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 April 3, 2008
 
 
 
 
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Dear Rachel,
Today is a big day at the Capitol, with both the House and Senate considering supplemental budget plans. With the debate expected to last into the evening, there is still plenty of time for you to contact your representatives and urge them vote "no" on plans that balance the state's budget while penalizing Minnesota's job providers. Read on to find out more.

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Tomorrow Morning: Congressman Ramstad Speaks at Legislative Breakfast

U.S. Congressman Jim Ramstad

After more than 30 years of public service, U.S. Congressman Jim Ramstad is retiring. Join TwinWest on Friday, April 4 to hear Congressman Ramstad reflect on his years of experience and talk about key issues the business community and the nation are facing at home and abroad.
 
Read TwinWest's interview with Congressman Ramstad in our April 2008 issue of Directions magazine. Watch for your copy in the mail, or read the article now.

April Legislative Breakfast
Friday, April 4, 7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
View event details and register online...

2007-2008 Legislative Breakfast series sponsor: Grand Casino Mille Lacs & Hinckley. April Legislative Breakfast sponsors: Citizens Independent Bank, Liberty Diversified Industries, and NAIOP - National Association of Office and Industrial Properties. A/V sponsor: Swank Audio Visuals. Recording sponsor: Comcast.

If you don't catch Congressman Jim Ramstad at the Legislative Breakfast tomorrow morning, he will be hosting three town meetings within the next few days:

  • Bloomington City Hall, Friday, April 4, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. 
  • Brooklyn Park City Hall, Monday, April 7, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. 
  • Plymouth City Hall, Monday, April 7, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. 

For more information, call his Minnesota office at 952.738.8200.

Tax Bill Update/Action Alert

Taxes-1040The House and Senate today were busy debating omnibus budget bills designed to solve Minnesota's $935 million budget shortfall. Both of these bills contain numerous tax increases that will severely harm Minnesota's businesses, which are already operating in uncertain economic times. 

The Minnesota Business Partnership and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce sent letters to House and Senate members on behalf of the business community statewide in opposition to the Legislature's budget plan. Read the letter sent to the Senate yesterday and to the House today.

You can also read commentary about the bills from Charlie Weaver (Minnesota Business Partnership) and David Olson (Minnesota Chamber) in the Star Tribune.

While the House and Senate are debating supplemental budget bills today, the Senate passed part of its plan yesterday in the form of an omnibus tax bill that (among other provisions) eliminated the Governor's JOBZ economic development program, raised the base of the statewide business property tax and shifted the entire burden for that tax to commercial/industrial properties (previously seasonal recreational property paid a portion of the statewide property tax), and increased the June accelerated sales tax provision.

Governor Pawlenty has all but promised to veto both of these tax bills, saying that the DFL-led Legislature is "putting together bills that they know are not acceptable to me" and that these bills are "setting off alarms in the entrepreneurial business community in ways that I think are not helpful to the Minnesota economy."

As debate wears on into the evening, call your legislators on the floor and let them know you oppose these measures that would hurt Minnesota's economy and place an even greater burden on your business. If you are not sure who represents you, find out who represents you and how to contact them.

Read more background information here.

Bonding Bill Heads to Possible Veto

MN State Capitol BuildingA $1.09 billion capital investment bill was passed yesterday 90-42 by the House and 57-10 by the Senate. It now goes to the governor for his consideration.

HF380 lays out funding plans for the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System projects, transit corridors, parks and trails, new public safety facilities, hockey rinks and grants for local projects. Coming in at $925 million in general obligation bond spending, the bill reflects a compromise between the House and Senate. However, a veto of the bill - whether in whole or via the Governor's "line-item" veto powers - is considered likely, as the bill totals about $100 million more than the governor's proposal, and does not adhere to a marker traditionally used to establish a bond spending limit.
 
The traditional indicator used to determine the size of a bonding bill came under heavy scrutiny. Since about 1979, 3 percent of general fund spending has been the target for general obligation bonding. The governor has said that a bill beyond that threshold would not make it past his veto pen, but House and Senate DFLers question the use of that indicator. Some are advocating for one used by several states that is based off a percent of personal income. They also say that the sale of bonds can be staged in such a way that spending will not exceed 3 percent in any given year.
The governor has three days to respond to the Legislature's bill.
 
