Monday, May 23, 2011
Republican legislators and Gov. Dayton could not agree on a budget deal before the end of the regular legislative session.
UPDATE (MAY 24 12:56 p.m.): Just 12 hours after the state legislature adjourned, Governor Mark Dayton vetoed the nine budget bills passed by the Republican legislature in the closing days of session, and returned the bills along with veto messages outlining areas of both agreement and concern. In his veto letters, Governor Dayton outlined the stark differences and the need for compromise: “Each of us started our budget proposals by making a choice. I chose a balanced approach to our budget; one that included both significant cuts, but asked the top two percent of Minnesotans to pay more to ensure our quality of life and the services millions of Minnesotans depend on. My approach chooses not to balance the budget on the backs of …
Monday, May 9, 2011
Reshaping of the state's legislative districts has begun.
Some local residents may lose their current representative in the Statehouse, if a Republican redistricting plan, passed by the House, goes forward in the Senate. Last week, House Republicans released and then narrowly passed a plan that would redraw the state's legislative boundaries before the 2012 election—a plan that puts Reps. John Benson (DFL-43B) and Connie Doepke (R-33B) into one legislative district. That means that the two area lawmakers would be forced to retire or to run head-to-head against one another. Neither incumbent would comment on the proposed redistricting plan. However, late last week Rep. Doepke voted to pass the Republican-written measure. Rep. Benson did not cast a vote. Ultimately, the legislation passed along …
44.934441
-93.436813
3828 Huntingdon Dr, Minnetonka, MN
Rep. Benson's Home
/articles/redistricting-benson-doepke-gone
/locations/4283653
44.99335
-93.52965
265 Hollander Rd, Wayzata, MN
Rep. Doepke's Home
/articles/redistricting-benson-doepke-gone
/locations/4283654
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Also last week, Sen. Bonoff introduced legislation that would allow a grandparent to be considered an immediate family member for the purposes of unemployment insurance coverage.
Editor’s Note: Capitol Review is a weekly look at what your state legislators are doing at the Minnesota Capitol—the bills they’re writing and the issues they’re getting behind. Come back to Minnetonka Patch every week for a new Capitol Review. The week ended with the Senate and House passing all of their omnibus finance bills, which Republican leaders felt was an accomplishment, according to a press release from non-partisan Public Information Services. While Republicans were happy to pass the bills within the first week of April, DFL-ers didn’t share in the joy, the release said. “I am concerned that the budget proposal that has been put forward completely eliminates budget reserves – the “rainy day account” that exists for emergency …
Friday, March 25, 2011
Also this week— the budget will continue to take center stage.
Editor’s Note: Capitol Review is a weekly look at what your state legislators are doing at the Minnesota Capitol—the bills they’re writing and the issues they’re getting behind. Come back to Minnetonka Patch every week for a new Capitol Review. The theme of this week in the state Legislature will be the budget as both chambers are expected to vote on omnibus bills over the next few days. Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-District 43) On March 23, introduced as chief author, SF 1004, a bill providing an exception for children to the six-month preexisting condition limitation for the Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association. On March 24, introduced as a co-author, SF 1022, a bill establishing annual evaluations for principals. To read Sen. Bonoff’s …
Sunday, March 20, 2011
In this week's Capitol Review, local lawmakers take on the budget.
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 week for a new Capitol Review. Budget Debate The latest chapter in the budget debate has started. And Republicans hope to have budget targets hammered out by the end of this week. Democrats are fighting back, saying the cuts target education. To read a full story, click here. Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-District 43) Sen. Gen Olson (R-District 33) Sen. David W. Hann (R-District 42) Rep. Connie Doepke (R-District 33B) Rep. John Benson (DFL-District 43B) Rep. Kirk Stensrud (R-District 42A) Minnetonka’s State …
Monday, March 14, 2011
The latest chapter in the budget debate has started. Republicans in the Minnesota Legislature released their budget targets last week and now Democrats are fighting back, saying the cuts target education.
On March 10, Republicans in the Minnesota Legislature released their budget targets—hoping to hash out the budget’s details in the next two weeks. Their plan proposes a 12 percent spending cut in fiscal years 2012-2013. (Look here for Republican numbers up against Gov. Mark Dayton's recommendations). Democrats have wasted no time criticizing these Republican budget targets. Rep. Paul Thissen (DFL-Minneapolis) said the GOP found that living within their means was not as easy as they said it would be on the campaign trail, “It appears that the property-tax raising, job killing, budgets of the past, will be the budget of our future.” Earlier today, details of the budget plan became more concrete when on a 17-13 party-line vote, the House …
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Also this week, the budget debate will heat up in the legislature.
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. Minnetonka’s State lawmakers: Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-District 43), Sen. David Hann (R-District 42), Sen. Gen Olson (R-District 33), Rep. John Benson (DFL-District 43B), Rep. Connie Doepke (R-District 33B), and Rep. Kirk Stensrud (R-District 42A). Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-District 43) On March 9, introduced, as a chief-author, SF 659, bill appropriating money for adding lanes to a portion of Interstate Highway 494. To read a story on that plan, click here. On March 9, introduced, …
Monday, March 7, 2011
A new law makes it more feasible for Minnesota's professionals to move into the classroom.
Thanks in large part to the work of three local Minnetonka lawmakers, becoming a licensed teacher is now more achievable for many professionals in Minnesota. Earlier today, Gov. Mark Dayton signed into law legislation allowing want-to-be teachers, for the first time in state history, to go outside the Minnesota college and university systems for a teaching license. The new routes include nonprofits and school districts, as long as the licensing program is approved by the state's Board of Teaching. “Alternative licensure is a tool that we believe can attract well-educated, diverse and dedicated people who want to join the teaching ranks,” said Senate Education Chairwoman Gen Olson (R-Minnetrista), sponsor of the Senate measure, SF 40. Sen…
Sen. David Hann (R-Eden Prairie/Minnetonka) will introduce five new pieces of legislation aimed at Minnesota's teachers. Also watch video of Sen. Hann talking taxes.
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. Minnetonka’s State lawmakers: Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-District 43), Sen. David Hann (R-District 42), Sen. Gen Olson (R-District 33), Rep. John Benson (DFL-District 43B), Rep. Connie Doepke (R-District 33B), and Rep. Kirk Stensrud (R-District 42A). ALTERNATIVE TEACHER LICENSURE On March 3, legislation creating an alternative teacher licensure pathway passed in the legislation with bi-partisan support. SF 40 (chief-authored by Sen. Olson and co-authored by Sen. Bonoff) passed the …
Monday, February 28, 2011
On Monday, the new budget forecast was released and it puts the state deficit at just over $5 billion. That's a billion dollars less than what was projected in November, 2010.
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. Minnetonka’s State lawmakers: Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-District 43), Sen. David Hann (R-District 42), Sen. Gen Olson (R-District 33), Rep. John Benson (DFL-District 43B), Rep. Connie Doepke (R-District 33B), and Rep. Kirk Stensrud (R-District 42A). Sen. Gen Olson (R-District 33) Sen. David W. Hann (R-District 42) Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-District 43) On Feb. 24 the Minnesota House voted 124-4 to ban synthetic marijuana. In fact, the bill that was passed (HF 57) would make it a …
