Legislative Update April 22, 2009
By Russ Stanton, IFO Director of Government Relations
House Passes Higher Education Bill
Moments ago the House of Representatives passed the Omnibus Higher Education Bill by a vote of 86-46.
The bill would appropriate $665.8 million each year in FY2010 and FY2011 for MnSCU. This would include $65.2 million each year in federal stimulus money. This is the same funding level proposed by the governor. Where the House bill differs from the governor’s proposal is in the funding base for 2012 and 2013; the governor proposes $606.6 million for each of those years, whereas the House proposes $654.5 million for each year.
The House bill clamps down on MnSCU central office funding and prioritizes campus funding for instruction. It creates a separate line item for central office funding and then shrinks that amount. It says allocations to the campuses cannot be less than this biennium. It cuts funding for central office technology and eliminates funding for central office initiatives such as awards for excellence, salary competitiveness (IPSEL grants), technology initiatives outside the allocation model, and Board and Chancellor’s initiatives.
The bill also changes the process for selecting the MnSCU Board of Trustees. Instead of having the Governor appoint trustees, the bill would have the legislature elect the trustees in the same way they elect the U of M Regents.
The bill allows a waiver process from the policy limiting associate degrees to 60 credits and baccalaureate degrees to 120 credits. The waivers would be for emerging and innovative programs.
Amendment Attempts
The House voted down several attempts to limit student fees.
Rep. Steve Gottwalt (R-St. Cloud) offered an amendment that would have forced all higher education employees that make over $100,000 to take a 5% pay cut. After being informed that his amendment would put federal stimulus money in jeopardy, and that it violated the U of M’s constitutional autonomy, Gottwalt withdrew his amendment.
Rep. Steve Drazkowski (R-Wabasha) then offered an amendment to cut higher education employees making more than $100,000 by 10%. He specifically went after provisions in the IFO contract, such as the final year two step increase, supplemental retirement, and the $6000 performance bonuses (which no one has received). Drazkowski said anyone making more than $100,000 should contribute to solving the state’s budget shortfall; to which Majority Leader Tony Sertich responded, “You’ll get an opportunity to vote on that when we take up the tax bill”. Drazkowski’s amendment was defeated 130-2. Only Drazkowski and Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-Farmington) voted in favor of the pay cut.
Campus Legislators’ Votes
Here is how campus area legislators voted on the final bill: Rep. John Persell (DFL-Bemidji), yes; Rep. Larry Howes (R-Walker), yes; Rep. Morrie Lanning (R-Moorhead), no; Rep. Paul Marquart (DFL-Glyndon) yes; Rep. Larry Haws (DFL-St. Cloud), yes; Rep. Steve Gottwalt (R-St. Cloud), no; Rep Marty Seifert (R-Marshall), no; Rep. Kathy Brynaert (DFL-Mankato), yes; Rep. Terry Morrow (DFL-St. Peter), yes; Rep. Gene Pelowski (DFL-Winona), yes.
All of the legislators representing Metro State campuses voted yes.
Conference Committee
The Senate passed their Omnibus Higher Education Bill last week. Now the House and Senate versions of the higher education bills will go to a ten member House/Senate conference committee that will work out a final compromise bill.
