In Capitol 10: Legislation you won’t be seeing in 2013, Politics in Minnesota staff asked its Capitol insiders what won't be on the agenda:
This week we asked the Insiders which issues no longer have a chance of passage. Here were their top answers:
1. Right to work
2. Castle Doctrine
3. Tort reform
4. Tax cuts
5. (tie) Repeal of statewide business tax
5. (tie) Election/voter reform
7. Teacher evaluation changes
8. The American Legislative Exchange Council agenda
9. (tie) Balanced-budget amendment
9. (tie) Nuclear deregulation
While the ALEC agenda came in near the bottom of the list, Bluestem thinks it's worth noting that Right-to-Work, the Castle Doctrine, tort reform, voter restriction, teacher evaluation changes, and nuclear deregulation are the ALEC agenda. ( A comprehensive list is found here at ALEC Exposed, with new information here).
As we reported in Retirement, redistricting and rejection thin ranks of ALEC members in Minnesota legislature, state public co-chair Mary Kiffmeyer has ascended to the Minnesota Senate, while the other, Senator Gen Olson, retired.
Kiffmeyer is now the sole chair for Minnesota on ALEC's website.
While the Republicans' loss of both chambers of the Minnesota Legislature and a sitting DFL governor, along with the thinning of the local herd, it's unlikely that much direct damage can be done by ALEC members in the next two years. It's worth keeping track of where they're landing, nonetheless, and so with the release of the House minority caucus's recommendations of committee assignments to Speaker Thissen's office, Bluestem has checked to see who's on which committee.
First, the ranking members who are known ALEC pals, then the committee recommendations for all known ALEC members in the Minnesota House. Other committee recommendations for ALEC members who are in the first list are also in the second list.
House Committee Lead Last Known ALEC Task Force
Capital Investment Matt Dean International Relations
Environment et al Finance Denny McNamara Energy, Environment & Agriculture
Trans Finance
Mike Beard Commerce, Insurance & Econ Dev.
Housing Paul Anderson Health and Human Services
Judiciary Steve Drazkowski Civil Justice
Education Policy Sondra Erickson Education
Early Education Pam Myhra Tax and Fiscal Policy
Energy Pat Garofalo Education
Transportation Policy Linda Runbeck Tax and Fiscal Policy
Government Operations Joyce Peppin None
Other Committee recommendations for known Minnesota House ALEC members:
Paul Anderson: Environment et al Finance
Mike Beard: Ways & Means; Transportation Policy
Mike Benson: Transportation Finance; Regulated Industries
Matt Dean: HHS Finance; Rules; Ways & Means
Steve Drazkowski: Environment et al Finance; Government Operations; Taxes
Sondra L. Erickson: Education Finance; Property Tax Division
Pat Garofalo: Property Tax Division; Taxes
Denny McNamara: Evironment et al Policy; Ways & Means
Pam Myhra: Taxes; Education Finance
Joyce Peppin: Taxes; Rules
Linda Runbeck: Property Tax Division; Taxes
Kurt Zellers: Rules; Commerce
Although Dean Urdahl (R-18A) has put his jacket on ALEC legislation like the famous cheeseburger no-fault bill, he's not an ALEC member.
Here's the entire spreadsheet of the recommendations:
2013-2014 GOP Committee Assignments RecommendationsPhoto: MN ALEC state chair Mary Kiffmeyer got her Photo ID constitutional amendment on the ballot--and motivated DFL voters to get to the polls to turn her party out of control of the legislature. (Photo by T.W. Budig/ECM Publishers).
Blog begathon: Bluestem is supported by reader contributions. If you liked this post, consider throwing some coin to the tip jar. If you don't like using PayPal, email at the address on this page for a snail mail address. We'll be running our twice-yearly "bleg" though Christmas.
Comments