Read more from the Star Tribune in an article today, and a side-by-side comparison of Gov. Tim Pawlenty's bonding plan and the bill approved Wednesday by the Legislature.
DFL Convention: Nomination Fight for Third District

American flagsThe DFL race to fill the soon-to-be-vacant congressional seat of long-time Minnesota Third District Representative Jim Ramstad has begun.

A feisty campaign for the DFL endorsement to challenge GOP-endorsed State Senator Erik Paulsen should come to an end Saturday, April 12, when Third District DFL delegates meet at Wayzata Central Middle School.

The DFL hopefuls are State Senator Terri Bonoff, 50, of Minnetonka, and Ashwin Madia, 30, an attorney from Plymouth. Read more in a Sun Newspapers article.

Upcoming events:

 
April Legislative Breakfast:
Conversation with U.S. Congressman Jim Ramstad
Friday, April 4
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
ROI: Hear firsthand Congressman Ramstad's reflections on his years as a public servant
 
Government Affairs Committee
Wednesday, April 9 
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
ROI: Hear a session update and participate in a preliminary conversation about federal endorsements and the negotiating process at the State Capitol
 
Note: The TwinWest Government Affairs Committee will hold its April meeting one week earlier than usual (see above for new date) at the TwinWest Chamber office. The date has been changed due to member and staff involvement in the U.S. Chamber's Small Business Summit in Washington, D.C., from April 16-18. For more information, call Jason Flohrs at 763.450.2220 or e-mail jasonf@twinwest.com.
 
Crystal/New Hope
Business Council Meeting
Wednesday, April 16
11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
ROI: Help shape legislative policy that impacts your business and community
 
Overtime at Brunswick Zone
Wednesday, April 16
4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
ROI: Learn more about the TwinWest Power Partners program while you have fun with other Chamber members
 
Plymouth City Center Connection
Thursday, April 17
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
ROI: Meet your neighbors and talk with city leaders, including Plymouth Mayor Kelli Slavik
 
Emerging Leaders Adviser Program Kickoff
Wednesday, April 23
4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
ROI: Help emerging leaders develop more meaningful, long-lasting relationships within the business community
 
 
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No Child Left Behind Act

ChildSenators Geoff Michel (R-Edina) and David Hann (R-Eden Prairie) are voicing their concerns with the federal government's No Child Left Behind Act. Along with five other Minnesota Senate Republicans, they are calling for a decisive end to our state's participation in No Child Left Behind and have drafted legislation that would allow Minnesota to opt out of this federal mandate. There is growing bipartisan support for this measure in St. Paul.

No Child Left Behind was passed in Congress in 2001. There was bipartisan opposition from the start, including seven members of our eight-member Minnesota congressional delegation. Today, growing criticism of the law is also bipartisan. The law is supposed to be reauthorized this year, but it is deadlocked in controversy in the Congress due to objections by members of both political parties.

Read Senator Michel and Hann's editorial in the Star Tribune.

County, City and School News

Hennepin County:
  • In historic votes that could hasten development of new rail lines and bus transitways in the Twin Cities area, three more metro counties Tuesday approved a new transit sales tax that takes effect on July 1, 2008. Hennepin and Dakota county commissioners both approved the quarter-cent sales tax - which would amount to a penny on a $4 purchase - on 5-2 votes, joining Ramsey and Anoka counties, which passed the tax last week. Read the Star Tribune article. 
Hennepin Technical College:
  • Employers are invited to attend and/or present at the M-Powered Program Spring Job Fair and Graduation on Tuesday, April 8 at Hennepin Technical College in Brooklyn Park. This is a great opportunity to meet with qualified individuals looking to enter the workforce. Graduating students have acquired skills in shop math, safety, print reading, employment skills and more, and they are now ready to begin their structured on-the-job training. For more information, or to sign up as a presenter, read the event invitation. 

Wayzata Public Schools:

  • Robert Ostlund, superintendent of Wayzata Public Schools, has been named an administrator of excellence by the Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA). Ostlund will be honored for his leadership, concern for students and active involvement in professional and community affairs in a statewide recognition ceremony at the MASA Spring Conference April 3 and 4 at the Sheraton Hotel in Bloomington. Ostlund is also a member of the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce. Read the Wayzata-Orono-Long Lake Sun Sailor article.