Political Notebook

Supreme Court rules against Pawlenty in unallotment case

The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Gov. Tim Pawlenty exceeded his executive authority when he unalloted $2.7 billion in state spending last summer. Click here to  Download Unallotment decision

Reaction has been swift by the governor and area lawmakers. The governor issued the following statement shortly after the decision was released.

"I strongly disagree with this 4-3 decision by the court. Nonetheless it will require the legislature and my administration to address its budget impacts. The funds do not exist to reinstate my unallotments and the state budget needs to be balanced without raising taxes. I call upon the DFL-controlled legislature to ratify the unallotments I enacted last year.

"I will fight to reduce spending and taxes in Minnesota and that battle continues. My commitment to the people of Minnesota remains the same: we will balance the budget without raising taxes."

Democrats hailed the court's decision.

"I am really delighted that the court recognizes that the governor did not have the authority to do what he did. I think that is important not so much for this budget but for future generations to maintain the balance of power among the branches of government," said Rep. Tina Liebling, DFL-Rochester.

Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem, R-Rochester, said he was disappointed by the decision.

"Am I disappointed? Yes because I do think irrespective of who the governor is if the legislature can't put forward a budget proposal that is acceptable to the governor then the governor should have the right to make the proper adjustments," Senjem said.

The battle over unallotment continues

At a press conference this morning, two Democratic lawmakers unveiled a bill aimed at curbing the governor's unallotment authority powers. This comes after Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty made $2.7 billion in cuts in July using his unallotment authority after he and the DFL-controlled Legislature were unable to reach a budget deal.

The sponsors are House Finance Committee Chair Lyndon Carlson and Senate Finance Committee Chair Richard Coen. The bill would prohibit the governor from unalloting to solve a projected budget deficit known at the end of the legislative session. Rather, the governor would only be able to unallot unknown deficits.

"Unallotment would continue to be a useful and necessary tool for dealing with unexpected budget shortfalls," Cohen said. "We are just proposing that it is used sparingly and as a final measure, not as a means of bypassing open negotiations with the legislature."

The lawmakers acknowledged that the governor likely will not support their bill. Pawlenty had issued a warning that he would veto any legislation that would limit his authority unless he was consulted about the bill in advance.

Meanwhile, the governor's attorneys filed a brief with the Minnesota Supreme Court defending his use of unallotment last summer. Here is a link to the Star Tribune story. A group of Republican lawmakers also filed a friend-of-the court brief supporting the governor's case. Rep. Tom Emmer of Delano, who is running for governor, coordinated the effort. The brief was signed by 32 of Emmer's House GOP colleagues. They include Rep. Greg Davids of Preston, Rep. Steve Drazkowski of Mazeppa and Rep. Randy Demmer of Hayfield. Demmer is running for the 1st Congressional District seat.

Judge rules against Pawlenty in unallotment case

Ramsey County District Judge Kathleen Gearin today ordered the state to reinstate money for a food program that Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty cut in June to balance the state budget.

The judge concluded that the governor acted unconstitutionally when he used his executive authority of unallotment to cut the program. In June, the governor unilaterally cut $2.7 billion after he and the DFL-controlled Legislature were unable to reach a budget deal.

Several people who receive assistance through the food program for the poor had sought an injunction to reinstate the funding while the court case advances. The judge issued a Temporary Restraining Order requiring that the cuts be reinstated. A hearing is scheduled for March 10.

The governor issued the following statement in reaction to the news.

“We are disappointed in the judge’s decision.  We are weighing all of our options including appeal, reestablishing unallotments under the current forecast, potential legislative action, and other options.”

DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher praised the decision in a statement.

"Today's ruling represents a victory for all Minnesotans concerned about the overreach of executive authority. I applaud Judge Gearin's order and look forward to a full hearing on this case early next year. As I said earlier, this is an important case about the separation of powers in state government. The legislative and executive branches of government need to be equal partners in addressing Minnesota's budget crisis."

To read the decision, go here.

Dems to tour local colleges, talk unallotment

Members of the House Higher Education committee, led by its Iron Range DFL Chair Tom Rukavina, will be visting eight colleges and universities in southern Minnesota over the next two days to discuss the impact of $100 million in cuts as part of Gov. Tim Pawlenty's unallotment.

Here is the intinerary for Thursday.

9:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Southeast Technical College in Red Wing
11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. in 106 Maxwell Hall at Winona State University
2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Rochester Community and Technical College
3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. at Riverland Community College in Austin

Some local DFL lawmakers are planning to join in the discussions at the schools within their districts. They include Rep. Gene Pelowski of Winona, Sen. Ann Lynch and Rep. Tina Liebling both of Rochester, and Rep. Jeanne Poppe and Sen. Dan Sparks, both of Austin.

It should be noted that Rukavina is among about a dozen Democrats considering a run for governor in 2010. The colorful lawmaker has developed a reputation over the years for outspokeness. Politics in Minnesota recently reported that Rukavina had a campaign slogan suggestion for Gov. Tim Pawlenty in 2012 if he runs for president — "Let me screw up the country like I screwed up Minnesota." Hmmm....somehow I don't think that slogan will win T-Paw's favor.

