Legislative Update
April 7, 2004
This week
This is a slow week at the Capitol for University issues, with the
legislature in recess for Passover on Tuesday and Easter on Friday.
Floor sessions for both the House and Senate were scheduled for
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
The Senate Finance Committee passed its omnibus state budget
reduction bill on Monday. This bill includes changes made in state
funding for the purpose of balancing the state's budget. There is no
funding reduction to the University in this bill.
The Senate Tax Committee also passed the tax bill on Monday. It is
expected that today, Wednesday, both bills will be heard on the
Senate floor and voted upon. This finalizes all the Senate budget
bills with the exception of the capital bonding bill.
The House, unlike the Senate, has multiple finance bills - one for
each area of state funding. This week, the House is hoping to pass on
the House floor the remaining finance bills.
So far, capital bonding bills have not advanced as far as other
finance bills at the legislature. Neither the House nor Senate
capital investment committees have passed a bonding bill; it is
expected that they will consider their respective bonding bills next
week.
We expect that activity will pick up next week; stay tuned!
Stadium update
The Senate has a hearing scheduled for next week on the Vikings and
Twins stadiums bill. It's possible the Senate may also hear a bill
for the Gopher stadium next week.
The University is continuing to explain to legislators the importance
of addressing the U's stadium needs this session. We believe that
enabling legislation will have a positive affect on private
fundraising by further motivating donors. In addition, delaying
action will increase the cost of the project.
As legislators complete other work and the bonding bills over the
next couple of weeks, stadium discussions will likely rise higher on
the agenda.
Week in review
The MPR Midday show last Thursday, which featured President
Bruininks, was a great opportunity to reinforce University priorities
and messages. The president received many phone calls, ranging from
the capital request to tuition to the Gopher stadium. Many callers
expressed their support of the University's capital request.
The House passed a combined early childhood, pre-K-12, and higher
education omnibus bill (supplemental appropriation) last week. As
expected, the bill does not reduce funding for the University.
The House Governmental Operations and Veterans Affairs committee
passed, without recommendation, the Vikings and Twins stadiums
proposal. It next goes to the House Tax Committee.