The Capitol Note: Bakk says budget surplus should go toward reserves, transportation projects

1.) Minnesotans should wait to spend a possible tax rebate, according to Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, who told the Associated Press that the projected budget surplus is not cause for the state to send money back to taxpayers. Bakk, who was not on hand at the time of last week’s November forecast, said he and his caucus would probably not support tax rebates of the kind made available during Gov. Jesse Ventura‘s tenure in office. Instead, Bakk said his top priorities for the projected surplus of $825 million would be building up the state’s reserves and upgrades to the state’s transportation system. “We have just barely got our head above water now with a positive forecast after we’ve had these nagging problems going back to 2002,” Bakk said, “and I really don’t want to rush to make permanent changes to the tax side and the spending side with everything that’s available.”

2.) Seven months after controversial anti-bullying legislation was pushed aside, the Pioneer Press finds supporters and foes no closer to a common understanding of the issue. Backers of the effort, including the Education Minnesota teachers union, held a Monday rally at Central High School in St. Paul, where they pledged to continue pushing an overhaul of the state’s current policy. Speaking in support of the bill that was carried by Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, union president Denise Specht said the state’s teachers “know students learn better when they feel safe in their schools.” Sen. Roger Chamberlain, R-Lino Lakes, does not disagree with the notion that bullying is harmful, but said the issue should be left up to individual teachers and schools, rather than implementing a more expensive statewide program; cost estimates to administer the law as proposed earlier this year run between $5 million and $20 million. Also weighing in on Monday was Minnesota Catholic Council executive director Jason Adkins, who said the law is attempting to force an “ideological agenda” on parents and students.

3.) The Senate Rules and Administration Committee voted on Monday to approve the final legal bills in its defense against a lawsuit brought by ex-staffer Michael Brodkorb. The last expenses bring the upper chamber’s bill to $396,000 to attorneys at Larkin Hoffman, with an additional $30,000 in severance pay set aside for Brodkorb, who had initially sought $500,000 in damages for alleged gender discrimination. Also yesterday, the committee voted in favor of increasing outstate members’ monthly allowances for lodging and telecommunications expenses. Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk said the current maximum housing reimbursement of $1,200 per month was insufficient, and said more than half of the eligible members were spending personal funds for housing, parking and utilities during their time in St. Paul. That figure was raised to $1,500 per month, while the telecommunications allowance was bumped from $125 to $200 per month.

• Republican David Gerson launched his 2nd Congressional District congressional candidacy with a press conference at the State Office Building. Gerson ran against GOP U.S. Rep. John Kline last year, losing by a margin of 70 percent in the Republican primary election. This time, Gerson said he plans to seek and abide by the party endorsement.
• Another Hopkins Democrat seems to be rooting for Rep. Steve Simon, DFL-Hopkins, to be successful in his quest to become Secretary of State. Late last week, DFLer Eric Margolis filed to run for Simon’s House District 46B seat. Margolis is the lead outreach officer for the DFL Party; he joins Cheryl Youakim, a Senate committee administrator who also submitted paperwork to run in the suburban district last week.
• Rep. Shannon Savick, DFL-Wells, has picked up another early Republican challenger as she seeks re-election to a second term. Peggy Bennett, a teacher from Albert Lea, told the Rochester Post-Bulletin that she plans to run to help preserve personal and financial freedoms that she fears are being lost. It is the first time Bennett has run for public office. She joins area gun shop owner Milan Hart, who is also running on the Republican side in that district, while former GOP Rep. Rich Murray has yet to decide whether he will seek election to the House again.
• The Minnesota Association of Exterior Specialists has formed a political action committee. The Anoka-based organization of construction contractors was formed in 2009. Chris Barrett, also of Anoka, is listed as the PAC’s chairman.
• Former legislator Maurice J. “Mac” McCauley has died, the LaCrosse Tribune reports. McCauley, a World War II veteran, worked as a physics professor at Winona State University, and served three terms in the House (1971-77) representing the Winona area as a Republican.