From: MMBA Lobbyist Sarah J. Psick
The Legislature returned from the Easter/Passover break on Monday, April 16 and has spent most of the time working to pass bills on the House and Senate Floors.
A number of bills and conference committee reports were passed and a few high profile committee hearings were held.
Governor Dayton, Speaker of the House Zellers and Senate Majority Leader Senjem met several times during the week to discuss issues that they hope to find agreement on before the end of session. However, there have not been any breakthroughs or plans for end of session negotiations.
Bonding Update: The House and Senate have not voted on the bills to provide funding for the state's capital improvement projects. The Governor has recommended a bonding package of $750 million, the Senate has proposed a $460 million bill, and the House has proposed a $280 million bill.
In addition, the House has proposed a second bill to provide $221 million in general obligation bonds for improvements to the Capitol building. On Thursday, the House debated this bill for several hours before taking a vote. The Minnesota Constitution provides that passage of a bonding bill requires a vote of at least three-fifths of the members of each body in the legislature - or 81 votes in the House and 41 votes in the Senate. The vote on the bill for the restoration of the Capitol was 80-50, thus the bill was defeated.
Vikings Stadium Update: The efforts to pass a bill this session that will provide for the construction of a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings has taken several turns this week. On Monday night, the House Government Operations and Elections Committee held a hearing an extensive hearing on the bill. At the end of the hearing, the bill was defeated by a vote of 6-9.
The separate bill to authorize electronic pull tabs, linked bingo and sports themed tip boards was heard in the House Taxes Committee on Thursday night. This bill is also included in the proposed Vikings Stadium bill as the state's funding source for the stadium. However, the bill heard in the Taxes committee was only the electronic charitable gaming bill with no language authorizing a stadium. The bill was passed without recommendation to the House Ways and Means Committee.
On Friday, the Vikings Stadium legislative efforts garnered national attention as the NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, flew to Minnesota to meet with Governor Dayton, Republican and DFL legislative leadership, and the legislative authors of the Viking bill. Mr. Goodell stressed the importance of addressing the Vikings stadium needs this session and not putting off a decision to the next legislature. Following the meeting, Legislative leaders indicated that committee hearings will continue in efforts to move the bill forward yet this session.
Also on Friday, the Senate Local Government Committee met and considered two bills relating to the stadium. The first bill was a proposal from Ramsey County to build the stadium in the city of Arden Hills on the land of the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP). The bill is similar to the proposal brought forward by Ramsey County last fall. The bill was laid over and no vote was taken.
The second bill considered by the Senate Local Government Committee was the proposal to build a stadium on the current land of the Metrodome and is supported by the Mayor of Minneapolis. After an extensive debate and several amendments to modify the bill, the bill was passed by the committee without recommendation to the Senate Jobs Committee by a vote of 8-6.
Beer at TCF Stadium: The House and Senate conference committee have worked out the differences in the Omnibus Liquor bill which provides various changes to the state's liquor laws. One of the high profile issues included in the bill is the provision that will allow for alcohol sales at the TCF Stadium on the University of Minnesota. Sales may
be made in the luxury suites as well as a designated area that is available to the general public. And, at least one Minnesota produced beer must be available. Go Gophers!
Fishing Opener: A few weeks ago the House Floor passed an amendment which would move the fishing opener up one week for the 2012 season. There was a lot of speculation that the Senate would agree with this proposal and adopt the same language. However, a lot of opposition has arisen and it looks like the Minnesota fishing opener will remain on May 12th.
County Attorneys: County attorneys or assistant county attorneys can now carry a firearm on duty provided they have a state issued permit to carry. Governor Dayton was surrounded by the bill authors and county attorneys from across the state as he held a ceremonial bill signing. This bill was passed in response to the shooting of a Cook County Attorney by a defendant in December, 2011. Supporters of the bill stressed that it is about personal safety of the county attorneys and assistant county attorneys.
New State Senator: Former Representative Lyle Koenen (DFL - Clara City) was sworn in as the newest member of the Minnesota Senate on Wednesday, April 18. A special election was held on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 in Senate District 20 to fill the seat left vacant by the death of former Senator Gary Kubly (DFL - Granite Falls) earlier this session.
Former Representative Lyle Koenen (DFL - Clara City) won the special election with 54 percent of the vote. He defeated Republican Gregg Kulberg who garnered 15 percent of the vote and Independent candidate Leon Greenslit who gained about five percent of the vote.
Only 19 percent of registered voters voted in the special election. However, due to the newly drawn maps and redistricting, the seat will be in the new Senate District 17 which pairs current Senator Joe Gimse (R - Willmar) with newly elected Senator Lyle Koenen. Governor Dayton has said he will not call a special election for the vacancy now created in the Minnesota House.
What's Next, What's Left: Gridlock, partisan fighting, finger pointing, little to no action on major bills - this is what grabs the headlines in the paper. "Oh wow! Cool!". This is what you hear when a group of school kids walk into the balcony of the House gallery and they take a look at the House Chamber. It is a good contrast to the often partisan bickering that is taking place on the Floor below.
The Speaker of the House sent a memo to the members of the House before the session started stating that the House would adjourn sine die on April 30, 2012. This gives the legislature a little over a week to finish its work.
A number of issues are still outstanding - omnibus tax bill, omnibus legacy appropriations, omnibus bonding bill, the Vikings stadium and others.
A week can go very quickly during a legislative session and at the same time a lot can be accomplished in a week. Everyone should be ready for late nights and long Floor sessions.
