Political Notebook

On second try, Senate passes tax bill

It took a do-over vote but Mayo Clinic’s quest for state dollars to help support its ambitious expansion efforts cleared a critical hurdle on Monday night.

But it’s passage was anything but easy. On the first try, the Senate tax bill that includes roughly half a billion for Mayo’s Destination Medical Center initiative failed to pass by a vote of 32 to 34, with seven Democrats in the DFL-controlled Senate casting “no” votes. After a short meeting where Democrats gathered in the retiring room to meet, a motion was made to reconsider the tax bill. It eventually passed 35 to 31 with Sen. John Hoffman, DFL-Champlin, and Sen. Greg Clausen, DFL-Apple Valley switch their votes. Sen. Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope also voted after failing to vote the first time around. That bill’s passage brought about accusations of arm twisting from Republicans — something Democrats denied.

Rochester Sen. Dave Senjem was the lone Republican to vote for the tax bill both times. He said he is strongly opposed to most of the tax increases in the bill, saying the DMC project “is a rose in a bed or rocks.” But at the end of the day, the Mayo Clinic retiree said he has to support this massive project that will create an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 jobs.

“As I drive home, I drive home with the idea that I must support Destination Medical Center. It’s just that great,” Senjem said.

But Senjem also supported not reconsidering a vote on the failed tax bill, saying it was clear the bill still needed work. Voting yes on the tax bill were Senjem and DFL Sens. Matt Schmit of Red Wing and Dan Sparks of Austin. Voting no were DFL Sen. Vicky Jensen of Owatonna and GOP Sens. Carla Nelson of Rochester and Jeremy Miller of Winona.

Last week, the House passed a tax bill that including Mayo’s DMC project. Differences between the two versions will be hashed out in a conference committee. Senjem’s “yes” vote means he will likely get a spot on that key committee.

Like the House bill, the Senate version caps state spending at $327 million over 20 years for general infrastructure. Those dollars would be used to pay public infrastructure that includes parking ramps, an atrium and site development. n.

Both versions call for sharing $116 million in transportation costs with Olmsted County. It’s estimated the county’s share would be $40 million. Before those dollars would flow, Mayo would have to invest $250 million.

These infrastructure upgrades are aimed at supporting Mayo’s quest to transform itself into a global destination for health care. Mayo has pledged to invest $3.5 billion to expand its Rochester campus and plans to leverage more than $2 billion in private investments.

After tax bill failed, Nelson cautioned Rochester residents about getting worried Mayo's DMC plan wouldn't pass. She said of all the bills this session a tax bill needs to pass to cover the state's $627 million deficit and additional spending proposed by the DFL-led Legislature.

"I don't want people in Rochester to freak out. The tax bill will pass," she said.

Senjem says his vote on gay marriage will be 'spontaneous'

At least one Rochester lawmaker is not sure how he'll vote on a bill to legalize same-sex marriage.

Republican Sen. Dave Senjem said he is just going to wait until the day of the debate and make a decision when he is faced with pushing the red or green button.

"I am just going to wait until that magic moment and make that decision in a pretty spontaneous way," he said.

If he had to vote at this moment, he said he would probably vote "no." But he said he is not sure what he will do when actually confronted with the decision. When he talks to young people, it is clear most of them support gay marriage. He added that attempts to block gay marriage amount to society "standing in front of a freight train."

 

 

Sen. Dave Senjem said he is not sure how he will vote on a bill to legalize same-sex marriage.

Brede: Rather let civic center project die than impose food and beverage tax

Rochester Mayor Ardell Brede told a key Senate Committee on Wednesday city officials would rather let the Mayo Civic Center expansion die than move ahead with a food and beverage tax hike.

In 2009, the city council asked lawmakers to allow the city to impose a 1 percent food and beverage tax and a 1 percent lodging tax to help pay for the Mayo Civic Center expansion. But officials later changed their mind amid strong opposition from local restaurants and bars. Instead, city officials want the Legislature to OK raising the city’s 4 percent lodging tax by 3 percent to pay for the civic center expansion.

