Commentary; Posted: 3/1/06
Legislators starting over
T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol Reporter
For lawmakers the 2006 legislative session may be a case of starting over ó clean slates, short memories, tinges of fear. Legislators are coming off two tough sessions, the first witnessing the torching of the stateís beloved wish-list, the bonding bill.
And the 2005 session proved a partisan ticket to a partial state government shutdown motorists may wincingly recall when passing rest stops. Lawmakers are ìin trouble up to their eyeballs with the public,î said Sen. Bill Belanger, R-Bloomington.
House Speaker Steve Sviggum, R-Kenyon, recently half-joked when quoted the Legislatureís poor public approval rating that he was surprised it was that high.
Currently, there seems a genuine effort by some lawmakers ó by Rep. Kathy Tingelstad, R-Andover, for instance ó to better cultivate bipartisanship at the Legislature through simple but doable steps as alternatively seating Republicans and DFLers around committee tables, finding time for lawmakers to meet socially.
Although the 201-member strong Legislature is only the size of a small high school, lawmakers commonly do not know each others names. ìItís what we all want,î said Rep. Greg Davids, R-Preston, of a smooth, purposeful session. ìAnd Iím hoping we can get it accomplished,î he said.
Beyond internal attempts at reform ó and possibly working against it ó are the looming 2006 elections.
In November all the elected officials at the Capitol, from Gov. Pawlenty down to lowly Senate and House freshmen, must stand before the voters and account themselves.
Election year politics could inflame a number of issues before lawmakers this session: the same-sex marriage ban constitutional amendment, immigration and eminent domain reform, others. At the same time, legislative leaders speak of keeping respectful tones and conjure up images of open hands, not fists, being extended across the aisles.
ìWhile I say that, thereís a very fine line between being accepting and caving in on your values and principles,î said Sviggum recently.
The bonding bill is the centerpiece of the upcoming session ó Sviggum looks at passing it as the final act of the session ó but both Republicans and DFLers talk about property tax cuts, eminent domain and immigration reform.
ìMoney is going to be tight,î said Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson, DFL-Willmar, adding Senate DFLers would like to slate any extra dollars to all-day kindergarten.
House Republicans point to eliminating the marriage tax penalty.
The stateís February forecast, due out Feb. 28, will give lawmakers a sharper image of resource at hand.
The November forecast projected a state budget surplus of about $1 billion in permanent and one-time money, slating it towards property tax and education funding relief.
So as the great ship of state embarks on the 2006 legislative session on March 1, the legislative leaders at the helm apparently sail with an eye toward calm waters and a quick journey.
ìI think there will be a better tone than last year,î said Sen. Pat Pariseau, R-Farmington.
But will it last? ìThatís an awful lot to ask out of 201 of us though,î she said with a chuckle.
The session is slated to end on May 22.
Hereís a brief look at some of the issues:
Transportation
Last session the only thing in the transportation bill that withstood contact with Gov. Pawlentyís veto pen was a proposed constitutional amendment rededicating motor vehicle sales tax revenue. Only about half of MVST revenue currently flows to highway and transit projects.
If voters approve the proposed amendment, by 2011 all MVST revenue would go to transportation ó at least 40 percent for public transit.
Pawlenty wants to tap into this new money to pay for $2.5 billion in bonding to accelerate highway construction projects across the state. But some Greater Minnesota lawmakers, and suburban, too, dislike the current amendment because theoretically it could direct all MVST revenue to transit.
Stadiums
Vikings owner Zygi Wilf recently unveiled the teamís 740-acre vision for a stadium and economic development center in Blaine. Wilf says heís optimistic the Legislature will act on the stadium this session.
ìIn all honesty we canít handle three stadiums in one year ó we canít do it, plain and simple,î Speaker Sviggum said recently. The combined weight would crash them all, Sviggum explained.
Rep. Kathy Tingelstad, R-Andover, feels just the opposite. ìI think the best chance of passing any of them is to do all three of them at the same time,î she said.
