On Monday, under threat of a full veto from Governor Pawlenty, the House and Senate passed the bonding bill and sent it to the Governor. Prior to and veto, Speaker Kelliher returned the House file to the Senate which will have the option of taking action on the bill this Thursday. This move is being done to negotiate with the Governor on needed projects for the State of Minnesota. Without a signature on the bill, the Speaker has the option of returning the bill back to the Senate.

On Monday, the Governor expressed concern that the $89 million dollar expansion of the Moose Lake sex offender treatment program, Oak park Heights security renovations and renovations at the Minneapolis Veterans Home were not included in the bonding bill. With both bodies proposing a significantly larger bonding bill than the Governor’s $685 million, legislators had hoped to kick-start economic development across the state, improve and increase higher education investments, and improve the state’s clean water infrastructure and transportation. However, the bill will have to be negotiated down to a figure closer to the governor’s requested $725 million.

To view the full proposals from the House of Representatives, the Senate and the Governor’s office, go to http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/fiscal/files/bond10.pdf

This week, legislators also continue hearings trying to unveil specifics of Governor Pawlenty’s budget proposal to resolve the state’s $1.2 billion budget deficit. His cuts include another $181 million to state agencies and another $347 million to DHS. He made initial cuts to nearly 100 FTE’s and additional cuts of 3-6% operating budgets for FY 2011.

Early Retirement Incentive:
This is the particular legislation that I receive the most phone calls and e-mails on. There are bills, (Senate File 1679 and House File 1893) that provide public employees, including retirement systems employees, a retirement incentive of up to 36 months of health insurance if you retire before July 15^th, 2011. Last session, the bills were left needing a full vote of the House of Representatives at the time of adjournment. Under this legislation, the state would continue to pay the employer’s share of the health and dental premiums for the employee and the employee’s dependents up to the determined amount of time. Current language in the bill allows for this incentive at the employer’s discretion.

In order to pass, this bill will be required to go back to conference committee before being voted on by both legislative bodies and sent to the Governor. MAPE and AFSCME are both working with the Administration to ensure support from the Governor’s office and passage of this legislation.

MSRS Changes
Legislation making changes to MSRS retirement plans will receive a hearing on Friday, 2/26/2010 in the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement. H.F.2952/S.F.2573 will take steps to fully fund the General Plan which is currently funded at 86%. Changes will include lowering future post-retirement adjustments from 2.5% to 2%, reducing the benefit increases for members terminating service and deferring payments, increases vesting on future hires from 3 to 5 years and lowers interest on refunds paid out from 6% to 4%.

Labor Education
A bill requiring labor History to be taught in our public schools (S.F.2782 authored by Senator Dahle and H.F. 3095 authored by Rep. Bly) has just been introduced. MAPE’s Board of Directors took a position in support of this legislation.

MAPE Contract Ratification Legislation
H.F. 2758 authored by Rep. Lillie and S.F. 2386 authored Sen. Metzen will ratify the negotiated state labor agreements including the current MAPE collective bargaining agreement. H.F. 2758 passed in policy committee which has a deadline of March 12. S.F. 2386 will receive a hearing in the Committee on State and Local Government Operations and Oversight at 3:00 in room 123 of the state capitol.

Minnesota Health Plan
H.F.135, the comprehensive single-payer health plan bill for all Minnesotan’s will receive a hearing in the House Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight committee on February 23^rd at 2:45 in the State Office Building room 200. To contact members of the committee to urge the bill’s passage, please go to http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/committeemembers.asp?comm=86139.

No other hearings are anticipated this session but much there will be a great deal of groundwork to be laid for next session and in anticipation of seat changes.

State Primary Election
S.F. 2251, which changes the state’s primary election to August 10, passed by a 65-0 vote in the Senate. A companion bill is awaiting final approval by the House of Representatives.

Whistleblower Legislation
S.F.271 prevents an employer from taking action against an employee who communicates information that is believed to be truthful and accurate, and that relates to state services, including the financing of state services to a legislator, legislative auditor, or a constitutional officer. The bill passed out of the Senate Judiciary committee and received its second reading on the Senate floor.

MAPE Government Efficiencies
Bills have been introduced in the House (H.F. 2690 – authored by Rep. Tony Sertich) and Senate (S.F. 2169 – authored by Sen. Dick Cohen) to make MAPE suggested cuts to state government. The legislation requires agencies to reduce contracts on outside vendors by at least the same percentage amount as the agency’s unallotments, prevents agencies from increasing designated managerial positions during a time of deficit and prevents out of state travel not associated with the agencies statutory mission or state emergency preparedness or response. At this time, MAPE continues to work with the authors to find ways to require government to actually reduce general fund spending by a certain dollar amount based on our initiatives.

In Solidarity,

Richard Kolodziejski

MAPE Legislative Affairs Director

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