Capitol Review: Area Legislator Advocates Airport Slot Machines

Editor’s Note: Capitol Review is a weekly look at what your state legislators are doing at the Minnesota Capitol—how they’re voting, the bills they’re writing and the issues they’re getting behind. Come back to Minnetonka Patch every Monday for a new Capitol Review.

 Sen. Gen Olson (R-District 33)

• Co-authored SF 185: A bill adjusting the special education percentage eligibility requirement for a charter school to receive the accelerated aid payment shift. The legislation was introduced on Feb. 2, and referred to the Committee on Education.
• SF 40 was introduced Jan. 10-- the bill proposes modifying certain teacher licensure provisions, establishing an alternative teacher preparation program and limited-term teacher license and requiring board of teaching interim reports. Fellow State Senator Terri Bonoff (DFL-District 43) who also represents the Minnetonka area, co-authored the legislation. On Feb. 3, the legislation was passed. State Senators representing Minnetonka, Olson, Hann and Bonoff, voted for passage.  To read Olson’s statement on passage, click here.
• Voted in favor of SF 60, a bill making state government appropriation reductions for fiscal year 2011. Cuts would include reductions for higher education, department of human services, state agency general fund recipients, constitutional offices, and legislature, local government aid (LGA), property tax refund, and sustainable forest incentive modifications. SF 60 passed but because the Senate version makes more modest cuts than the House version, HF 130, of the bill must be negotiated in conference before being sent to Gov. Dayton. House Majority Leader Matt Dean said the “phase one budget bill,” HF130/ SF60, will be taken up by a conference committee Monday night after the floor session.
• Voted in favor of SF 4, legislation which lifts a 16-year-old moratorium on building a nuclear power plant.

Sen. David W. Hann (R-District 42)

• Co-authored SF 203: A bill which would appropriate money to create the early graduation achievement scholarship program. The legislation was introduced on Feb. 2, and referred to the Committee on Education.
• Co-authored SF 250: A bill prescribing a procedure for a qualified economic offer by a school board in teacher contracts. It would also put limits on a teacher’s ability to strike. The legislation will be introduced today and then referred to the Committee on Education.
• Voted to pass SF 40, a bill establishing an alternative teacher preparation program. Bill passed.
• Voted in favor of SF 60, a bill making state government appropriation reductions for fiscal year 2011. SF 60 passed but because the Senate version makes more modest cuts than the House version of the legislation, HF 130, the bill must be negotiated in conference before being sent to Gov. Dayton.
• Voted in favor of SF 4, legislation which lifts a 16-year-old moratorium on building a nuclear power plant.

Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-District 43)

• Co-authored SF 185: A bill adjusting the special education percentage eligibility requirement for a charter school to receive the accelerated aid payment shift. The legislation was introduced on Feb. 2, and referred to the Committee on Education.
• Co-authored SF 242: A bill repealing the requirement of the Department of Management and Budget that school district state-aid payments be reduced prior to state of Minnesota undertaking short-term borrowing for cash flow needs. The legislation will be introduced today and then referred to the Committee on Education.
• Voted to pass SF 40,  a bill establishing an alternative teacher preparation program. Bill passed.
• Voted against SF 60. This “early action” bill would reduce spending and make other one-time spending cuts permanent. It is a companion bill to HF130.SF 60 passed but because the Senate version makes more modest cuts than the House version of the legislation, HF 130, the bill must be negotiated in conference before being sent to Gov. Dayton.
• Voted in favor of SF 4, legislation which lifts a 16-year-old moratorium on building a nuclear power plant.
•  To read Sen. Bonoff’s latest Capitol Update, click here. 

Rep. Connie Doepke (R-District 33B)

• Co-authored HF 282, a bill clarifying requirements for changing benefits in a group insurance contract for employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement. The bill was referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Elections.
• Co-authored HF 346, a bill authorizing a school district capital account fund transfer. The bill was referred to the Committee on Education Finance.

Rep. Kirk Stensrud (R-District 42A)

• Co-authored HF 288, a bill providing a credit for investment in start-up and emerging Minnesota businesses. The bill was referred to the Committee on Commerce and Regulatory Reform.
• Co-authored HF 302, a bill requiring voters to provide picture identification before receiving a ballot. The bill was referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Elections.

 Rep. John Benson (DFL-District 43B)

• Introduced HF 261, a bill requiring rulemaking to allow mechanical control of narrow-leaved cattail without an aquatic plant management permit. The bill was referred to the Committee on Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance.
• Co-authored HF 294, a bill authorizing slot machines at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The bill was referred to the Committee on Commerce and Regulatory Reform.
• Co-authored HF 296, a bill abolishing the office of lieutenant governor.  The bill was referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Elections.