Aha!  I’m Nostroeconomicus!  I’m not an economist (although I’ve taken quite a few economics courses) and I don’t play one on television (although I have been a game show contestant and I was “The Weakest Link”), but I distinctly remember when asked during my comments at the February SEE meeting what I thought the February forecast would look like I said I thought that the amount of one-time money (or the short-term surplus attributable to the

The Snow Got My Computer!  I apologize for not blogging last week after the Legislature shut down starting on Wednesday morning and cancelling committee hearings and floor sessions for the rest of the week.  The time off that was taken is really going to require things to be ramped up in terms of committee time between tomorrow (Monday, February 27) and the first policy committee deadline (Friday, March 10).  Night meetings have been scheduled for this

Or Ketchup!  Last week at the Legislature ended somewhat quietly.  At Thursday morning’s House Education Finance Committee, the committee heard the bill that would bolster the Teachers of Color Act.  Unlike the Senate hearing earlier in the week, the House hearing did not generate the same level of concern from members of the minority caucus.  That might change in the future, but the bill flew through unimpeded and will likely find a place in the omnibus

Two Days of Humming Hearings (with a Side Order of Heat).  The education-related committees have been tackling some bigger items this week and there has been spirited discussion in some cases.   On Tuesday morning, the Senate Education Finance Committee took up SF 619, the bill that would strengthen the Teachers of Color Act and increase the number of teachers of color  and American Indian teachers in Minnesota.  The bill also contains the framework of an ethnic

I Better Slow Down.  I’ve been reporting without any real evidence other than my naked eye (and it turns out I may be a little near-sighted) that there will be a number of education-related bills that will be passing on their own instead of taking the more traditional route of being incorporated into larger omnibus bills.  I took last Thursday’s passage of the free school meals bill to be an indication that might be happening.  It

On the Road Again!  I hit Byron early last week and bookended the week with a visit to Kasson-Mantorville high school on Friday to attend the annual Southeast Service Cooperative Legislative Breakfast.  Steve Sallee and staff always put on a great event that is consistently attended by legislators of both parties.  Added bonus is that this year’s emcee was Kasson-Mantorville Superintendent Mark Matuska who did a great job giving legislators to introduce themselves and then moving

I’m Back.  I hope I’m able to over more than the meager offering I posted last night and get everyone caught up on committee action and the bill introductions from Monday and today (Wednesday).  One of the more interesting–and well-attended hearings–on Tuesday was the House Education Policy Committee, which took up the Governor’s policy bill.  There are sections in that bill that require parents of home school students to report several things to the Minnesota Department

It’s a Little Early For This.  Gotta love those Bee Gees!  Where’s my disco ball? It’s fairly rare that there are night committee meetings this early in the budget year, but with the ambitious set of proposals the majority caucuses are proposing and the complex nature of some of these bills that requires them to make multiple committee stops, there have already been several night committee meetings.  The House Education Finance Committee met this evening

It’s Not Just a Willie Nelson Song.  Two days and no blogging?  Things got away from me as the Legislature continues at its breakneck pace.  If anything, the House and Senate are absolutely not letting time slip away as they push through a number of their high-profile priorities including getting to a net zero-carbon energy grid, women’s reproductive health, the “drivers’ licenses for all” initiative, and Federal tax conformity.  Committees are also going full speed ahead. 

Hectic Pace Continues.  Wednesdays are always wall-to-wall in the education-related committee department and with the addition of a Wednesday floor session to process bill introductions, the day becomes even busier.  Reports from committees: Senate Education Finance Committee:  The committee reviewed the Governor’s budget recommendations.  There were no changes in either approach or content from the presentation made to the House Education Finance Committee last week. House Education Finance Committee:  The committee heard two bills:  HF 22, Representative Kaoly