Updates from the Government Relations team are sent periodically during the legislative session.                                                  
Legislative Update - May 18, 2017
Budget talks hit impasse

Governor Dayton and legislative leaders met in four separate meetings on Wednesday each with different results. 

Early morning

Leaders gathered around 10:30 a.m. to pick-up where they left off on Tuesday. They remained behind closed doors for the better part of the morning, breaking to go to lunch. Focus of the morning discussion was HHS and Taxes.

Early afternoon

After a good lunch break (look up @baconmecrazymn ), they returned to continue discussions on HHS and Taxes.

5:00 p.m. offer

Governor Dayton provided Republican leaders with his Wednesday offer. The “ Meet Half Way ” offer would split the projected $1.5 billion surplus for the sides to spend on their respective priorities.

The proposal would set aside $128 million to fund the courts and cybersecurity efforts, keep $10 million for the bottom line, then divide the remaining $1.36 billion.

That would leave $682 million that Republicans could use to fund transportation and tax cuts, and provide the same amount for the DFL to spend in other budget areas.

The Governor proposed a higher education budget target of $221 million, almost a $1 million less than his original recommendation but still $46 million from the Republican's Tuesday offer of $175 million.

“I think this is fair and equitable, half-and-half, meet halfway,” Dayton said.

House Speaker Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) said the “different concept” in trying to find compromise in the numbers would take a little time to study before the Republicans could offer a formal response.

“We do appreciate the offer,” Daudt said. “We think we’re making progress and we appreciate that.”

8:00 p.m. offer

Republican leaders came back at 8:00 p.m. and presented their counter-offer. A few minutes later, leaders walked out of the room. Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka (R-Nisswa) walked out of the room and told reporters, "it did not go well."

At that late meeting, Republicans made an offer they felt involved reasonable concessions. Dayton disagreed.

“I was pretty upset,” the governor said, after criticizing the GOP offer as inadequate. Dayton stated that their plan would have focused approximately 80% of funding on transportation and taxes - hallmarks of their budget plan. That would leave 20% to divided among other spending areas.

And now it's Thursday

The Minnesota Legislature has to adjourn at midnight on Monday. If Dayton and lawmakers don’t agree on a budget by then, they’ll have to go into overtime and risk any unfunded parts of the government shutting down on July 1.

Leaders can’t wait until Monday to pass a deal, either. It will take lawmakers several days to fill in the details on bills even after Dayton and legislative leaders agree on the overall shape of the budget.

“If we don’t have it (Thursday) it becomes very, very messy at the end,” Gazelka said.

Dayton and legislative leaders plan to meet again on Thursday. 

Bonding bill fails on the House Floor

Rep. Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City), brought forward the $800 million House bonding bill that was passed by the Ways and Means committee the day before.

The vote was 70-62 for a delete-all amendment to HF575; however, by law, capital investment bills need three-fifths approval of each body — 81 votes in the House — to pass. Republicans hold a 77-57 seat advantage.

“Why do we bond? To meet our responsibility to address the infrastructure needs of our state,” said Urdahl, the bill sponsor and chair of the House Capital Investment Committee. “This bill primarily addresses those needs.”

Odd-numbered years are traditionally focused on establishing a state budget with a smaller bonding bill; even-numbered years are often centered on a large capital investment plan. However, a chaotic finish to the 2016 session resulted in no bill. Capital investment was also part of the unsuccessful special session discussion over the final seven months of 2016.

“This is a year where we are making up for a bill that we kind of did last year, but not quite,” Urdahl said, noting the only new projects in this year’s bill are for emergency needs.

Rep. Alice Hausman (DFL-St. Paul) was the lone DFL member to speak against the bill.

“We have not yet included all that was in last year’s bill, so the backlog is growing,” she said. “… It needs a bit more work.” For example, she said about one-third of capital investment bills traditionally go for higher education, whereas this bill is at about 10 percent. She also noted the bill is not regionally balanced.

Hausman suggests members from both parties in both bodies and governor’s staff put together a final product before session ends. “We look forward to further work to have a wonderful package that at the end of the day is good for the state,” she said.

Important Links:

  • Most recent bill introductions related to higher education (compiled by Government Relations team) can be found HERE (updated 5/17/17)
  • Committee schedules can be found HERE
  • Many committee hearings and floor sessions are streamed live via the web or broadcast on television. More information and a schedule can be found HERE

Government Relations team:

Jaime Simonsen – Jaime.simonsen@minnstate,edu
Bernie Omann – Bernie.omann@minnstate,edu
Jim Grathwol – jim.grathwol@minnstate.edu