Outdoor Football

Watching tonights football game between the Vikings and the Bears was enjoyable for many reasons. The biggest reason is that Minnesota football is back outside. I recall growing up going to the Met and watching the Viking games on television when they played like Purple People Eaters. Let's face it, the Dome has made the Vikings soft and the fan base even softer.

The snow, freezing drizzle and the announcement of the 50 greatest Vikings of all time is just what Bud Grant ordered. I am just glad that they didn't drop Grant at halftime. I know there will be a push for a new Vikings stadium and the Dome will be the catalyst. If Vikings are serious about a new stadium then let it be an open air stadium. Although 54,000 Viking fans could not fill the TCF Bank Stadium tonight; granted weather may have played a factor.

Call your local legislator and make the case for a new stadium by using proceeds from a Racino.

Sen. Ortman’s Capitol Report – April 6, 2010

 

First budget bill passed

The Minnesota Senate passed its first major budget bill the week before Easter/Passover break. The bill contained some cost-cutting measures but no real reforms, and was concerning in its deep public safety cuts.

 

As an alternative, Governor Tim Pawlenty's complete budget was offered, including job creation initiatives. It did not pass. During the debate, there was an appeal to fellow senators to reconsider the proposed $39.2 million in cuts - more than twice the Governor's requests - and to support amendments to reinstate funding to the fire safety fund, restore the state portion of funding for Sentencing to Service and lessen deep cuts to the state's courts, nursing homes and home care.

 

Throughout the process of cutting Minnesota's budget and reprioritizing spending, the scare tactic of cutting police and firefighters is often held over the heads of taxpayers. This partial budget seems to also demonstrate a trend towards limiting the options the Governor and Legislature will have later to force K-12 cuts or tax increases.

 

This piecemeal approach also ignores a comprehensive solution to this year's billion-dollar deficit and, like the earlier passage of the $1 billion bonding bill, shows a lack of sensible priorities by the majority leadership. Other budget bills will follow after the Easter/Passover break.

An amendment to repeal the Green Acres property tax changes to pre- 2008 rates was defeated 32-34.

Senator Julianne Ortman lead a press conference of Republican legislators in asking Attorney General Lori Swanson to file a lawsuit against unconstitutional provisions in the federal health care legislation.

Mid-Session Issue Update

FEDERAL HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION

On behalf of constituents, Minnesota legislators called on the state's congressional delegation to reject the federal health care reform bill prior to its passage last week and sought protection from the state's attorney general to file a lawsuit against the unconstitutional measure and abuse of power by the federal government. A letter signed by all 68 Republican legislators (47 House & 21 Senate) requesting legal action against H.R. 3590 was delivered to the office of Attorney General Lori Swanson. Governor Pawlenty has also requested the same action. The mandate in the federal law that would force U.S. residents to buy health insurance is unconstitutional, and it imposes an unconstitutional tax on individuals who do not comply with the mandate. Other problems with the legislation include the elimination of individuals right to choose private health care plans, a questionable funding mechanism for a new entitlement called the CLASS Act, and overall long-term funding and national deficit questions. Recent polling shows that a majority of Americans oppose the health care legislation, think it will hurt the economy, and will drive up health care costs.

2010 MIDSESSION UPDATE

 

BONDING/CAPITAL INVESTMENT

The Legislature passed a second bonding bill at about $1 billion of borrowing. Once again the Governor performed the work of the Legislature by reducing the size of the billion dollar bill down to $680 million. Some improvements were made to the bill in the area of public safety provisions including $47.5 million of the $89 million Moose Lake phase II expansion, Department of Corrections radio system, security system and perimeter fence upgrade for the state prison at Oak Park Heights, and renovation for the Minneapolis Veteran Affairs Building 17.

GENERAL ASSISTANCE MEDICAL CARE

The General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) fix has been passed and signed by the Governor. Effective June 1, 2010, the plan creates a new hospital-based coordinated care delivery system in partnership with county agencies. Coordinating Care Organizations (CCO) will manage health care and provide medically necessary services for GAMC eligible residents. Capped block grants to CCOs will be funded with $71 million from the state's General Fund. The agreement also includes a six month Uncompensated Care Pool (UCP) for hospitals that are not designated as CCOs. The temporary UCP will be funded with $20 million from the Health Care Access Fund. People eligible for the program continue to be low-income adults, ages 21-64, who have no dependent children, yet have the means available not to qualify for federally funded health care programs.

ENERGY OPTIONS

Again this year, lawmakers were denied the opportunity to vote on lifting the state's 16-year ban on new nuclear power plants, an issue that has become increasingly popular with Americans seeking clean, inexpensive energy. The measure was offered as an amendment to a solar energy bill in the full Senate, but no vote was taken after the bill's author pulled it from consideration. Recently, a bill that would have lifted the ban was denied by a few unsupportive members of a Senate energy committee. President Obama has recently announced federal government loan guarantees to build the first nuclear plants in the U.S. in three decades.