Lawmakers set to grill finance commish

DFL lawmakers are expected to be asking some tough questions of Minnesota Management and Budget Office Commissioner Tom Hanson at a legislative hearing this morning.

The Legislative Advisory Commission is expected to convene at 10 a.m. at the state Capitol to discuss Gov. Tim Pawlenty's $2.7 billion in proposed cuts to balance the state budget using his executive authority of unallotment. To watch the hearing live, go to The Uptake.

Pawlenty recently tweaked his unallotment plan, limiting cuts for chemical dependence programs and increasing the level of cuts to mental health grants and community block grants. But overall the plan is pretty much the same. It involves cuts to health and human services, local government aid and higher education.

A quick political roundup

There's plenty of political news going on today,so I figured it's best just to roundup all that is happening.

At 3 p.m., the Legislative Advisory Committee led by DFLers will meet to discuss Gov. Tim Pawlenty's proposed budget cuts using unallotment. To watch live streaming coverage of the meeting, go here.

In advance of that meeting, House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller sent a letter to the governor with 10 questions about his plan. They include questions about how many public and private sector jobs would be lost and what sort of impact this could have on local taxpayers.

In the end, the commission has no authority to block the governor's actions. Asked about the meeting, Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem, R-Rochester, said, "It will be a witch hunt for an hour and a half or two hours."

Minnesota Congressman Jim Oberstar is scheduled this afternoon to outline a $500 billion transportation proposal. Fellow PB reporter Jeff Pieters plans to watch the press conferences. 

Also, Second District Congressman John Kline was elected to serve as the lead Republican on the U.S. Education and Labor Committee. PB reporter Sarah Doty chatted with Kline. Here's a link to her story.

And there's another Republican jumping into the 2010 governor's race. Rep. Paul Kohls, 35, of Victoria, filed paperwork with the state today to establish a campaign committee. He joins a crowded field of Republicans considering a run for office. 

Reaction to unallotment? DFL gov candidates say "Pick me!"

Soon after Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced $2.7 billion in unallotments yesterday, DFL gubernatorial hopefuls began swarming media outlets with reactions.

Candidate Matt Entenza went so far as to announce he would be flying to Rochester this morning to voice his concerns about the unallotment. In a news release, he says these cuts will lead to higher local property taxes.

"This is part of a pattern the governor has engaged in since he took office: claiming to be a steward of the state budget while passing off costs to our communities," Entenza said.

Meanwhile, another candidate who happened to be visiting Rochester Tuesday night to discuss health reform made sure to get his reaction out via e-mail.

"The governor's action is in line with his recent veto of the anti-bullying bill. Tim Pawlenty has become the schoolyard bully; he is picking on the sickest, most vulnerable people in our state," said Sen. John Marty, of Roseville.

House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, of Minneapolis, who is considering a run, issued an e-mail statement soon after the announcement. Meanwhile, another possible candidate --  Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak -- traveled to the state Capitol yesterday to offer his opinion. St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, who is also eying a potential run, was interviewed on MPR's Midmorning show.

 

Pawlenty announces unallotments

Here is a summary of the areas of the budget Gov. Tim Pawlenty has proposed cutting to balance the state's budget. The governor is planning to use his executive power of "unallotment" to cut $2.67 billion from the upcoming two-year budget cycle that begins July 1. They include: 
 — $200 million  Reduction of local aids and credits to cities & townships
— $100 million Reduction of local aids and credits to counties
—  $67 million  Reduction of refunds and other payments
— $236 million  Reduction in human services spending
—  $100 million Reduction in higher education appropriations
— $33 million  Reduction in most state agency operating budgets
— $1.77 billion K-12 education payment deferrals and adjustments
— $169 million Additional revenues through administrative actions

TOTAL:    $2.675 billion

The Legislative Advisory Commission will meet Thursday at the Capitol to weigh in on the governor's proposal.

Local leaders anxiously await Pawlenty's cuts

Gov. Tim Pawlenty is scheduled to announce his plan for fixing a remaining $2.7 million budget gap at 2 p.m. on Tuesday. The Republican governor plans to use his executive power of "unallotment" to make the cuts during the next two-year budget cycle, which begins July 1.

Plenty of local leaders are planning to tune in for the big announcement to find out just how big of a budget hit their organization may take. Rochester Community and Technical College President Don Supalla said the school is already bracing for up to a $1.8 million cut

“We’ve been looking at the budget and looking at ways to reduce our expenditures,” he said.

That includes potentially delaying facility repairs, equipment replacement and furniture purchases.

Meanwhile, the city of Rochester could potential lose millions in state aid. Assistant City Administrator Gary Neumann said under the governor's original budget proposal, the city would lose $2.5 million in 2009 and $5.3 million in 2010.

Pawlenty has said in the past the unallotments will likely include cuts to Local Government Aid, health and human services and higher education. He has said he is also considering delaying funding for K-12 schools.