Simply find where you live, and find your location.

The caucus will be held on Feb. 7th 2012, starting at 7pm at all locations.

Please try to be there a little before hand, so we can get settled, say hello to neighbors, and get started.

Winona Republican Caucus

If you have any questions, you may call 507-429-3440, and we will try to answer them.

Thanks, and we will see you then.

Governor Dayton told Tom Hauser, in a televised debate, that he would not shut government down

over a tax increase.

See the ad here.

Watch here.

Enjoy.

Highlights of the week:
TAX INCIDENCE STUDY QUESTIONED
A biennial state Revenue Department study released last Wednesday and reported widely in the media contains a variety of pieces of information that are useful to policymakers. You may see the numbers used to support an argument that some don’t pay their share in taxes, but it is important to note that the federal tax burden is not included in the analysis. Some lawmakers think it should be. However, the report does show progressivity in Minnesota’s income tax system: taxpayers in the top 10 percent of households pay 54 percent of the total individual income taxes paid, while those in the bottom 10 percent actually have a negative burden due to refundable tax credits. The figures are based on 2008 tax receipts.
PHOTO ID MAKING PROGRESS
Two bills to improve the integrity of voting are making their way through Senate committees. After several hours of public input, they have been amended to allow more types of identification, permit vouching for individuals in care facilities, and allow voters in residential facilities or shelters for battered women to use a state-issued photo ID from a previous residence in conjunction with a certification of residence from their facility in order to register on election day. Both measures will continue to have public hearings.
BASIC SKILLS TESTS FOR TEACHERS IN TRAINING
The Minnesota Senate gave bipartisan, unanimous support to a bill that would require teachers to pass a basic skills examination in math, reading and writing prior to admission to a higher education teacher preparation program. Current law allows teacher candidates to take the basic skills test when ready to apply for a license and permits a teacher who failed the basic skills test to receive and even renew a temporary one-year teaching license up to two more times.
According to a 2010 Board of Teaching report on the basic skills exam, there was a 13 percent failure rate and Minnesota’s “pass” score for the basic skills test is one of the lowest in the nation. Additionally, the National Council on Teacher Quality released a report in 2010 called “Blueprint for Change in Minnesota.” It gave Minnesota a grade of “D” in “delivering well-prepared teachers” and advised the state to close licensure loopholes such as permitting persons who have not yet passed state licensing tests to teach in classrooms. Currently, about 100 teachers are working with extended licenses, having not passed the basic skills test. Eighty teachers have a second or third renewal according to the Board of Teaching.
COMMUNITY PARAMEDICS WILL HELP RURAL RESIDENTS
A bill to allow experienced paramedics to become certified by the Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board as “community paramedics” passed the Senate with unanimous bipartisan support. As community health workers, they could provide a new avenue for citizens to access health care, and prevent the inappropriate use of ambulance services and hospital emergency department resources. Under the proposal, certain EMS personnel could provide health services and advanced levels of care for prevention, emergency care, evaluation, triage, disease management and referrals. Such procedures would be covered by Medical Assistance.

Why the change? The analysts tell us that Congress’ extension of the Bush tax cuts played a major role, as the certainty that taxes were not going to increase created consumer confidence, and Minnesota saw increased collections in capital gains, as well as income and sales taxes, as a result of that confidence.

But while Minnesota’s revenues collections are seeing slow growth, state spending continues its rapid expansion. The experts say that without government reform, program spending will jump 29 percent from this budget cycle to the next. This ridiculous amount of growth is not only unreasonable, but it is unrealistic.

Minnesota’s unemployment rates are at or near historic highs. We continue to see families and businesses struggling, being forced to live within their means. The taxpayers would be laughed at if they asked state government for a raise, yet government just assumes the taxpayers should give it billions more each budget cycle.

A complete economic recovery in Minnesota is far from certain if we do not structurally fix state government spending this year. The economists tell us global events could have a major impact on future state revenue collections. It makes sense; if folks are forced to spend nearly $4 for a gallon of gasoline when they’re struggling to make ends meet as it is, they will not be spending more money in the marketplace. If trends like this continue, there is a very real chance our state’s economy could be even further depressed.

Last session, Minnesota spent $30.5 billion on government programs, and Minnesotans have told lawmakers to get a handle on outrageous government spending. Though we now have positive news on the revenue front, there is no reason to spend it just as fast as we collected it. It’s time for Minnesota to be prudent with its finances and keep spending at its current level. 

Hello from St. Paul,

Though Governor Dayton’s State of the State Address was filled with gloom, I held out hope that in the days prior to his unveiling of a balanced budget for Minnesota, he would recognize that with a $6.2 billion deficit, state spending had to be reduced in order for Minnesota to return fiscal solvency.

I did not expect the governor to propose the greatest tax increase proposal Minnesota has ever seen.

Despite the Legislature’s promise to eliminate the proposed budget deficit by cutting spending, Governor Dayton only found it necessary to recommend $485 million in net reductions over the next two years.  However, he did follow through on his campaign promise to raise taxes.  In this case, he wants them raised by $4.1 billion.

I was also disappointed in the governor for not reforming state spending as he had promised during his State of the State Address.  In fact, with his budget expenditures, he almost insinuates that we don’t have any need to reform at all.  How else to explain why the governor wants to increase spending from $32 billion in the current biennium to $37 billion for Fiscal Years 2012-13?

We can thank the governor for fulfilling his obligation of submitting a balanced budget to the Legislature. The problem is, with all of these tax hikes and increased spending proposals, Dayton knows this proposal will never see the light of day.

Frankly, I expected a bit more leadership from the Governor’s Office on this issue. He knows the Legislature wants to cut the budget, so why not identify areas of agreement between the two sides and begin eliminating our deficit in quick fashion? It appears he wants the Legislature to make the tough decisions and will not give us any further guidance – other than to raise taxes and get out of dodge.

