at Century High School with the convention starting at 10 a.m. A total of 27 delegates and 27 alternatives will be picked to go to the DFL State Convention in April. Participants will also elect party leadership and vote on 54 resolutions.

A fundraising recap

The campaign fundraising totals for gubernatorial candidates are slowly starting to trickle in. Here is a recap of how much candidates have raised so far.

Among Democrats, former House Minority Leader Matt Entenza is leading the pack so far. He reported raising $300,000 last year. In addition to that money, he donated $10,000 of his own money and loaned his campaign $70,000.

Close behind Entenza are two other DFL candidates — state Rep. Paul Thissen and Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher. Thissen raised $253,000 including $20,000 of his own money. He reported having $85,000 left in the bank. Kelliher raised $245,000 and she donated $250 to her campaign. She has $81,000 left in the bank.

Coming in fourth among Democrats who have disclosed their campaign funds is state Rep. Tom Rukavina. He raised $135,000 and has more than $60,000 in cash on hand.

That leave seven DFLers who have yet to reveal their campaign donation information. They have to file it with the state by the end of the month.

So far, state Rep. Tom Emmer is the lone Republican to release campaign information. He raised $115,000. he is one of seven Republicans vying for the party's endorsement.

Nurses rally against health care cuts, endorse Thissen

The Minnesota Nurses Association is rallying at the state Capitol today to protest health care cuts made by Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty.A flier about the rally states in bold print at the top "Don't let him get by with it!"

To help balance the state budget, Pawlenty opted to use his uanallotment authority to cut the program beginning in March 2010. GAMC provides subsidized health care for 30,000 low-income Minnesotans.

The association says that many of the people on the plan are veterans, senior cities, people with mental illness and people who are homeless. They estimate that 70 percent of those served have mental health or chemical dependency problems. Members are being encouraged to wear red and make signs for the rally. Click here to Download Nurse rally flier .

The Minnesota Nurses Association also announced they are endorsing state DFL Rep. Paul Thissen of Minneapolis. Thissen is chair of the House Health and Human Services Policy Committee.

In a news release, MNA President-Elect Linda Hamilton is quoted as saying "“Paul Thissen is a champion for Registered Nurses. From his work to make sure all children have health insurance, to his advocacy of adequate RN staffing for patient safety, he exemplifies the characteristics we expect of a Governor."

The association represents more than 20,000 nurses.