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OET commissioner will oversee consolidation, millions in tech spending
Birds, lots of them, side by side along a long stretch of telephone wire — that’s the picture that state Chief Information Officer Carolyn Parnell sees when she visualizes the information technology (IT) universe where she works.
“I have many pictures like that, which may sound crazy,” she says. “But that image is sort of representative of IT to me.”
Swallows chirping at random along a common strand of cable may be how Parnell thinks of digital communications. But as CIO and commissioner of the newly empowered Office of Enterprise Technology (OET), her job is to get state agencies’ digital ducks in a row.
That is now possible because, in a fit of bipartisan consensus during July’s special session, the Legislature passed a bill that pulls all state agency IT operations into a single administrative tent. Gov. Mark Dayton signed the measure into law.
By Senator Terri Bonoff 07/10/2011
It’s hard to believe 11 days have passed since the fiscal biennium ended in gridlock. It is unacceptable that there’s no agreement in sight. While I have recriminations for each of us who serve, I write today not to assign blame, but to provide a way forward.
We will reach consensus by coming together and harnessing the power of our collective spirit. I have served in the Minnesota Senate for six years and remain convinced we have not yet come to the table serious about transforming government into something that can propel us into the future with the strength required to meet the demands of our increasingly competitive global economy.
Shortly after I was elected, I began a quest to redesign and reform government—partnering with a broad coalition of Democrats, Republicans, business and labor leaders, educators and independent experts. At every turn, I have been blocked by members of both parties who fear shaking up the status quo.
Eric Wieffering writes of the scholarly work done by PhD candidate Marvin Taylor. (Star Tribune June 1 - http://bit.ly/kzfcYU). Taylor wrote of the important roles played by James Ford Bell and Governor Orville Freeman in shaping the conversation around tax policy and strategic investment that took place in the 1950s and that continues today.
I appreciated the Wieffering/Taylor historical look-back, but I think it misses some important parallels worth noting. In 1955, Freeman called for the formation of a special committee to study how business, labor and the University could partner to build a more productive business climate. We actually did the same thing just two years ago. The 21th Century Tax Commission was established to explore how we can strengthen our business climate here in Minnesota. Unfortunately most of the recommendations were placed on a shelf. There was a lack of political will to enact the recommendations, even though the task force members represented many of the best and brightest thinkers in our State.
Session Concludes without Agreement on Budget Deficit
The 2011 Legislative Session drew to a disappointing close on Monday, as the session was adjourned without agreement between legislative leaders and Governor Dayton on how to balance the projected $5 billion budget deficit our state faces in the next biennium. Legislative leaders now have six weeks to continue negotiating with Gov. Dayton on finding a compromise solution for the state’s $5 billion deficit, or face the prospects of a wide-spread government shutdown on July 1.
Senator Bonoff expressed commitment to ensure voter integrity measures are enacted prior to the 2012 elections. “There is a public perception, following two close recounts, that something is missing in our electoral process. I believe we have one of the best election systems in the country. Yet if there is a perception of public concern, we owe it to Minnesotans to make certain our voting process is iron clad.”
Senator Terri Bonoff (DFL-Minnetonka) is co-authoring legislation that would require school coaches, staff and even students to know the first signs of a concussion and also enforce strict regulations about returning to the field after a concussion has occurred.
The week ended with the Senate and House passing all of their omnibus finance bills, which Republican leaders felt was an accomplishment, according to a press release from non-partisan Public Information Services.
While Republicans were happy to pass the bills within the first week of April, DFL-ers didn’t share in the joy, the release said.
“I am concerned that the budget proposal that has been put forward completely eliminates budget reserves – the “rainy day account” that exists for emergency situations,” Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL- SD43/Minnetonka) said. “When the state can’t pay bills, it is forced to borrow from school districts or businesses – something that has happened more than once during the past two years.”
We have a long-standing Senate tradition of doing opening prayers in the Senate Chamber on session days. This week, a controversial clergyman gave a prayer on the Senate floor that did not follow our Senate tradition that prayer be non-sectarian, so that all feel included. This prompted a response from me. I asked our Senate President to affirm our Senate tradition and use her role to make certain our visiting clergy understand that.
My statement was countered by a response from a colleague who stated that, while it was Senate tradition, it was not in the rules and therefore was not something that needed to be enforced. Following this exchange, a media flurry ensued that has taken me by surprise. An AP reporter led with an inflammatory headline, “Senator wants Jesus out of the Senate.” That headline garnered the attention of news outlets all over the country, fueled by the fury and power of the internet.
The issue has been resolved, and we are keeping with our traditions of sending a letter to all clergy requesting that their prayers be non-sectarian. If you followed any version of this story and were left with a sense that I had offended you in some way with regard to your faith, please accept my apology. That was not my intention. I have great reverence for the importance of faith in our lives, in our community and in our world.
Sincerely,

Senator Terri Bonoff (DFL-Minnetonka) praises the bipartisan process for passing SF 40.
THE COMMISSION ON SERVICE INNOVATION:
STRATEGIC PLAN & REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE
12/15/2010
With the state facing multi-billion dollar budget deficits biennium after biennium and growing frustration among the public and lawmakers with the limited innovation in government, the 2010 Legislature created the Commission on Service Innovation.
Your feedback is important. Please download and review the CSI report and share your comments on my Facebook page.
Terri Bonoff
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