Murray: Reform agenda will highlight 2012 session

From Representative Rich Murray:

In response, our reform package will direct property tax relief to Minnesota job creators. We will improve the Angel Investment Tax Credit program, and continue improving our permitting process. We’ll create a Small Business Regulatory Review Board that will review current rules and repeal those that are outdated or duplicative. We’d also like to reform prevailing wage laws to lower the cost of construction projects.

In order to have a highly skilled workforce, we must improve our education system and reward our most effective teachers. This includes pay linked to teacher and student performance, and removing barriers to get rid of those who aren’t making the grade. We’ll also have a plan to turnaround the lowest achieving Minnesota schools.

Read the whole piece from Sunday's Albert Lea Tribune.

Pioneer Press Editorial: Building a better business environment in Minnesota

Printed in Saturday's St. Paul Pioneer Press:

Even if an improving economy shrinks that shortfall, we urge lawmakers to take the long view, realizing the financial pressure on Minnesota's public budgets will persist. We've been warned about the implications of the demographic changes ahead and the strain an aging population will place on state resources.

In addition, the attention to reform, redesign and cost-cutting should capitalize on energy coming from many sources, including the governor's office and legislative

Democrats, and from counties, municipalities and others.

The Republicans say they are ready. "We're as prepared as I've seen the caucus" in his time at the Capitol, says Zellers, who credits House Majority Leader Matt Dean for work on the preparations since the Legislature adjourned in July.

"People are looking for results," said Dean.

GOP leaders: Our Minnesota agenda

Published in Sunday's Star Tribune:

We spent the last five months traveling the state, driving thousands of miles to dozens of cities to meet with hundreds of job providers, local government officials, educators and citizens to listen to their ideas on what government can and should do better.

This session, we will restore confidence in our economy to foster private-sector job growth, improve education to provide a highly skilled workforce, and make government more-efficient and cost-effective through reform.

Read the whole column here.

Reform 2.0: Jobs, Education and Health Care

"This is not a Republican Agenda. It is Minnesota's Agenda."

SAINT PAUL – (January 19, 2012) – Republicans in the Minnesota Legislature today unveiled their priorities for the 2012 legislative session. Focused on creating a competitive business climate to foster private sector job growth, high performing education and a smaller, cost-effective government, Reform 2.0 will modernize outdated, rigid public systems that have failed to respond to the evolving needs of Minnesota's economy and citizens.

"Tax and spend stimulus packages that create more government spending will not provide for long-term growth and stability in our state's private sector economy or state budget," said Minnesota Speaker of the House Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove). "Restoring confidence in Minnesota's economy, improving education and health care, and transforming government services begins with reform. When we met with business owners and citizens across this state, they were not looking for a government handout. The Reform 2.0 agenda is based on what we heard from them. This is not a Republican agenda. It is Minnesota's agenda."

Republicans said government needs a new way of thinking to address both the short-term and long-term structural needs of Minnesota's economy and budget.

“Government redesign is not only about making government more efficient and working better, it is about providing the right services to the right people. We’ve received a lot of ideas from citizens about how government reform can spur job growth in their communities and we’ve identified principles to help us achieve that goal,” said Senate Majority Leader David Senjem (R-Rochester).

In crafting the Reform 2.0 agenda, Republicans traveled to dozens of cities for public meetings with business owners, local government leaders, and interested citizens to gather input on how to reform state and local government. They drove thousands of miles and listened to hundreds of people who shared their ideas on what government can and should do better.

"We received an unprecedented amount of feedback in developing an agenda that reflects the ideas of Minnesotans and the challenges they face every day in dealing with obsolete systems and entrenched burdensome practices," said House Majority Leader Matt Dean. "These are noncontroversial, common sense reforms that will move Minnesota in the right direction for a growing economy supported by an efficient and effective government."

Republican leaders said many of the bills have been introduced and more will be available once the legislative session begins in January.

“We have central reform principles that we believe will result in a better business climate. First, reforms will look at the cost and quality of education, health care and energy. Second, we will pursue a growth-friendly tax structure to encourage job creation and economic prosperity. Thirdly, reforms will address regulatory and permitting obstacles for job creators," said Senator Michelle Benson (R-Ham Lake). "Our priority is private sector job growth -- we want to promote innovation, investment and entrepreneurship to bring out the best about Minnesota to build long-term prosperity."

The Reform 2.0 Web site (www.reform2.mn) will serve as a clearinghouse for all information related to the initiatives being proposed and tracking their legislative progress this session.

This handout was also distributed to the Capitol press.

New measures will strengthen Legacy reporting

Recent news reports have raised questions about the way money is being spent from the Legacy Amendment voters passed in 2008 and pointed out problems with accountability measures.

Moreover, a quarter of the $456 million allocated in the first two years of the Legacy Amendment is missing from the state website required to be the resource for displaying where and how the tax money is spent, according to an MPR News analysis. And while the website lists broad programs that received money, details are often lacking about which groups or projects received grants and whether the work was finished.

The "missing" 25 percent currently not reporting is a product of the previous guidelines put in place by the DFL majorities that controlled the Legislature when the amendment took effect.

Fixing the original inadequate reporting measures was a priority for new Legacy Committee chairman Dean Urdahl in 2011. These changes will improve transparency and reporting in the system, making it easier for the public to track expenditures.

The first accountability reform makes future eligibility for Legacy money contingent upon a recipient satisfying numerous requirements, particularly reporting Legacy expenditures no later than Jan. 15 of the applicable fiscal year. The new January deadline will provide additional accountability, strengthen the process and allay rightful concerns. The Office of the Legislative Auditor will be conducting audits and new statute language says if recipients do not comply with reporting guidelines, they don't get the money.

The second major reform improves online resources, making it easier for citizens to track Legacy expenditures. The revamped system will better allow people to go online to follow the recipients’ expenditures of allocations, right down to who gets it, what committee or group gets it and whether there are any conflicts of interest.

The Legacy Amendment generates a substantial amount of money and therefore warrants close examination and evaluation. It will take time for this year’s improvements to take root in upcoming cycles, but new safeguards are indeed in place.