 |
Legislative updates for the week of February 20-24, 2006Welcome back readersEach session the Government Relations Office produces a brief weekly newsletter to keep the system informed on actions of the Legislature. Watch for the Legislative Notes each Friday afternoon. The Government Relations Office has experienced some staff changes. Mary Jacquart has been appointed the director of Government Relations. She can be reached at 651-296-0664 or mary.jacquart@so.mnscu.edu. Sandy Smith has joined us as the assistant to Government Relations. Sandy (651-296-6518 or sandy.smith@so.mnscu.edu) brings experience from the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources, where she worked as the Commission’s Assistant. Jerry Janezich (651-296-6097 or jerry.janezich@so.mnscu.edu) and Bernie Omann (651-296-6277 or bernie.omann@so.mnscu.edu), support the system directly on Capitol Hill, and Melissa Fahning (651-296-0669 or melissa.fahning@so.mnscu.edu) is available to help with legislative questions and will continue to keep you informed on what is happening during the session. "Short Session"Lawmakers return to St. Paul on March 1, 2006, for the “short session.” Even-numbered years are considered “short sessions” at the Legislature, making the bonding bill the priority. With 2006 being an election year, lawmakers would like to finish their business before the Easter/Passover Break. But with issues including the bonding bill, undocumented student tuition, academic bill of rights, veteran’s re-entry services and the University of Minnesota/Rochester Higher Education Development Committee, lawmakers may be sticking around longer. We also are likely to see a pension bill this session and legislation on school safety and eminent domain. Unrelated to higher education, issues that are likely to take center stage at the capitol this year include gay marriage and stadiums (more likely for the University of Minnesota and the Twins, and less likely for the Vikings), and we may see further debate on a Maple Grove hospital. The constitution will allow lawmakers to stay in St. Paul until May 22, 2006. 2006 Bonding BillLawmakers will focus their efforts on a capital investment (bonding) bill this session. The Board of Trustees reviewed campus requests and ultimately requested funding for $280.4 million. The first $110 million is for needed repair and replacements, and the balance is for 23 institution projects and three systemwide initiatives. Governor Pawlenty has recommended $142 million for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities projects. The Governor’s request focuses on science-related projects and includes only $20 million of the $110 million repair and replacement request. The Governor’s recommendation is a good start, but we will continue to work with the Legislature and the Governor during the session to fund more HEAPR and additional projects in the request. A complete description of each project can be found at www.mnscu.edu/media/publications/pdf/systembondingbook2006.pd or contact Sandy Smith at sandy.smith@so.mnscu.edu to receive a bonding book. Both the House and Senate Capital Investment and Higher Education committees have toured a majority of the projects around the state and soon will start to hear presentations on the system’s request. The House Higher Education committee will hear our bonding presentation on March 13, and the House Capital Investment committee will hear it on March 14. Stay tuned for details. Board of Trustees Request a $31.5 Million Supplemental BudgetThe Board of Trustees is requesting a $31.5 million supplemental budget from the Legislature. The request includes $10 million for fuel cost increases, $15 million for infrastructure and security technologies, $3 million for expanding bioscience programs and $3.5 million for a global initiative. Since legislators have indicated that the FY2005 surplus will be used for some type of property tax relief, and the FY2006-07 surplus is designated under current law to be used for the K-12 education accounting shifts, it will be hard to find revenue to fund the request. Legislators seem to agree that there is no money to do much this session. February Forecast - Little Change in Economic Outlook?The Department of Finance prepares formal forecasts of state revenues and expenditures in November and February each year as required by state law. Forecast information is used by the Governor and Legislature to ensure that enacted budgets remain on track and in balance, and to plan for future budgets. The November forecast included a $337 million surplus in FY2005 to be deposited in the tax relief account, and a $701 million FY2006-07 surplus required to reverse the education accounting shifts enacted in 2002 and 2003. The FY2008-2009 outlook has slightly improved. However, with the cost of inflation and the loss of revenues from a potential constitutional amendment that would dedicate all general fund motor vehicle sales tax revenue to transportation, the outlook is fairly flat. It is anticipated that the little change will be produced by the February forecast, expected on Tuesday, Feb. 28. We might expect to see negative individual tax receipts offset by positive corporate tax receipts, sales tax receipts stable or slightly higher, and motor vehicle tax receipts lower. Stay tuned. Important Dates to RememberFebruary Economic Forecast - February 28, 2006 2006 Legislative Session Convenes - March 1, 2006 Governor’s State of the State - March 9, 2006 First Committee Deadline - March 28, 2006 Second Committee Deadline - April 4, 2006 Third (Final) Committee Deadline - April 11, 2006 Last Day of Session - May 22, 2006 Committee Membership and SchedulesThe House Higher Education Finance committee's standing meeting time is Monday and Wednesday from 12:30 to 2:15 p.m. in Room 300S of the State Office Building. The membership roster for the 2006 session is: House Higher Education Finance DivisionBud Nornes, Chair, R-Fergus Falls The Senate Higher Education Budget Division’s standing meeting time is Tuesday and Thursday from 12:00 to 2:30 p.m. in Room 123 of the Capitol. The membership roster for the 2006 Session is: Senate Higher Education Budget DivisionSandy Pappas, Chair, DFL-St. Paul The House Capital Investment Committee’s standing meeting time is Tuesday and Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. in Room 200 of the State Office Building. The membership roster for the 2006 session is: House Capital Investment Committee Dan Dorman, Chair, R-Albert Lea The Senate Capital Investment Committee’s standing meeting time is Monday and Wednesday from 3:00-5:30 p.m. in Room 123 of the State Capitol. The membership roster for the 2006 session is: Senate Capital Investment CommitteeKeith Langseth, Chair, DFL-Glyndon Federal UpdateThe second session of the 109th Congress convened the end of January. Here is what is happening in Washington, as well as issues we can expect to see this session:
You may learn more about the American Competitiveness Initiative at www.ostp.gov/html/ACIBooklet.pdf.
|
|