During a Senate Taxes Committee hearing, Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk asked whether Rochester would be willing to go ahead and impose the food and beverage tax to pay for the city’s $45 million share of the project’s cost.

“I don’t think we would,” Brede said.

One committee member could be heard uttering a “wow” in response to the mayor’s answer. Bakk urged city officials to think twice about abandoning the food and beverage tax if the city decides to help fund the $82 million project.

“I wouldn’t presume too much about residents of the city being against a food and beverage tax if they can get a new state-of-the-art convention center,” Bakk said.

He added that then-Gov. Tim Pawlenty required a vote be held on a plan to raise Duluth’s food and beverage tax by three-quarters of 1 percent to help fund that city’s convention center. The proposal passed with more than 60 percent of the vote.

The city of Rochester wants to add convention space to the aging Mayo Civic Center in hopes of attracting national and international medical conferences to the city. They want the state to chip in $37 million toward the 188,000-square-foot expansion. Sen. Dave Senjem, R-Rochester, is sponsoring a bill to raise the lodging tax to pay for the civic center. His sponsorship of the bill is “by request,” which means he is not necessarily in support of the proposal. A similar measure has been introduced by Rep. Tina Liebling, DFL-Rochester, in the House. That bill failed to make it into a key House local property tax bill stoking fears among some that lawmakers are eyeing the tax to help fund Mayo Clinic’s request of $585 million to help support its Destination Medical Center initiative.

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.

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."

Senjem reacts to the GOP losing the Senate

I have left a couple of message for Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem to talk to him about Tuesday's election results, but have not heard back yet. Today, he issued a statement expressing his disappointment at Republicans losing control of the Senate two years after he helped them reclaim it after a 38-year drought.

Below is a copy of the press release.

GOP Leader Senjem comments on Senate Election Results

(ST. PAUL) – After Republicans retained the 28 of seats in the Minnesota State Senate, the current Senate Majority Leader David Senjem (R-Rochester) said he is “disappointed by the elections results” but remains “hopeful for our state.”

Senate Republicans won 28 of the 67 state senate races. Democrats occupy the remaining 39 seats.

“Politics can be very challenging at times. Some very good people lost their election bids on Tuesday night. We are thankful to our friends, families and neighbors who have supported us throughout this election. I am proud of our accomplishments over the past two years. We governed responsibly, made difficult decisions and helped put Minnesota on the right track,” Senjem stated. “I am obviously disappointed by the results of the election. I think Republicans deserved another chance to lead our state. It is important to note that we are leaving the Democrats with a $1.2 billion surplus. Two years ago they left us with a $6.2 billion deficit."

Responsible spending and sensible fiscal management were cornerstone themes of the Republican re-election effort. When Republicans took the majority in January 2011, lawmakers faced a projected $6.2 billion budget deficit. Senate Republicans balanced the budget without raising job killing taxes by making tough decisions, controlling spending, and setting priorities for our state. A subsequent budget surplus allowed the state to fill the depleted cash flow and budget reserve accounts and begin to repay the money borrowed from Minnesota’s schools as a part of past budget agreements.

In addition to balancing the budget deficit, Republicans passed legislation to streamline the permitting process for job growth, provide education accountability reforms and increase integrity in our electoral system.

“In the next biennium, Senate Republicans will continue to focus on growing the economy and fostering a positive environment for job creation in the private sector. We will also work to reform health care and educational systems to help empower citizens – not government bureaucracies – to make decisions that work for them. We wish our DFL colleagues well as we strive to work together for the best interests of Minnesota,” concluded Senjem.

 

 

 

 

Flier attacks Senjem on stem cell vote

A new campaign flier goers after Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem for his vote in favor of a cloning ban that opponents say would end up banning embryonic stem cell research in the state.

The Minnesota DFL piece says it bold letters: "Not only did Senator Senjem vote against funding medical research, he voted to make it a crime." It goes on to say that medicine and research is the "lifeblood" of the Rochester region, "yet Senator Dave Senjem voted at least twice to undermine stem cell research — even voting to make it a criminal offense." It ends by saying that Senjem used to stand up for Rochester, "But today, the needs of our community take a back seat to an extreme political agenda. It's time for a change."

