Capitol Review: Minnesota Budget Bills Passed in Senate; DeKruif Supports Voter ID Bills

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 Lakeville Patch every Monday for a new Capitol Review. 

State Sen. Dave Thompson (R-District 36) of Lakeville

According to Thompson, who also represents the northern part of Northfield, the senate has passed all 10 of the major budget bills for the biennium, which include 13 percent in spending reductions.

One of the biggest budget bills passed was the senate’s omnibus tax bill. Thompson said the measure makes $780 million in reductions while also providing property tax relief to homeowners.

The house and senate will likely reconcile their budget bills after Easter break.

And while Thompson acknowledges there’s a ways to go on finding a veto-proof solution to Minnesota’s budget mess, he also says he’s looking forward to “digging into the policy debate.”

• Work continues on these bills, which Thompson previously authored or co-authored: a bill that requires an auditor to provide dependent eligibility verification for state-paid hospital, medical, and dental benefits provided to state employees and their dependents (SF0811), as well as, SF1034, which repeals a law precluding the admissibility of seat belt use evidence in certain civil actions.; a bill (SF0750) that would change the state’s graduation requirements to include completion of “one-half credit of classes through post-secondary enrollment options, advanced placement, or international baccalaureate, or complete a successful work experience in a program approved by the student's school district or charter school.” The students would have to complete the requirement anytime between grades 9 and 12; a bill that would appropriate more than $1.5 million through a bond sale to complete the Cannon Falls Lake Byllesby Dam spillway project. SF0690 mirrors a House bill Garofalo previously introduced.

• A bill that would prohibit "public school employees from using public funds and resources to advocate to pass, elect, or defeat a political candidate, ballot question, or pending legislation" (SF0577); a bill that would reduce the number of members in the House of Representatives and the Senate (SF0419); a bill that would limit the availability of evidence derived from a collective law process, in the court room for civil and criminal proceedings (SF0344); a bill that makes statutory conforming amendments relating to civil actions. The bill also makes assignments for receiverships and creditors. (SF0352); a bill authored (SF0056).

• Thompson serves on the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee, Education Committee, Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, and State Government Innovation and Veterans Committee.

• Tweet of the week: "Senator Nelson presented bill in Judiciary outlawing certain synthetic drugs. Hard to stay ahead of the drug purveyors!"

• Thompson's Twitter handle is @ThompsonSenate 

State Sen. Al DeKruif (R-District 25) of Madison Lake

DeKruif last week spoke in favor of bills that would require an ID to vote in Minnesota elections (see attached video).

"I agree that everyone should have the right the vote," DeKruif said. "It's a huge issue. ... There's so many different things that happen in America where we have to be identified and the right to vote is one I think that has to be added to that," he said.

On Saturday, more than 100 Northfielders came together on Bridge Square to rally in support of several issues, like affordable health care, and spoke out against other issues, like requiring an ID to vote. Check out .

• Work continues on these bills, which DeKruif previously authored or co-authored: A bill that would make modify provisions to state legislation for state agency response to natural disasters. The bill would make it easier for entities—including cities, schools and counties—to apply for and receive forgivable loans from the Board of Water and Soil Resources (SF1044); a bill that would allow individual counties to use private auditors, once per year, in addition to state auditors as long as county funds and personnel permit. The private auditor must meet a standard of approval from state auditors (SF0896).

• A bill that would establish a pilot project to examine how school districts might operate jointly to provide innovative delivery of programs and activities and share resources (SF0946); a bill that would authorize special overweight permits for motor vehicles hauling construction aggregate (SF0978); a bill that would clarify and provide for sales tax collection for rent-to-own and lease-to-own motor vehicles (SF0985); a bill that would modify licensing requirements for well contractors in certain cases. SF0588 was introduced March 7.

• A bill that would allow high school freshmen and sophomores to enroll for college in the school classes to earn college credits (SF0510); a bill to eliminate sales tax for purchases made by local government bodies, including counties, cities and townships (SF0371); a bill that would modify the Minnesota rural preserve property tax program (SF0298); a bill that would increase sanctions for careless driving resulting in a death to be a gross misdemeanor. Currently it’s a misdemeanor (SF0201);

• A bill that would change eligibility requirements for unemployment insurance for minors of business owners (SF0114); a bill that would provided a phased-in subtraction for military retirement pay (SF0041); a bill that would abolish prohibition of certificate of need for new nuclear power plants (SF0004); a bill that would restore the Green acres and agriculture classification to pre-2008 (SF0002).

• DeKruif serves on the Education Committee, Jobs and Economic Growth Committee and the Transportation Committee.

• Tweet of the week: "SF509 passes Transportation Committee on party line vote - on to State Gov and Vets."

• DeKruif's Twitter handle is @SenatorDeKruif 

State Rep. Kelby Woodard (R-District 25B) of Belle Plaine

• Work continues on these bills, which Woodard previously authored or co-authored: a bill that would change provisions to charter schools, including the opening and closing of a school, finding an authorizer and audit reports (HF1321); a bill that would extend by four years the time frame by which residential and commercial entities must comply with the 2008 policy for implementing a subsurface sewage treatment system. Originally, parties would have had to comply with the new rules by Feb. 4, 2012. If Woodard's bill is passed, parties would have until Feb. 4, 2016 to comply (HF 1238). 

• A bill that would allow a municipality to issue liquor licenses to private, non-profit colleges or universities within that municipality. The bill would allow the college or university to sell alcohol on all days of the week to those attending events at the institution (HF 1174); a bill that would appropriate an undetermined amount of funds in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 from the general fund to the commissioner of public safety. The funds would be used to establish grants to establish a demonstration project for high-risk adults (HF 1182).

• For more bills that Woodard is working on, .

• Woodard is vice chair of the Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Committee. He also serves on the Education Finance Committee and Education Reform Committee.

• Tweet of the week: "Quiet @ Capitol this am after passing final budget bill @ 2:30 am eliminating deficit w/o tax increase. The world has not ended? #mnleg"

• Woodard's Twitter handle is @KelbyWoodard

State Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-District 36B) of Farmington

• Work continues on these bills, which Garofalo previously authored: a bill, related to school district financing, that would clarify interest payments on the permanent school fund (HF0785); two bills that would appropriate more than $3 million toward projects around Lake Byllesby in Cannon Falls. The first bill, HF0490, would appropriate $1.5 million through a bond sale to complete the Lake Byllesby Dam spillway project. The second bill, HF0491, would appropriate another $1.5 million for a pedestrian bridge to span the Cannon River in Lake Byllesby Regional Park.; a bill that would offer the presidency to the candidate who receives the popular vote, rendering the Electoral College obsolete (HF0495); a bill that would reinstate a general education aid reduction for certain taconite distributions. (HF0306);

• A bill that would require photo identification to receive Minnesota Family Investment Program assistance and would restrict users from using monthly cash payments to purchase tobacco, alcohol or lottery tickets (HF0171); a bill that would exempt pet sales from sales taxes (HF0036); a bill that would amend teacher licensure provisions by establishing an alternative teacher preparation program that allows eligible individuals to acquire a two-year limited-term teaching license (HF0063), a bill that would increase sanctions for careless driving resulting in a death to be a gross misdemeanor. Currently it’s a misdemeanor (HF0068).

• Garofalo chairs the Education Finance Committee this session. He also sits on the Redistricting Committee, Taxes Committee and Ways and Means Committee.

• Tweet of the week: "My cats breath smells like catfood"