Welcome To My Blog

Dear Friends, Welcome to my blog. Please visit regularly to share your vision for Minnesota and our country, and to hear about mine. The effectiveness of our political leaders depends on the strength and wisdom of our collective voice. Together we can bring creativity, innovation, knowledge and compassion to bear as we tackle the enormous challenges that lay ahead. I look forward to our ongoing dialogue.

Warmest Regards,

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Session Recap - May 22, 2009

Dear Friends,

The 2009 Legislative session has come to a close. We began the session with great apprehension, keenly aware of the looming deficit that demanded our resolve. As we embarked on the challenge to solve the problem, our federal government responded to the broader issue. Most states were confronting the same problem with inadequate resources to solve it.  The federal government stepped in. They provided states with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  While these funds will provide essential services for programs and people who are in the greatest need, they also complicated the legislative problem.  There was less urgency to reach a forward-looking, innovative solution to the Minnesota Structural Deficit problem because emergency funds bridge the gap.

Capitol Update - May 15, 2009

Governor Vetoes Tax Bill and Asserts Line-Item/Unallotment Authority
The Legislature sent the Governor a budget bill last week that would have raised $1 Billion in new revenue and dedicated the funds to state government's core functions: education, nursing homes, and hospitals. This was one third of the Senate's three-part plan to balance the budget with one third spending cuts, one third federal stimulus funding, and one third new revenue. While the bill was vetoed hours after passage, the Legislature remains interested in providing a long-term, sustainable funding source that will maintain high quality in our classrooms, nursing homes, and hospitals.

Capitol Update - May 8, 2009

Session Enters Final Weeks

As the Session enters its final weeks, my colleagues and I continue to work to find a balanced approach to fixing the state's $6.4 billion shortfall and end the legislative session on time. With 10 days left before the constitutionally-mandated deadline to adjourn, I believe that a compromise can be found that will both protect the most vulnerable citizens in the state and position Minnesota for a strong economic recovery that will create jobs.

The details of several of the budget bills have already been negotiated with the Executive Branch, but the larger bills, including the E-12 Education and Health Care bills, are yet to be finalized.  The biggest differences remain in the area of health care, where proposed cuts to hospitals and health care coverage for Minnesotans remain very concerning to me and my colleagues.

Capitol Update - May 1, 2009

Senate Passes Health Care Budget
On April 27, the Minnesota Senate passed a Health and Human Services Budget Bill that reduces spending by over $700 million in the next biennium and nearly $1 billion in 2012-2013. The Senate was able to do this without cutting health care eligibility to individuals and children. The bill produces a savings of $104 million in 2010-2011 and $291 million in 2012-2013 through health care reform measures.

Capitol Update - April 24, 2009

Senate Takes Up Omnibus Tax Bill
The Senate will today take up the Omnibus Tax Bill, one part of a three-tiered approach to solving the $6.4 billion budget deficit. The Senate is filling one-third of the budget gap by cutting state spending, another one-third by committing federal stimulus funds to the budget, and the final one-third by raising new revenue.

Capitol Update - April 3, 2009

Senate Votes to Accept Federal Stimulus Funding

The Minnesota Senate passed legislation this week to ensure Minnesota is eligible to take advantage of federal stimulus funding for laid-off workers and for clean water infrastructure projects.  The funding is available as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), and  includes more than $130 million for Minnesota’s Unemployment Insurance system, and an additional $107 million to construct and improve drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities in the state.

Capitol Update - March 27, 2009

Senate Faces Committee Deadline
It was a very busy week at the Capitol, as legislators and staff worked into the night in the days leading up to the first committee deadline. As of today, Friday March 27th, for a bill related to policy to have a chance of becoming law this session, it must have been passed out of all relevant policy committees in either the House or Senate. As a result, much of the time of the Senate this week took place in committee, as chairs worked to compile omnibus policy bills and members worked to ensure their legislation made deadline

Capitol Update - March 20, 2009

Governor Pawlenty Releases Revised Budget
Governor Pawlenty sent a letter to the legislature on Tuesday, transmitting revisions to the budget proposal he outlined in January. The budget revisions take into account the February Budget Forecast, the availability of federal stimulus funding and other updates. Under the Governor’s revised budget, the total amount of state general fund expenditures in FY 2010-11 would be $32.6 billion, a reduction of approximately 4 percent from the $33.9 billion in general fund expenditures in the current FY 2008-09 budget.

The most significant changes to the Governor’s budget plan would increase K-12 education funding beyond the level first proposed by the Governor in January, restore some funding for the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and

Capitol Update -March 13, 2009

Senate Budget Plan to Focus on Fairness and Saving Jobs

Senate leaders introduced their plan to fix the state’s $6.4 billion budget deficit this week. The plan includes 7%, across-the-board cuts to state spending and is balanced through 2013. The balance is primarily achieved by the $5.1 billion in cuts over the next four years. The proposal is an “umbrella” for the committees to work under as they fashion their budgets. This proposal represents shared sacrifices and is an attempt to be as fair as possible to the people who will be affected by these cuts. One should also note that not all federal recovery dollars are taken into account in the targets.

Capitol Update - February 20, 2009

A Visit from Representative Paulsen

Members of the Minnesota Legislature who represent parts of the Third Congressional District were visited on Tuesday by newly-elected Representative Erik Paulsen. It was a great opportunity to discuss with Representative Paulsen the potential impact on our community of the recently-passed Economic Recovery package. It was nice to visit with a former colleague of the Minnesota Legislature and discuss his new role in the U.S. Congress.

Capitol Update - February 13, 2009

Impact of Economic Recovery Package on West Metro
I was joined today at the Capitol by Mayor Jim Hovland of Edina and other lawmakers from the west metro area for a press conference regarding benefits to our community from the economic recovery package. Under the bill, the west metro area stands to gain significant economic recovery funds.  Transportation projects that appear to be in this proposal are:

•    Completion of the 494/Hwy 169 Interchange,
•    Final completion of the Hwy 610 project, and
•    The 494 lane expansion project at Hwy. 212.

Capitol Update - February 6, 2009

Hearing from Constituents
It was a lively week at the Capitol, as many organizations held their annual “days on the hill” to provide their members and supporters a chance to visit the Capitol and share with legislators their priorities for the 2009 legislative session. I was glad to have the opportunity to visit with members of the Service Employees International Union and hear their comments on the Shared Services initiative being forwarded by myself and Governor Pawlenty to increase efficiencies in our schools and drive more dollars into the classroom. Their comments underscored the importance of reaching out to those serving in the districts, learning from their years of experience. I appreciated hearing from them. We also had visits from bankers, bikers, doctors and advocates for the disabled this week, all here to make their voices heard in state government.

Confronting Our Challenges With Wisdom and Courage

January 6, 2009

We must pledge to work together beyond partisan posturing to confront our states challenges with wisdom, creativity, courage and compassion. In the coming days I will be introducing legislation aimed at solving some of our most pressing problems by reinventing the way we do business in Minnesota. I welcome your comments and counsel as we go forward. There is no "small" or "bad" idea. Join me in making this year the turning point for placing Minnesota on the path to prosperity by leading with a values-based strategy.


Opening of the 2009 Legislative Session

January 5, 2009

As we convene the Minnesota legisl