Olmsted County Commissioner Judy Ohly is challenging the Republican leader in Senate District 25. So far, I have seen two fliers sent out this week by the DFL party going after Senjem — this one and another focused on the state government shutdwon the elimination of the Market Value Homestead Credit.

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed the omnibus Health and Human Services bill that contained the cloning provision citing concerns raised by medical researchers that it would ban embryonic stem cell research. Organizations opposed to the ban included Mayo Clinic and University of Minnesota researchers. Supporters said it was not intended to limit medical research but rather simply ban the cloning of another human being.

The dispute centered around how human cloning is defined.The legislation would have prohibited a process called somatic cell nuclear transfer, where the nucleus of a body cell is placed within an egg from which its nucleus has been removed. That process can be used to clone humans through reproductive cloning. It also can be used for therapeutic cloning to grow body tissues that match a patient’s body.

Dayton says DEED grant biggest mistake so far

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton considers his decision to agree to a $47.5 million economic development grant in this year's bonding bill as one of the biggest mistakes he has made so far while in office.

"As soon as this thing started to unfold after the session, I said, "This is the worst mistake I've made in my year and a half.' Not in the sense of overall effect on the state, but in terms of blundering into it," Dayton told members of the Rochester Post-Bulletin Editorial Board on Monday.

Dayton said he agreed to the competitive grant because he wanted to see other projects he supported get built. He had been pushing for a $776 million bonding bill. Legislative Republicans opposed borrowing that much money for construction projects and instead favored a $500 million bonding package.

Traditionally, lawmakers determine which construction projects should be funded. This time around, lawmakers backed the idea of a competitive grant with a set list of criteria administered by the Department of Employment and Economic Development. Supporters of this approach said it marked a shift away from earmarking to a merit-based system. Opponents argued that lawmakers were ceding their authority to the executive branch. DEED ending up receiving 90 applications totaling $288 million. Dayton announced he would be the one making the final call on who got the DEED money.

The city of Rochester wanted $25 million to help expand the Mayo Civic Center to add conference space. The project failed to score well in the rankings, coming in 11th overall and 6th in southern Minnesota. The biggest winner was St. Paul, which got $25 million for the St. Paul Saints Stadium.

Dayton also took a shot a Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem, R-Rochester. He said he was surprised to read in the Post-Bulletin endorsement of Senjem's opponent, DFLer Judy Ohly, that Senjem told the newspaper that "everybody knew that the DEED block grant was directed toward the civic center. That's no secret."

The governor's reaction?

"I have a lot of respect for Dave Senjem. I think he is a very, very decent man, but I was just absolutely appalled for him to say that it was understood that Rochester's project was going to be part of that $47.5 million," he said.

He vowed he will never support this type of competitive grant process again.

Senjem and 10 other GOP senators fined over flyers

Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem and ten other Republican state senators have been fined after an administrative law judge panel concluded they violated state law for distributed a taxpayer-funded flyer that included a fundraising link.

The judges fined Senjem and the other senators $75 each. They also fined Senate Communications Director Steve Sviggum, a former Speaker of the House, $200.

The flyers were printed at the Capitol and distributed by the senators during the February Republican caucuses.

Minnesota DFL Chairman Ken Martin welcomed the ruling. His party had filed a complaint against the Republicans.

“The conclusion by the court affirms what we have been saying since February: the Senate Republican Caucus broke the law when they decided to use our tax dollars to print partisan campaign literature.  This finding comes as no surprise, especially not to anyone who has paid attention to the escalating pattern of lawlessness that has come to define this Republican legislature," Martin said in written statement.

The other GOP senators who were fined were Senate President Michelle Fischbach, Al DeKruif, Chris Gerlach, Gretchen Hoffman, Benjamin Kruse, Ted Lillie, Claire Robling, Ray Vandeveer, Pam Wolf and John Pederson.

 

 

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