SIZE OF THE LEGISLATURE

A bill has been working its way through the committee process which would shrink the Minnesota Legislature from a total of 201 to 168 legislators. Currently, Minnesota has the 9th largest House of Representatives and the largest Senate of all legislatures in the 50 states.

ELECTIONS LAW

A new comprehensive elections reform law that had its genesis from the 2008 Coleman-Franken U.S. Senate recount has some good corrections such as ballot reconciliation measures to help ensure that all ballots are accounted for and tabulated according to the law by creating a chain of custody from election judges to municipal election officials. It also requires the Secretary of State to update the statewide voter registration system with the "challenged" status for convicted felons and illegal residents. The post-election sampling report will help legislators determine the number of illegal same-day voter registrations. The bill does not address election reforms such as provisional balloting or photo identification.

HAITI DEDUCTION NOW LAW

A bill designed to encourage donations to earthquake relief in Haiti has been signed into law. It allows those who contributed to relief efforts between January 11 and March 1 to deduct charitable donations on their 2009 state income taxes instead of waiting until next year. It also lets corporations deduct donations from corporate franchise taxes. The changes match state tax law with federal law.

RACINO

Talk of Racino – the proposed expansion of slot machine gambling to the state's two horseracing tracks – continues in light of the state's budget shortfall. Supporters say it could potentially supply $125 million annually for the state, money that could be used for a variety of needs, including education or to finance a new Vikings stadium, as well as provide jobs. There are also opponents who resist the expansion of gambling or feel promoters over promise its potential for return. It is unclear whether the proposal will see any further consideration during this session.

Mid-Session Issue Update

continued

Senators Julianne Ortman and Warren Limmer discuss legislation during a Senate floor session.

According to a Gallup Poll, 62 percent of Americans support nuclear power. (3/23/10)

Sen. Day’s decision evokes “revolving-door” controversy

Today is Monday December 14^th and it is negative 9 degrees Fahrenheit outside right now; ugh. At some point last night or this morning snow fell as I was awaken this morning by the beeps of a bobcat. A lot took place over the weekend: the Vikings put it to the Bengals, Tiger lost a major sponsor, Sen. Liebermann switches stance on health care reform away from the Democrats, the Senate passed a $1.2T budget filled with pork, and President Obama gave himself a B+ rating. Really a B+? Anyway, that is entirely different topic than I'd like to discuss today. Last week Sen. Dick Day (R-Owatonna) was be lambasted for his decision to leave the State Legislature of Minnesota to lobby for a group, Racino Now, wanting a Racino in Minnesota. While Day will not officially leave office until the first part of January, many suspect he is already working as a consultant for the group looking to lobby Minnesota Legislatures during the upcoming session.

Minnesota does not have any laws that require a "cooling off" period for Legislators to become lobbyist or take other private industry jobs that may benefit from their connections. In a statement released last week by Sen. Day he defended his actions by saying, "Anyone who knows me knows that a Racino at Canterbury Park has been one of my top legislative priorities for 12 years, since 1997 when I first proposed the idea to fund a new Twins ballpark…Now I have the opportunity to work full time toward this end, and I look forward to traveling throughout the state to talk to Minnesotans about the many ways we will all gain from these two Racinos" (http://twincities.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2009/12/07/daily22.html). The other Racino location that Sen. Day refers to is Running Aces Harness Park located in Columbus Township.

While the laws of disclosure are rather limited or non-existent for Minnesota Legislatures, there is a ban on gifts that lobbyist can give a Legislator but that does not include campaign donations or hiring the Legislator as a consultant. I can see where a potential conflict of interest can exist but Sen. Day has never hidden his belief that Minnesota can benefit from adding a Racino to the business district; potentially adding $250M to the state confers. Should Minnesota add more disclosure laws to ensure our state politicians act ethically? Rep. Karla Bigham (DFL-Cottage Grove) and Sen. John Marty (DFL-Roseville) are two members of Minnesota's Legislator that plan to introduce "revolving-door" legislation that would "require legislators who retire or lose election to wait two years before they could accept a lobbying position" (http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2009/12/09/14123/days_move_puts_focus_on_legislatures_weak_lobbying_rules).

Is two years to much? Is two years too little? Should a lifetime ban be put in place? Keep in mind that elected officials in the Legislator is really a part-time job which many view it as just that. I know from personal experience that the only time I hear or see my State Senator is when it is politically convenient for her. Despite your view on a Racino, how should Minnesota react to lack of a "revolving-door" policy? Or should the focus be on the full disclosure of activities?