Presented by Sarah Clarke How does state government really work?  Who holds the power?  Who sets the agenda?  Who makes the law and how?  The answers to these questions may not be as simple as you think.  This workshop will move beyond the “Schoolhouse Rock” explanation of the political process to take a reality-based look at how your government operates.  You will learn how to navigate legislative procedures, who the important decision makers at each level are, and how to identify and pursue opportunities for advocacy.

1. State Government 101

2. State Budget Outlook
• February 2013 MMB Forecast a zero balance
after $295 million of the school shift is paid
back
• FY 2014-2015 projected $627 million
shortfall, however $2.1 in revenue increases
during legislative session will cover the deficit
• MN’s economy ranked 5th fastest growing in
2012

3. New Revenue
• $2.1 billion in new taxes from last session
• Cigarette tax: $1.60/pack
• Expanded sales tax
• Income tax:
• 9.85% for gross income above $250,000 for couples and
above $150,000 for individuals

6. Tuition and the State
• In state statue, the legislature pays 2/3 the
cost of higher education through
appropriations and tuition makes up 1/3 of
the cost
• The FY 13 MnSCU budget, tuition is
60.9%, shows a complete reversal of 2000
budgeting when state appropriation was
67.4% of revenue

7. State Funding and MnSCU
• Prior to last session, MnSCU was cut 10% in
the last biennium, $60 million each year
• State funding for the MnSCU system was
down 45% from per student since FY 2000, as
shown in FY 2013 Operating Budget
• Until last session, MnSCU faced over a decade
of decreasing appropriations

8. 1
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
State Appropriation vs. Tuition Relationship
Fiscal Years 2002-2015
100.0%
90.0%
80.0% 66.3%
55.3%
70.0%
52.6%
60.0%
50.0% 33.7% 44.7%
40.0%
47.4%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Tuition
60.1%
51.4%
55.2%
48.6%
44.8%
39.9%
Appropriation
58.8% 58.1%
41.2% 41.9%

9. MnSCU Appropriations
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
FY 15: $605 million
FY 14: $588 million
FY 13: $545 million
FY 11: $605 million
FY 08: $671 million
FY 05: $551 million
FY 00: $554 million

10. State Legislature

11. Legislative Basics
• Biennial cycle: first year is a
budget/appropriations year, second year is
bonding bill
• 67 Senators, 134 Representatives
• Higher Education committee members in
House and Senate are the main focus of our
work, Capital Investment committee is also
important, especially in bonding years

12. Current Legislative Composition
• House of Representatives
• DFL: 73
• R: 61
• Senate
• DFL: 39
• R: 28
• DFL Governor

24. Major Topics from Last Session
•
•
•
•
New funding for MnSCU
Part-time pilot
Dream Act
Workforce Development Initiatives
• New internships
• Leveraged equipment
• FasTrac

25. New Investment
• $250 million in new funding for higher
education for FY 2014-2015
• $102 million for MnSCU
• $78 million for the U of M
• $70 million for the Minnesota State Grant
Program

26. MnSCU Funding
• $78 million to buy down 3% tuition
increase for each year of the biennium
• $17 million for faculty retention (one-time
funding)
• $7.3 for leveraged equipment
• $50,000 for a mental health summit
• 5% of 2015 appropriations dependent on
performance metrics

27. So, what’s next at the Capitol?
• Bonding
• MnSCU will be asking for:
•
•
•
•
$110 million in HEAPR funding
$20.6 million for demolition
$155.9 million for capital projects and design
The request relies on $58.8 of System financing and
$227.7 million in General Obligation financing
• If fully funded, this request reduces total MnSCU
square footage by 257,360 feet
• To pass, the bonding bill needs a super majority in
each legislative body and must be signed by the
Governor

28. Be an Advocate, Share your Story!
• http://www.mscsa.org/legislative-stories
• Why should Stafford Loan rates be kept at
3.4%?
• Why is the Pell Grant important?

29. State Gov
Jeopardy!

30. Higher Ed Potpourri
MnSCU
Bonding
House
Senate
100
100
100
100
100
200
200
200
200
200
300
300
300
300
300
400
400
400
400
400
500
500
500
500
500

31. FINAL
JEOPARDY!

32. This is the percentage
of the total state
budget that will be
spent on higher
education during the
current biennium.

33. What is 7.3%?

34. House members serve a
terms for this many
years.

35. What is two years?

36. There are this many
members are in the
House.

37. What is 134?

38. The leader of the House
is called this.

39. Who is the Speaker of
the House?

40. The new Speaker of the
House.

41. Who is Representative
Paul Thissen?

42. This party has the
majority in the House.

43. What is the DFL?

44. The Minority Leader.

45. Who is Representative
Kurt Daudt?

46. This party has the
majority in the Senate.

47. What is the DFL party?

48. Length of Senate terms.

49. What is four years?

50. This is the title of the most
powerful member of the
Senate.

51. What is the Senate
Majority Leader?

52. This is the President of
the Senate.

53. Who is Senator Sandy
Pappas?

54. The Republican leader
in the Senate.

55. Who Senator David
Hann?

56. MnSCU received this
much in additional
appropriations last
session.

57. What is $102 million?

58. The chair of the Higher
Education Policy and
Finance Committee.

59. Who is Representative
Pelowski?

60. Chair of Higher
Education and
Workforce Committee.

61. Who is Senator Terri
Bonoff?

62. What was the total
amount of funding for
higher education last
session?

63. What is $250 million?

64. The Legislature provides
funding for the U of
M, MnSCU, and this
program.

65. What is the Minnesota
State Grant Program?

66. These people have the
authority to write a
bill.

67. Who are legislators?

68. This is needed in each
body to pass a bonding
bill.

69. What is a super
majority?

70. This person appoints the
Commissioner of the
Office of Higher
Education.

71. Who is the Governor?

72. This person is the chair
of the House Capital
Investment Committee.

73. Who is Alice Hausman?

74. This is the focus of the
legislature during the
upcoming session.

75. What is the bonding bill?

76. The MnSCU bonding
requests asks for this
much in total funding
from the state.

77. What is $277.7 million?

78. The MnSCU asks for how
much in HEAPR
funding?

79. What is $110 million?

80. The bonding request
asks for this much to
fund demolition.

81. What is $20. 6 million?

82. The bonding request
seeks this much in
funding for capital
projects.

83. What is $155.9 million?

84. HEAPR stands for this.

85. What is Higher
Education Asset
Preservation and
Replacement?