The 2011 regular legislative session came to an anticlimactic close at midnight on Monday the 23^rd.  Although the House and Senate passed their respective omnibus funding bills early in the session, it wasn’t until the final week that conference committees were finalized and completed appropriations bills were sent to Governor Dayton.  The Governor and Republican leaders remained at loggerheads over how to balance the budget, with Governor Dayton pushing to increase the income tax on the state’s wealthiest 2%, and the Republicans sticking to their no new tax and spending pledges.  The Governor subsequently vetoed all omnibus appropriations and tax bills, with the exception of the non-controversial Agriculture finance bill that was passed earlier in the year.  A special session will be required to balance the budget.  Governor Dayton has indicated he will not call lawmakers back to the Capitol until they have a global budget deal, and no announcements have yet been made as to when the special session will be called.

Much of our year was spent fending off anti-union legislation and attempting to prevent draconian cuts to local government aids, pensions, and public safety budgets.  In the first case, we were successful; none of the right to work initiatives or proposals to restrict collective bargaining rights were passed by the Legislature.  We appreciate that Speaker Kurt Zellers, Majority Leader Amy Koch, and over 50 other Republicans took the time to meet with us and hear our concerns on these issues.  Their tax and spending bills also protect pension aids and do no harm to pensions.  However, there are other issues that concern us, particularly LGA.  The final outcome of pension and budgetary issues will be determined in a special session.