Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Hall: "As widely reported, initial pull tab revenue for FY 2013 was projected to be $35 million, while updated projections have been scaled back to $1.8 million, a 95 percent reduction."
The following is a column from Sen. Dan Hall, D-District 56. E-pull tabs, Budgets, and Taxes Bipartisan concerns continue at the Capitol over the growing gap between initial and updated projections of electronic pull tab revenue—which is a key funding source for the new Vikings stadium. During this week’s inaugural hearing of the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Sports Facilities, members of both parties called for an expedited hearing on why Governor Dayton’s revenue projections have so far been significantly off the mark. As widely reported, initial pull tab revenue for FY 2013 was projected to be $35 million, while updated projections have been scaled back to $1.8 million, a 95 percent reduction. Officials from the Minnesota …
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Thompson: "Early data show pull tab revenue for FY 2013 at $1.8 million, 95 percent less than the forecast $35 million."
Editor's Note: To read Sen. Dave Thompson's (R-District 58) full weekly newsletter, click the PDF to the right. Dear Neighbors, Please see this week's legislative update for a review on the problems with E-pull tabs, an update on Budget & Taxes, as well as a summary of work done in the Transportation Committee. Sincerely, Dave
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Administrators, support staff and a handful of teachers will be let go as the district looks to trim next year's budget.
(Editor's note: a previous version of this story included two errors—suggesting the School Board cut one of the district's high school athletic directors, and cut 2.77 full-time equivalency elementary school physical education teachers. While both of those line items were on previous lists of budget cuts, they were NOT included in the approved cuts last week. Patch regrets the error.) Administrators, support staff, and a handful of teachers are among the $3.5 million in budget adjustments and cuts Lakeville's School Board approved this week after months of deliberation and discussion. While the cuts were intended to minimize impact in the classroom, half of the district's eight elementary school counselors will be let go, saving $300,000, …
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Thompson: "We all want to provide enough tax revenue for government to effectively perform its core functions, but growing government irresponsibly is not that way to attain that goal."
Editor's Note: To read Sen. Dave Thompson's (R-District 58) full weekly newsletter, click the PDF to the right. Dear Neighbors, Today concluded the 2nd deadline for bills. Throughout this week many bills passed through their required committees. This update highlights issues from the Judiciary Committee, Transportation Committee, Health & Human Services, as well as Environment. This coming week the Senate is on break for the Easter & Passover Holidays. Sincerely, Dave
Hall: "We have reached the point in the legislative session when many of the plans of the Governor and legislative leaders have become public."
The following is a column from Sen. Dan Hall, R-District 56. Budgets and Taxes We have reached the point in the legislative session when many of the plans of the Governor and legislative leaders have become public. We now know that the Governor proposes a $1.8 billion tax increase, the DFL House proposes a $2.4 billion tax increase and the DFL Senate proposes a $2 billion tax increase for the next two year budget. Additionally, we now know that their proposed K-12 Education funding increases are $355 million, $550 million and $486 million, respectively. Their proposed Health & Human Services ( HHS ) increases/decreases are $210 million, -$150 million and -$152 million, respectively. Under each of the preceding scenarios the two largest …
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Hall: "Republicans expressed concern that this bill would result in increased costs for families and taxpayers alike."
The following is a column from Sen. Dan Hall, D-District 56. State and Local Government This week the State and Local Government Committee passed Senate File 778, a bill that could result in the unionization of child daycare providers. On a 7-5 party-line vote, the committee passed the AFSCME-supported bill. The Democrat majority rejected several Republican amendments to protect private business owners and the families they serve. These amendments included allowing families to observe contract negotiations, exempting nonmembers from paying union dues, and disclosing information to providers about what unionization means for their business. In response to AFSCME's testimony that SF 778 bill was about "raising subsidy rates," Republicans…
Saturday, March 9, 2013
The Education Policy Committee passed S.F. 783, an anti-bullying bill earlier this week.
Editor's Note: To read Sen. Dave Thompson's (R-District 58) full weekly newsletter, click the PDF to the right. Dear Neighbors, Please see this week's legislative update. In this update, I discuss the recent passage of the Healthcare Exchange Bill in the Senate, the push for day-care unionization, and the Anti-Bullying Bill heard in Education this week. Also, there is a personal note regarding my position on judicial retention elections. Sincerely, Dave
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Hall: "The state of Minnesota will start Fiscal Years 2014-2015 with a projected deficit of $627 million. This is a drastically improved situation from the one the Republican Majority inherited during the Session of 2011."
The following is a column from Sen. Dan Hall, D-District 56. The Budget This week Minnesota Management and Budget released an updated forecast for Fiscal Years 2013, 2014 and 2015. The update contains excellent news. At the end of Fiscal Year 2013, the state is projected to have a positive balance of $295 million. Statute dictates that $290 million of the surplus will be used to re-pay the K-12 school aid shift. The repayment starts March 15th -two years in advance of the Governor’s proposal. The state of Minnesota will start Fiscal Years 2014-2015 with a projected deficit of $627 million. This is a drastically improved situation from the one the Republican Majority inherited during the Session of 2011. At that time, we faced depleted …
Sunday, March 3, 2013
The February budget forecast showed that Minnesota is in better fiscal shape than it was at the time of the November 2012 forecast. Two years ago at this time we faced a $5.1 billion deficit, currently we face a projected $627 million deficit.
Editor's Note: To read Sen. Dave Thompson's (R-District 58) full weekly newsletter, click the PDF to the right. Dear Neighbors, Please see the this week's legislative update. I touch on the topics of Budget Forecast, Taxes, Health & Human Services, and also the Board of Regents. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Sincerely, Dave
Friday, February 15, 2013
"Between e-mails and phone contacts I have heard from nearly 200 residents of my district."
Editor's note: The following is a newsletter from Lakeville's State House Representative Mary Liz Holberg, R-Lakeville. Most Popular Constituent Contact Issue This Week - Gun Control Bills This week, the Public Safety Committee took testimony on various gun control proposals. For three days, there have been hundreds of citizens in the building showing their strong opposition to the bills being considered. Citizens began arriving at 7 am to try to get into the hearings that began at 10 am. The hearing room was packed each day as well as multiple overflow rooms that were set up so that citizens could listen to the testimony. Between e-mails and phone contacts I have heard from nearly 200 residents of my district. They are overwhelmingly …
Marian Stella
12:25 pm on Thursday, April 11, 2013
We need more involved in having E tabs. VFW and Eagles have pull tabs and bingo. Work with them. I like both. Can't make money with 2 bars in St. Paul and have to look them up on the internet. Where's Margaret Thatcher for Minnesota? more ›