Dayton asks GOP to strike policies from budget bills
Thursday, July 14, 2011 at 4:31 pm
- 8 Comments
As is common practice, Republican lawmakers stuffed a bunch of policy issues that Gov. Mark Dayton would have vetoed as standalone bills into their budget bills.
One of Dayton’s three requirements to accept the Republicans’ June 30 budget proposal is that all policy issues be removed from these finance bills.
The policies Dayton wants removed include restrictions on stem cell research, collective bargaining and health care, among others. Dayton also asked Republicans to strike across-the-board 15 percent workforce cuts and seeks a $500 million bonding bill.
The request to remove them could prove to be a sticking point for the Republican caucus, which will need to keep its members in line to pass the budgets, likely without Democratic support. Even this afternoon, state Sen. Dave Thompson (R-Lakeville) sent the following message on Twitter: “Let’s be clear. Governor did NOT “accept” the June 30 offer. He has simply attached new conditions to the June 30 framework.”
Here are some of the policies in question from budget bills:
- Higher Education: It includes a policy that prohibits the use of state or federal funds to support human cloning or to pay for expenses related to human cloning.
- Pre-K–12: Dayton’s veto letter found numerous policy concerns with this bill, including school grading, a private school voucher program, collective bargaining limitations, teacher evaluation and Common Core prohibitions.
- Health and Human Service: Includes a policy that would nullify the Affordable Care Act requirement that all individuals get health care coverage by 2014 and prohibit state activities complying with the federal law.
- Health and Human Services: This bill includes a provision for nursing home rate equalization, which Dayton opposed.
- Health and Human Services: It also imposes a residency requirement for the Minnesota Family Investment Program.
- Health and Human Services: The bill also includes a portion that would create multi-state licensing for state nurses.
- Environment, Energy and Natural Resources: This finance bill included policies changing restrictions to coal-fired power.
- Environment, Energy and Natural Resources: The bill also moves Auto Theft Prevention Account from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Public Safety, which Dayton opposes.
Follow Jon Collins on Twitter8 Comments
Comment posted July 14, 2011 @ 4:36 pm
Republicans will reject Dayton’s offer because (1) it comes from a Democrat (even though the budget part is their plan) and (2) it requires them to make concessions (even though most of these concessions have absolutely nothing to do with the budget). They are ideologically incapable of compromise, negotiating in good faith, or being the slightest bit rational.
Comment posted July 14, 2011 @ 4:56 pm
It always amazes me the damage that can be caused by people first elected by the tiniest sliver of the electorate. Our state reps come to mind along with the likes of Dick Cheney. Who ever voted for Dick Cheney before his stint as vp candidate,
A flock of sheep in Wyoming? The massive population of Alaska tried to pawn off their governor on the world. Michele Bachmann? The mind hungers for rational thought and the complete sentence.
Pingback posted July 14, 2011 @ 5:09 pm
[...] Governor Offers Deal to End ShutdownNew York TimesDayton asks GOP to strike policies from budget billsMinnesota IndependentMinnPost.com -TIME -The Associated Pressall 599 news [...]
Comment posted July 14, 2011 @ 5:55 pm
This is a god damned shame.. However it’s not too surprising considering the word “conservative” has been replaced by the word “fascist” .. It’s typical of a fascist to pick on science, beat up seniors, trash the environment, bust Unions and make DAMNED sure that our kids are stupid.. Good job Minnesotans!! How on Earth could you vote for these imbecile, knuckle draggers??
Comment posted July 14, 2011 @ 6:25 pm
Don’t hold your breath waiting for the republicans to accept anything. They want the government shut down.
Comment posted July 14, 2011 @ 7:33 pm
Sen Dave Thompson is one of the biggest nut jobs over there. My God we should all boycott Lakeville for putting him in office in the first place. Simply the male version of Bachmann.
Comment posted July 15, 2011 @ 8:18 am
So what happens if the legislature agrees to a budget bill, but then balks at the bonding bill? Does Gov. Dayton say, “hey, you agreed to this!”? Their response will be, “so what are you going to do about it?”
This has ugly written all over it…..
Comment posted July 15, 2011 @ 1:10 pm
Voters acrossed Minnesota have been paying attention to the childish behaviors of the Republicans. 2012 will be looming on their heads as ALL Of them are up for re-eelection in 2012 due to redistricting!
The more obstinate the GOP behave, the moe of them will be outn of a job. For the JOB they care about most is their own.
RSS feed for comments on this post.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
