The Capitol Note: Turns out, Dayton doesn’t support minimum wage changes

1) Gov. Mark Dayton isn’t advocating changes to Minnesota’s freshly passed minimum wage hike legislation, a spokesman clarified on Monday.

Dayton told the Rochester Post Bulletin that he had heard frustrations from his sons, who own the Minneapolis restaurant Bachelor Farmer, about the lack of a tiered increase for employees who get tipped.

“It may be that we have to fine-tune it. I understand my sons’ frustration with the tip credit issue. They make a very articulate case,” he said to the Post Bulletin.

The Pioneer Press later reported that, according to the administration, the governor simply meant he could see restaurant owners’ points of views without necessarily advocating for a change to the law. Dayton was the subject of jabs on social media sites from both Republicans and Democrats alike when the original story came out.

2) The state Court of Appeals will allow one of the newest frac sand mines approved in Winona County to move forward, despite pleas from residents that it could have negative environmental effects, the Winona Daily News reports.

The court agreed with the Winona County Board, which originally approved a conditional use permit for the property in June 2013. Judge Francis Connolly, part of a three-judge panel, wrote that based on the court’s review, there would be limited environmental impact.

“We are aware that the issues involved in this case stir the passions of many people,” Connolly wrote, “but our role is limited to faithfully applying the law in reaching our decision, whether or not that decision is popular.”

3) The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce’s legislative rankings — based on lawmakers’ votes on issues ranging from tax cuts to a minimum wage hike — found Republicans in high standing and left Democrats out in the cold.

DFL lawmakers like House Majority Leader Erin Murphy, House Speaker Paul Thissen and Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk all received only one positive score out of 11 possible points. On the other hand, House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, Rep. Pam Myhra and Sen. Karin Housley, all Republicans, got perfect scores.

“The policy and fiscal implications of decisions made by the Legislature and Governor will not be fully known for several years,” Laura Bordelon, vice president for advocacy with the chamber, said in the report. “It is clear, however, that the path [Democrats] have chosen for Minnesota is one that relies on higher taxes and more government spending as a means to a better state economy, rather than an economically competitive model that strengthens and improves the state’s overall business and job-creation climate.”

COMINGS & GOINGS

• Gov. Mark Dayton has a single public event on his calendar today; the governor will be in Duluth at 1:30 p.m. for a groundbreaking ceremony of the new Maurice’s headquarters.
• The Minnesota Department of Revenue is hosting an explanatory webinar on Thursday to discuss changes made to agricultural sectors of the state tax code. The event allows for participation through a conference call phone number, or can also be watched on Youtube. More information here.
• The DFL Party is hiring for paid campaign canvassers to work on its door-knocking communications efforts. Prior experience with canvassing is a plus; smart phone with data plan and knowledge of the state political scene required. Send cover letter, resume and three references to Andy Knaak at [email protected].
• The Minnesota Tea Party Alliance is holding its second quarterly meeting on Thursday, June 19, at the Mermaid event center in Mounds View. The evening’s featured speaker is bestselling author Tom Woods. Current members get entry free of charge; new members $10, or $5 for students. More information here.