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Legislative Update - May 20, 2016
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As the clock continues to tick toward May 23 constitutional adjournment — and with no bills allowed to be passed on Monday — it looks like Friday could be a make-or-break day in the 2016 session.
Legislative leaders were reportedly meeting Thursday evening in hopes of developing targets for the the supplemental budget and taxes conference committees. If numbers can be finalized, it is likely those committees will get together Friday.
The House will go into session at 9:00 a.m. and most likely will go into recess and take up 14 bills later today of which three deal with labor agreements.
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Bonding bill moves into conference committee
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An $800 million bonding proposal was defeated in the House Thursday, falling far short of the three-fifths supermajority it needed to pass and leaving a key piece of the 2016 legislative session with an unclear path forward.
Requiring 81 votes to pass, HF622 only received 69 “yes” votes; the “no” total was 64.
Sponsored by Rep. Paul Torkelson (R-Hanska), the omnibus capital investment bill would authorize the sale of state-backed bonds to fund more than 50 public works projects across the state, including $227 million for local road and bridge projects, $137 million for the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, and $130 million for water and sewer projects.
Two House DFLers voted for the bill and five House Republicans against. Following the bill's defeat the House voted to recall and table HF622, meaning it could be taken up again at a later date.
Introduced only one day prior, its chances at success had appeared slim. House DFLers — whose support was needed to secure passage — had dinged the bill repeatedly during its two committee stops Wednesday.
Torkelson, chair of the House Capital Investment Committee, called the bill “reasonable” in its price tag and said it addressed some of the state’s most pressing priorities.
“This is kind of a plain-Jane bill,” Torkelson said. “There isn’t a lot of fluff in here.”
Even-year legislative sessions are generally regarded as bonding years, when lawmakers pass a large-scale borrowing package that helps fund infrastructure projects across the state.
This year, Gov. Mark Dayton and Senate DFL leaders set their sights on a far larger bonding bill than House Republicans. Dayton wanted a $1.4 billion package heavily focused on water quality and rail-grade separation projects. Senate DFLers proposed an even larger, $1.5 billion capital investment bill, though that legislation was defeated by a single vote earlier this month.
DFL members criticized the bill as too little and coming too late in session, having been introduced with only five days left until adjournment.
House Minority Leader Paul Thissen (DFL-Mpls) said it wasn’t large enough to meet many of the state’s critical public infrastructure needs and was too focused on Republican-held districts.
“This bill is about the best politics for your caucus, the Republicans,” he said. “And not what is best for all Minnesotans. “
The bonding conference committee is scheduled to meet in Room 10 of the State Office Building at 9:15 a.m., or following the recess of the House Floor session. Both bodies failed to pass a bonding bill this session, but per a Thursday statement from Sen. LeRoy Stumpf (DFL-Plummer), the chair of the Senate Capital Investment Committee, the Senate will be working off a bonding bill it passed in May 2015 and likely consider amendments that include parts of the current proposals from the House, Senate and Gov. Dayton.The conferees are:
- SENATE: Senators Stumpf; Tomassoni, Sieben, Hayden, Nelson
- HOUSE: Representatives Torkelson; Albright; Vogel; Swedzinski; Hausman
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Friday, May 20
9:00 a.m.
House in Session
CALENDAR FOR THE DAY.
HF659 (O'Driscoll) Omnibus state retirement bill.
HF963 (Kiel) Railroad crossing rights-of-way by utilities requirements established, and money appropriated.
HF1412 (Fabian) Electronic waste management provisions modified.
HF2342 (Dettmer) Capitol grounds memorial commemorating Minnesotans awarded the Medal of Honor provided.
HF3255 (Knoblach) Labor agreements ratified, and compensation plan approved.
HF3584 (Cornish) Labor agreements and compensation plan ratified.
HF3585 (Drazkowski) Labor agreements and compensation plans ratified, affirmative approval required before interim implementation of state employee collective bargaining agreements, exclusive representatives prohibited from requiring political contributions, and open meetings required.
SF2381 (Sanders) Omnibus elections bill; convicted felons civil right to vote after incarceration restoration.
SF2414 (Albright) Long-term care ombudsman office, mental health treatment services, and miscellaneous policy provisions modifications; psychologists duty to warn extension to postdegree supervised students, alcohol and drug counseling practicum students and postdegree professional practice and to students and interns practicing marriage and family therapy under supervision.
SF2665 (O'Driscoll) Real estate appraiser fees, costs, and management companies regulation.
SF2985 (Sanders) Presidential primary establishment.
SF3047 (Davids) Individual health plans conversion non-renewal by health plan carriers authorization.
SF3113 (Smith) Revisor's bill.
SF3131 (Melin) Eligible energy reimbursement costs clarification; Hibbing public utility commission membership increase authorization and city ward system modification.
9:15 a.m.
Capital Investment Conference Committee
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chairs: Rep. Paul Torkelson and Sen. LeRoy Stumpf
CONFEREES: SENATE: Stumpf; Tomassoni, Sieben, Hayden, Nelson - HOUSE: Torkelson; Albright; Vogel; Swedzinski; Hausman
Agenda: H.F. 748-Stumpf: Disaster relief bond issue and appropriations.
11:00 a.m.
Senate in Session
Special Orders:
S.F. 2090 (Johnson) Resolution expressing concern over persistent and credible reports of systematic, state-sanctioned, forced organ harvesting from nonconsenting prisoners of conscience, primarily from Falun Gong practitioners imprisoned for their spiritual beliefs, and members of other religious and ethnic minority groups in the People's Republic of China
S.F. 3367 (Sheran) Resolution urging Congress to take action on the Interest of Others Act of 2016
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Thank you
Thank you to everyone who met with legislators, sent emails, tweeted, and were engaged this legislative session. We will continue to send out updates this weekend and will compile a legislative wrap-up for next week.
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