Sen Shila Kiscaden: LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 5

04/04/2006

by Senator Sheila Kiscaden


1 - One Month into Session: Faster Pace and More Cooperation
2 - University of Minnesota Rochester Advances in Senate!
3 - Legislative Reforms Advancing
4 - Stadium Debates Heating Up

1- One Month into Session: Faster Pace and More Cooperation:

One month ago, the 2006 Legislature was gaveled into session.
Legislators from both parties were united in their pledges to get the
state’s work done quickly, on time, and without the partisan bickering
of last year.

While that pledge is showing some signs of strain, I am pleased to
report that the Senate is making very good progress and is working at a
faster pace on priority issues than in previous years, and has completed
work on two key issues: the bonding bill and eminent domain reform.

In the Senate, the bonding bill, which funds $990 million in important
construction projects throughout the state, passed in record time with a
final vote of 56 to 9.  This is a show of bipartisan agreement and
respect for the diligent work of the Senate Capital Investment Committee
which has been holding hearings about the bill’s projects since last
September.

The four top priority projects from our area (the Biotechnology
Business Center, the Regional Public Safety Training Center, the Waste
to Energy grants, and the Volleyball Center) along with funding for two
area trails, were funded in the Senate bill, but not without some last
minute work on my part and that of Dave Senjem, to preserve funding for
the public safety training center.  With our colleagues ready to give
support in the House, we expect to have all four projects fully funded
when all is said and done.

The Senate has also passed an eminent domain reform bill (SF 2750),
which offers enhanced protection for Minnesota’s home and business
owners by prohibiting the use of eminent domain (taking of private
property by government) for the transfer of property from one private
owner to another for economic development purposes.  The bill defines
public purposes, and assures private property owners more rights and
protections in how they are compensated when a property is taken for a
public purpose.

This legislation also passed the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan
support. By limiting property seizures by government agencies, the bill
provides private property owners and business owners with protection
against government abuse.

2- University of Minnesota Rochester Advances in Senate!

The Senate has had three hearings on the University of Minnesota
Rochester proposal, and I am pleased to tell you that the Senate
Education Committees has recommended that full funding!  To demonstrate
that this is not a partisan issue, Dave Senjem and I authored identical
bills.  In the House, Fran Bradley is the sole author of the bill, but
all area legislators have signed on as co-authors.  Rochester and our
area have the unique advantage of being represented by both Democrats
and Republicans. This means that our area’s initiatives have advocates
in every legislative caucus, which can and has worked to our advantage
in advancing our area’s proposals. The House Education Committee had
its first hearing (and probably only) hearing on the University of
Minnesota Rochester proposal last week, and is also expected to
recommend its passage.

3- Legislative Reforms Advancing:

In early February, close to 70 legislators from both the Democratic and
Republican caucuses in the House and Senate gathered for a two-day
workshop to discuss how to work together to go beyond gridlock and make
the Legislature more effective.

Legislation was been introduced based on the consensus agreements
reached at that workshop, and most of them have been recommended to pass
by either a House or Senate Committee. Bills call for minimizing
politics by setting a schedule for consideration of legislation and
other major deadline, limiting what is included in budget bills, and
establishing conference committee procedures. Both Senate and the House
Committees have passed bills that would continue a current budget until
a new one is approved.  This is a measure used by many states and
eliminates the possibility of a government shutdown like Minnesota
experienced last summer.

In another reform measure, the Senate Elections Committee has passed a
bill that would reduce the size of the Legislature by 1/3, effective for
the 2012 election.  Minnesota has one of the largest legislative bodies
in the nation. The bill would cut the number of senators from 67 to 45
and the number of House members from 134 to 90. The Committee also
approved staggering Senate terms, so that half of the members run for
reelection every two years, rather than all members every four years.

4. Stadium Debates Heating Up

The Gophers, Twins, and Vikings are all seeking legislative approval
and public funding for new stadiums.  The Gopher stadium proposal had
two favorable hearings last week.  The Twins proposal was advanced by a
Senate committee last night.

While it is slightly out of date, the attached comparison of the
proposals that was recently distributed at the March 18 Rochester Coffee
and Conversation discussion provides a useful overview of the
proposals.

Click this link to see the chart:
CLICK HERE

Let me know if there are issues you’d like to hear about.  Next week
I’ll provide an update on the same-sex marriage debate.

- Sheila

Senator Sheila Kiscaden
District 30
325 Capitol
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-296-4848