Special session is over
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/07/20/special-session-over/
The state budget and the end of the 20 day state government shutdown are now in
Governor Dayton's hands.
Legislature approves budget, shutdown nears completion
http://www.startribune.com/politics/blogs/125876638.html
The end of the 20-day Minnesota state government shutdown was inches away
Wednesday morning when lawmakers cast their final votes on the state’s budget.
Minnesota legislature on track to end shutdown today; Details of bills
http://www.twincities.com/ci_18511461
After 19 days of unwanted world attention, Minnesota's historic state
government shutdown is on track to end today. The Legislature started cranking
out a series of budget bills needed to restart government operations Tuesday
after Gov. Mark Dayton called lawmakers into special session to approve the tax
and spending measures he negotiated with Republican legislative leaders.
What's in the bills? A summary
http://www.startribune.com/politics/blogs/125824428.html
Here is a summary of some of the bills that have been released and how they
differ from initial proposals. Check back throughout the day as more bills are
posted. Those include some of the largest, most contentious appropriations,
like K-12 education and health and human services. The total spending listed in
bold refers to the state's general fund.
State aid to cities figures to be flat
http://mankatofreepress.com/closerlook/x1241068726/State-aid-to-cities-figures-to-be-flat
Cities will receive the same amount of local government aid this year as last
year, though that’s a cut of about 19 percent from the promised amounts,
according to the deal between legislators and the governor.
Tax bill restores LGA funds for cities of the 1st class
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/polinaut/
The tax bill hasn't been posted yet but the House Tax Committee chair is
sharing some information about the bill. Rep. Greg Davids, R-Preston, says the
measure will keep funding for state aid to cities, known as local government
aid, at 2010 levels. That's similar to the Senate bill that passed in the
regular session and less money than Gov. Dayton had proposed in his budget.
Bonding bill winners: universities; losers: St. Paul, Mankato, Rochester, St.
Cloud
http://www.minnpost.com/politicalagenda/2011/07/19/30151/bonding_bill_winners_universities_losers_st_paul_mankato_rochester_st_cloud
The big winners in the $500 million bonding bill are universities across the
state. The losers? St. Paul, Mankato, Rochester and St. Cloud.
K-12 bill focuses on rural schools and student performance
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/polinaut/
House K-12 Finance Chair Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, says the bill makes some
needed changes that he argues will improve the state's schools. Garofalo said
the state will start linking effectiveness to student achievement. He said
teachers will start to be judged on student performance, rural schools will see
more money and students will start receiving $5,000 scholarships from the state
if they graduate early.
Higher ed takes biggest share of $500 bonding bill
http://www.startribune.com/politics/blogs/125863773.html
A $500 million bonding bill unveiled Tuesday evening gives a big boost to
projects at the state's colleges and universities.
Public Safety and Judiciary bill the first on its way to Dayton's desk
http://www.minnpost.com/politicalagenda/2011/07/19/30161/public_safety_and_judiciary_bill_the_first_on_its_way_to_daytons_desk
The $1.8 billion Public Safety and the Judiciary bill, containing cuts to the
state Department of Human Rights and legal and civil services, became the first
to fully pass in Tuesday’s special session.
Cuts and compromise on environmental bill
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/07/19/special-session-environmental-bill/
The environment bill negotiated between Gov. Mark Dayton and lawmakers includes
some budget cuts and some compromise on policy issues.
Legacy funding bill resurfaces, with few changes
http://www.startribune.com/politics/blogs/125854223.html
When the Minnesota House adjourned late on May 23, the last item of business
was spending $450 million over the next two years in so-called Legacy money.
Bill cuts funding for higher education by 10%
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/07/19/shutdown-higher-education-bill/
In the next two years the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State
Colleges and Universities system will each receive a little over a billion
dollars in state aid, 10 percent less than they received in the previous two
years.
Some policy changes remain in K-12 agreement
http://www.startribune.com/politics/blogs/125873223.html
Republicans and the governor have reached a deal on K-12 education that strips
some hot-button policy provisions but retains a variety of changes.
House and Senate pass Health and Human Services bill
http://blogs.twincities.com/politics/2011/07/house-passes-health-and-human.html
Less than two hours after the Minnesota House passed the Health and Human
Services bill this morning, the Senate gave its stamp of approval.
State transportation cuts lessened under agreement
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/07/19/transportation-bill/
Minnesota road, bridge and transit advocates are breathing a sigh of relief;
the transportation bill agreed to as part of the state budget agreement doesn't
cut transit funding as deeply as originally proposed and even contains some
additional money for road maintenance.
Pared-down Transportation bill passes the House
http://www.minnpost.com/politicalagenda/2011/07/19/30160/pared-down_transportation_bill_passes_the_house
The Minnesota House passed a $126 million transportation budget bill Tuesday
that cuts $41 million from current general fund levels. One of the biggest
sticking points for Gov. Mark Dayton and Democrats in the transportation bill
the governor vetoed in May was cuts to the Metropolitan Council, which operates
Metro Transit.
Transit system dodges bullet with reduced funding cuts in retooled
transportation bill
http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2011/07/19/30148/transit_system_dodges_bullet_with_reduced_funding_cuts_in_retooled_transportation_bill
The Twin Cities regional transit system and its patrons dodged a bullet Monday
when the Dayton administration succeeded in tempering the state funding cut
that had been approved by the Republican House and Senate.
Minnesota Vikings stadium tabled by lawmakers; Team grumbles
http://www.twincities.com/ci_18510665?source=most_viewed
It's official: No Minnesota Vikings stadium plan will be taken up during the
special session this week, and possibly not even this year.
Minnesota Historical Society to reopen Saturday (assuming budget is resolved)
http://www.minnpost.com/politicalagenda/2011/07/19/30155/minnesota_historical_society_to_reopen_saturday_assuming_budget_is_resolved
Just minutes before the special legislative session was slated to begin
Tuesday, the Minnesota Historical Society announced that it will reopen its 26
sites and museums on Saturday, after a three-week closure caused by the budget
shutdown.
Getting Minnesota government fully operational will take a few days
http://www.minnpost.com/politicalagenda/2011/07/19/30157/getting_minnesota_government_fully_operational_will_take_a_few_days
Getting Minnesota’s state government running again is going to take longer than
many anticipated.
Minnesota government won't be able to reopen as easily as it shut down
http://www.twincities.com/politics/ci_18510661
Minnesota state government is a big, complex Rube Goldbergmachine that will
take awhile to get up and running again.
Officials: Minnesota Government Restart Will Take Weeks
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/morning_news/officials-government-restart-will-take-weeks-jul-19-2011
Minnesota legislators have passed a budget bill and a handful of others, and
Governor Mark Dayton signed them Wednesday morning. The state government and
all of its services are clear to restart, but workers are wondering when
they’ll be called back to work.