Opportunity Gap

The legislature’s self imposed April 30th deadline to adjourn sine die (Latin for we’re out of here for good this time!) is upon us, and they still have not passed a bonding bill, which is the traditional signature bill of an even numbered year session. The Vikings’ stadium is still in the mix as is a bill to freeze corporate … Read More

The legislature returns to St. Paul after a ten day extended break. They are hoping to wrap up their work by the end of April, which gives them two weeks to pass a few major bills, including a major capital improvement bill. Under the constitution, they can meet as late as May 21, but most believe they are ready to … Read More

The legislature was busy last week, including work on a handful of omnibus bills that include more policy than finance adjustments. Governor Dayton and legislative leaders are close on negotiating a series of bills dealing with business tax relief, HHS spending (a result of $73 million in HMO refunds) and education policy. The bonding bill is still in the mix … Read More

AASA provides an excellent resource (http://www.aasa.org/aasablog.aspx?id=22958&blogid=286) for an audio PowerPoint explaining sequestration, interactive worksheet to calculate the effect of sequestration on your federal programs, and links to inform your U.S. Representatives and Minnesota’s Senators about the effects of sequestration on your district. Sequestration will result should congress fail to act before the end of 2012. Sequestration is expected to reduce … Read More

The legislature is set to work this week through Thursday and then leave for a long break. There have been rumors that they will try to adjourn by this Thursday, but that seems overly optimistic. The traditional dance between legislative leaders and the Governor hasn’t taken place yet and major pieces of legislation are still moving forward. A bonding bill … Read More