Thursday, December 6, 2012
Wednesday’s MMB report shows a $1.3 billion surplus, the third consecutive positive forecast.
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Thursday, December 6, 2012
Minnesota Management & Budget’s (MMB) new state economic forecast provides even more proof of the fiscal discipline we restored to St. Paul during two years of Republican majorities in the Legislature. It also highlights the challenges that lie ahead for our great state. Wednesday’s MMB report shows a $1.3 billion surplus, the third consecutive positive forecast. Combined, Minnesota has enjoyed a surplus of $2.5 billion over the last two years ($876 million in November, 2011 and $323 million last February). This is a remarkable turnaround from the $6.2 billion shortfall we faced in January 2011. The latest surplus funds allow us to fully repay K-12 funding which was deferred as part of a budget compromise in 2011. It also allows us to …
Monday, August 27, 2012
Rep. Kelby Woodard (R-Belle Plaine) shares his thoughts on the recently passed storm-relief package.
Editor's note: The following comes from the office of Rep. Kelby Woodard. Minnesotans have once again come together to help our neighbors in distress. The Minnesota House on Friday approved a $167.5 million package to fund recovery efforts after high winds and flooding caused serious damage throughout Minnesota in June and July. Rice County is included among those set to receive aid. The bill received wide bipartisan support on its way to approval. Rep. Kelby Woodard, R-Belle Plaine, said a set of much-needed disaster relief reforms are included in the legislation to ensure the funding is used as intended. “We want to maximize the effectiveness of the money we are appropriating while protecting taxpayers as good stewards of their hard-…
Saturday, June 2, 2012
It has been good to be back home, meeting with local citizens after the 2012 legislative session concluded in May. Here is a quick recap of what we have done the last two years in St. Paul.
Dear Neighbor, It has been good to be back home, meeting with local citizens after the 2012 legislative session concluded in May. Here is a quick recap of what we have done the last two years in St. Paul. Warm regards, Kelby Follow Northfield Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Both of Northfield’s representatives in the House—Rep. Kelby Woodard and Rep. Pat Garafalo—voted in favor of the bill, which faces a Senate vote today.
Both of Northfield’s representatives in the Minnesota House of Representatives voted to support the final Minnesota Vikings stadium financing plan that was approved early Thursday morning. Rep. Kelby Woodard (R-District 25B), who represents the majority of Northfield, and Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-District 36B), who represents the city’s lone precinct in Dakota County, were among 71 House members voting in favor. Sixty voted against the measure. A complete rundown of voting can be found by clicking here. The legislation approved by the House at about 3:30 a.m. Thursday was a revised financing plan written by a Minnesota Legislature conference committee on Wednesday. The conference committee was necessary because the House and Senate approved …
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Sens. Al DeKruif and Dave Thompson, who represent Northfield, both voted no.
UPDATE: 2:30 p.m. Wednesday The Minnesota Senate on Tuesday approved a public subsidy package for a new Vikings stadium with a 38-28 vote. Sen. Al DeKruif (R-District 25), who represents the majority of Northfield, voted no on the measure. "I believe the state should be a facilitator in getting this Vikings stadium built," he said on Wednesday, but said he couldn't get behind the bill as presented. DeKruif said he's OK with some gambling involved—and is a support of Racino—but said he doesn't want to see general dollars as part of the equation. Sen. Dave Thompson (R-District 36), who represents the Dakota County precinct of Northfield, also voted no, saying he couldn't get behind the idea of relying on gambling money as some of the funding…
Monday, May 7, 2012
Both of Northfield's state representatives voted yea on the measure Monday night.
UPDATE: 10:40 p.m. The Minnesota House on Monday approved a public subsidy package for a new Vikings stadium with a 73-58 vote. Rep. Kelby Woodard (R-District 25B), who represents the majority of Northfield, voted in favor of the measure. Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-District 36B), who represents the Dakota County precinct of Northfield, also voted in favor of the bill. Legislators debated for more than eight hours. As part of the plan, a Garofalo-proposed amendment calls for the state to pay $105 million less and the Vikings to pay for $105 million more. For complete details of the plan, head to TwinCities.com. The Senate is expected to take up its version of the bill on Tuesday. If the Senate approves the measure, a committee made up from …
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Lawmakers will continue to receive money for their daily expenses.
The current session of the Minnesota Legislature will continue at least until next week. Yet, the House of Representative is over its budget for covering lawmakers’ daily expenses. According to a report in Thursday’s Star Tribune, the House had spent $669,257 in per diem through May 2 for this session. Its budget was $663,095. Looking at the per diem paid to Northfield’s House members: • Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-District 36B) represents the Dakota County precinct of Northfield. He has received the budgeted $5,412 for his session per diem and $528 for per diem during the house’s 2011 interim period. • Rep. Kelby Woodard (R-District 25B) represents the Rice County precincts of Northfield. He has received the budgeted $3,960 for his session per …
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
DFLers Kevin Dahle and David Bly will face Republicans Michael Dudley and Brian Wermerskirchen for seats in the Senate and House, respectively.
UPDATED: 12:06 a.m. Wednesday Former state senator Kevin Dahle was endorsed as the DFL Senate District 20 candidate on Tuesday at the party's endorsing convention in Montgomery. Dahle, a teacher at Northfield High School, will face New Prague's Michael Dudley, who was endorsed last month by Republicans. "While I reaffirm my commitment to the party, I pledge to do my best to represent all Minnesotans, Republicans and Democrats, Independents, and others. When we stop working together, our Legislature becomes a haven for special interests and personal agendas," Dahle said, according to a press release from SD20DFL. Dahle was unopposed and received the endorsement unanimously. Redistricting moved Northfield from District 25 to District 20 for …
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
The Belle Plaine Republican’s bill passed the House with broad bi-partisan support.
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Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Editor's note: Submitted by Rep. Kelby Woodard's office A bill Rep. Kelby Woodard authored to ensure residents in need of public defense receive representation during a misdemeanor appeal or post-conviction proceeding was signed into law by Gov. Mark Dayton on Monday. The Belle Plaine Republican’s bill (H.F. 2089) passed the House with broad bi-partisan support. The bill requires the court system to access funds previously available for sex offender classification appeals to provide for a public defense in misdemeanor appeals. Existing state law only provides for a public defense in felony cases, but a recent Minnesota Supreme Court ruling requires us to provide public defense in misdemeanor cases as well. "By using the approach outlined …
Monday, April 23, 2012
We are in the home stretch of the 2012 session and a couple of bills I authored recently passed the House of Representatives.
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Monday, April 23, 2012
Dear Neighbor, We are in the home stretch of the 2012 session and a couple of bills I authored recently passed the House of Representatives. One bill (H.F. 2089) ensures citizens in need of public defense receive representation during a misdemeanor appeal or post-conviction proceeding. It passed the House with broad bi-partisan support. The bill requires the court system to access funds previously available for sex offender classification appeals in order to provide for a public defense in misdemeanor appeals. Existing state law only provides for a public defense in felony cases, but a recent Supreme Court ruling requires us to provide public defense in misdemeanor cases as well. By using the approach outlined in this bill, no additional …
Corey Butler Jr.
11:15 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
What do you guys think of the amendment? Do you think that will kill the deal? more ›