Still, another member of the Anoka County delegation, Sen. Leo Foley, DFL-Coon Rapids, called the Vikings stadium proposal ìfuture oriented.î
Bonding bill
Gov. Pawlenty has proposed a $897 million bonding bill, with House Republicans indicating their bill will be similar sized while Senate DFLers indicate theirs will be larger.
Included in the governorís bill is $60 million in Northstar Commuter Rail bonding, $5 million for the Cedar Avenue Transitway, and about $8 million for a park and ride and passenger facility at the I-35W/46th Street bus station.
Other local projects include $20 million for a new science center and library at Century College in White Bear Lake, and about $5 million for classroom renovation and addition at Normandale Community College in Bloomington. Additionally, thereís $20 million for the completion of a 150-bed segregation unit at Stillwater State Prison to house violent inmates.
Lino Lakes Correction Facility is also slated for $2.5 million to remodel and provide space for medical facilities at the prison.
House and Senate have not yet released their bonding proposals.
Rep. Vandeveer of Forest Lake, believes the size of the bonding bills being considered is too large. ìA lot of people try to buy their reelection,î he said.
Education
Gov. Pawlenty and House Republicans propose to mandate that 70 percent of school district funding be spent on classroom instruction. Categories considered classroom spending under the governorís proposal include teacher pay and benefits, special and vocational education, classroom supplies, aides, activities.
Senate DFLers gave the proposal a cool reception.
Sen. Steve Kelley, DFL-Hopkins, Senate Education Committee chairman, called the Republican proposal ìa rehash of a bad idea they had last year.î
Sales tax
Senate DFLers propose to raise the state sales tax from 6.5 percent to 6.75 percent ó about 25 cents for every $100 consumers spend ó to generate about $191 million a year for the outdoors and the arts.
They propose putting their initiative before voters in the form of constitutional amendment.
About a third of the extra sales tax revenue would go towards fish and wildlife with the remainder evenly divided between parks and trails, clean water initiatives, the arts ó museums, public broadcasting, others.
Immigration
Immigration reform could become one of the hotter issues at the Capitol, lending itself to campaign politics.
A recent report by the Pawlenty Administration concluded there were between 80,000 to 85,000 illegal immigrants in Minnesota, costing the state about $180 million a year in services.
Critics have charged the report overlooks both the economic and social benefits illegal immigrants offer the state.
Pawlenty has proposed assisting legal immigration while curbing illegal immigration to Minnesota.
He proposes tax credits for immigrants seeking citizenship, grants for businesses teaching immigrant employees English, and pushing the federal government for more visas for immigrants working or studying in vital employment areas.
Pawlenty has also proposed the creation of the Minnesota Illegal Immigration Enforcement Team, and prohibiting cities from having ìsanctuary lawsî which prevent local law enforcement from inquiring about immigration status or enforcing immigration laws, among other proposals.
Identity theft
Republicans and Democrats alike are floating proposals to deal with the growing problems of identify theft.
Itís estimated nearly 3000 Minnesotans were victims of identity theft in 2004 ó 57 out of every 1000 residents.
Eminent domain
The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Kelo v. City of New London has spawned a wash of interest at the Capitol for eminent domain reform.
Republicans and Democrats call for changes to existing Minnesota eminent domain law, while League of Minnesota Cities officials back some changes to law though warn against excessive reform.
Wildcard
One legislative session wildcard now held by the Minnesota Supreme Court is Gov. Pawlentyís 75-cent healthcare impact fee on cigarettes.
A lower court has already ruled the impact fee, which helped close the special session last summer, violates the tobacco settlement agreement crafted by former Attorney General Skip Humphrey and Big Tobacco in 1998.
Should the higher court uphold the ruling, it would poke more than a $350 million hole in the state budget.
How to fill the hole, and with what, could impact the many spending proposals lawmakers envision.
Itís not known when the Supreme Court will rule.
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