In the end, maybe you and I shouldn’t be surprised with the governor’s plan.  Governor Dayton is an unabashed liberal who campaigned to raise taxes, and his first budget would do exactly that.  Your legislature has also promised to avoid tax increases when balancing this budget, simply because it’s fiscally responsible and the public demands it. With any luck, our balanced budget plan will be approved by the end of March, and then the negotiations with the Governor’s Office can begin.

Have a good week,

Steve

FIRST STEP BUDGET BILL PASSED

The Minnesota Senate took a near $1 billion step toward balancing a projected $6.2 billion state budget deficit Thursday. The Senate passed Senate File 60, which addresses structural spending problems by making one-time reductions from this year permanent and prevents state agencies from spending unnecessary funds at the end of the year. The bill is fiscally responsible, sets clear priorities and makes government live within its means.
Senator Claire Robling, author of the bill, said Thursday, “We are in a fiscal crisis, and it’s simply time to get down to business and balance the budget. This bill sends a clear signal that we don’t plan to do everything like we’ve done it in the past. We will be appropriating $32 billion to operate state programs and services for the next biennium and during that process we will be setting priorities and funding those first, with an eye to providing the best product for ourtaxpayers’ dollars. We must move forward and provide true reform in order for our state to get back on a path to prosperity.”

GOV. DAYTON REQUESTS ONE BILLION IN BONDING

This week Governor Mark Dayton announced his intention for a $1 billion bonding bill, spending $531 million on designated projects and offering $469 million for lawmakers to designate. While a borrowing bill is not inherently bad legislation, Dayton’s off-year request is irresponsible in light of a current $6.2 billion state budget deficit. Senate Republicans held to principle that any 2011 bonding would be done for emergency repairs of state-owned facilities and flood relief or necessary prevention activities, not for indefinite “stimulus” projects. The Legislature’s focus needs to be not on government spending that obligates taxpayers, but on lifting government burdens on job creators.

ALTERNATIVE TEACHER LICENSING

With strong bipartisan support, the Senate passed a plan to create an alternative pathway into the classroom for well-qualified candidates. In January, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan told a crowd of education and business leaders in Minneapolis that the state has a great track record of education reform, but admonished Minnesota is lacking in ways for talented people to become teachers. Lowering barriers for qualified people would help close the education achievement gap between white students and racial minorities. Alternative licensure is a tool that can attract well educated, diverse and dedicated people to join the teaching ranks.

NUCLEAR ENERGY FOR OUR FUTURE

This week, the Minnesota Senate gave bipartisan approval to a bill that will enable a discussion of the options available to meet future energy needs. With a vote of 50-14, the Senate passed a bill to repeal the nuclear power prohibition. Nuclear energy is clean, inexpensive, and lowers our dependence on foreign oil and gas. Other states are moving on it, and even the President is saying that we all must consider nuclear energy for the future.
SF4 is more than an energy bill. It is a path to energy independence that will offer certainty for businesses and job creators as they plan for tomorrow and work to keep existing jobs. Entrepreneurs seeking to invest, expand, or start a business in Minnesota need to be assured of our state’s ability to deliver base-load power. Lifting the nuclear moratorium isn’t the final answer to Minnesota’s energy concerns, but adds this practical option to a growing number of options that the Public Utilities Commission can consider as part of a statewide, comprehensive energy policy.

CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZER DEADLINE EXTENSION

The Senate also passed a bill unanimously this week that will extend the June 30 deadline by one year for charter schools to be authorized by the state Department of Education. In 2009, a charter school reform law was enacted with the goal of strengthening the role of authorizers, or “sponsors” as they were formally known. However, the Department’s process for evaluating and approving authorizers has taken longer than anticipated, and the new criterion has caused many current authorizers to not apply. As a result, there are only a limited number of  authorizers currently approved by the Department. Also, there are still many existing charter schools who are not yet overseen by a Department-approved authorizer as called for under the 2009 law. These charter schools are concerned that they will not have a Department-approved authorizer in place in time to meet the deadline.

Official Convention Call

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Registration begins 8:30 a.m.

Convention starts 9:00 a.m.

TO: THE DELEGATES AND ALTERNATES OF WINONA COUNTY

Pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the Republican Party of Minnesota and pursuant to the 2011 Call for Republican Party Basic Political Organizational Unit conventions, issued by the Republican State Executive Committee on the 10th day of July, 2009, the Winona County Convention is hereby called to meet at:

Wilson Township Hall

Highway 43 (Near the Junction of I-90 & Hwy 43)

Wilson, Minnesota

The Winona County Convention shall be composed of the delegates and alternates elected at the precinct caucuses in 2010 designated as lying within the boundaries of Winona County.  The Winona County Convention shall be held for the purpose of:

1)      Election of BPOU Officers.

1. BPOU Chair
2. BPOU Deputy Chair
3. BPOU Secretary
4. BPOU Treasurer
5. BPOU Vice Chairs (2)

2)      Election of State Central Delegates and Alternates

3)      Constitution Committee Report and amendments proposed.

1. Article V Section 5 Add – Notice shall be given to Delegates at least five days prior to the Convention.
2. Article VI Section 4 STATE CENTRAL DELEGATES: Add — Shall be limited to two elected consecutive two year terms however after sitting out two years they may again be elected.

4)      Transaction of such other business as may properly come before the convention.

Issued at the City of Winona, County of Winona, Minnesota, February 14, 2011.

Signed:

Paul B. Double,

Winona County Chair

REGISTRATION OPENS AT 8:30 A.M. AND CLOSES AT 9:30 A.M.