May 27, 2011

“It ain’t over till it’s over,” said New York Yankee great Yogi Berra.

That’s the way a lot of lobbyists, advocates, agency staff, and legislators felt when the 2011 legislative session came to an end at midnight on May 23. Five months of action and drama, but still no budget and deficit resolve. “Extra innings,” Yogi would say! (more…)

May 20, 2011

What are you doing this weekend?

I will be spending some quality time at the State Capitol as we continue to work with the 201 legislators on legislation of major importance to Minnesotans and to our environment and conservation traditions and values. (more…)

May 13, 2011

I am writing this update on Friday afternoon in advance of a long evening back at the Capitol as the House and Senate confer the environment budget bill. The House version is HF1010 and the Senate version is SF1029. The two sides have met a number of times in the last week and are expected to reach final agreement yet tonight (Friday). (more…)

May 6, 2011

I am writing this update on Friday morning in advance of a long afternoon and evening sitting and watching the House and Senate confer the Environment Budget Bill. The House version is HF1010 and the Senate version is SF1029. The two sides met once about a week ago and will meet again to try to agree on dollars and policy issues.

There are two full weeks left in the 2011 legislative session! On May 23 at midnight they have to adjourn to a date certain in 2012—probably in February. It appears that a special session in June will be necessary in order to reach any agreements in terms of dealing with a $5 billion budget shortfall and how to fund state government for the next two years. (more…)

April 29, 2011

I am writing this update on Friday afternoon. It is close to 70 degrees outside and most folks are looking to get there!

The Legislature returned this week to continue their work toward adjournment at midnight of May 23. The committees met long and often to get bills passed out of policy committees to meet the first deadline. The Agriculture Budget bill is finished and signed into law. All other budget bills are in conference committee. Most of the committees have met this past week to review the differences in the House and Senate versions of the spending bills for state agencies and all the programs and projects that the state pays for with general funds. (more…)

April 15, 2011

It is Friday afternoon and both the Twins and the Legislature is out of town. The Twins are in Tampa Bay and the 201 Legislators are getting ready to go home for a full week of Easter Break! (more…)

Learn more about the potential damage to our environment being proposed by our Legislature.—
Check out the League of Women Voters- Minnesota website and their Capitol Letter that highlights some of the environmental issues at the legislature today.

Scroll down to the Environment section by Gwen Myers, LWV Minnesota Volunteer Lobbyist and Our Sky-Blue Waters at Risk
http://www.lwvmn.org/Page.aspx?pid=448

April 2, 2011

It is April and the sun is shining as I write this week’s recap, update, and predictions for the future surrounding the environment, energy, conservation, and other issues at the State Legislature.

Most of the action this week surrounded the environmental budget bills. In a rare situation, the House and Senate versions of the bill were considered at the same time on the floors of both chambers on Thursday midday! (more…)

March 26, 2011

This week included the first day of spring, the latest snow storm, and the consideration and action on many, many budget bills from the Minnesota House and the Senate!

Late this week the House Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee and the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee passed out their versions of the omnibus budgets for the Department of Natural Resources, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the Board of Water and Soil Resources, and other parts of state agencies and divisions. (more…)

March 19, 2011

It was a very pleasant week in terms of weather and temperature here in Capitol City. A lot of snow has melted and the wetlands, lakes, and rivers are rising! The action at the Capitol is also rising as the two bodies race toward their budget deadline dates of next week.

This was a week of ‘mergers’ as the two environmental finance bills were unveiled. Included in these “money” bills are a number of “bad bills” that we have listed below. These bad policy bills have had hearings and/or discussion in committee but now have new life as part of the bigger budget bill. (more…)