MMB

Mar 20, 2015

Budget office idea gaining steam

The key financial committee leaders in both houses of the Legislature are withholding judgment for now, but their caucus leaders are striding forward with companion bills to remove the fiscal note process from MMB.

Sep 21, 2012

Lobbying pressures force exchange move

For casual observers outside Minnesota health care policy circles, the health insurance exchange that’s being pursued under the strictures of President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act appeared to be a collaborative process. At least until recently.

Mar 16, 2012

Garofalo shift bill could be political gold

Members of the GOP legislative majorities came into the 2012 session carrying some unflattering baggage ahead of the fall election. Last year they agreed to a budget deal that shifted an additional $750 million of K-12 school aid into the future.

Feb 2, 2012

Senate Finance Committee unanimously backs Schowalter

Many of the questions focused on the government shutdown last year, and whether steps should be taken to ensure state spending or programs continue in the event of a future impasse.

Nov 22, 2011

MMB: Net cost of three-week government shutdown around $5 million

The net cost to the state of July's three-week partial government shutdown came to roughly $5 million, according to a report released Tuesday by the Minnesota Department of Management and Budget. During that time, Minnesota lost some $50 million in revenues that the state cannot recover, spent nearly $10.5 million in costs related to unemployment insurance, and spent another $10 million on special[...]

Nov 17, 2011

State completes tobacco bonds sale

Issuing tobacco bonds to help fix the budget deficit was perhaps the most controversial aspect of the ultimate budget deal agreed to by Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican leadership at the Capitol.

Nov 11, 2011

A fix, and maybe a fight, on stadium bonds

Planners for a new Vikings stadium may have come up with a solution for one part of the financing puzzle — one that improves the stadium’s opportunities in the bond market but also may threaten new skirmishes at the Legislature.

Nov 4, 2011

Public employee unions fight health care premium increases

Thirteen unions representing approximately 43,000 workers are locked in difficult negotiations with the state over health care insurance premiums for the next two years.

Nov 2, 2011

E-pulltabs likely to figure in stadium funding talks

As Gov. Mark Dayton’s self-imposed deadline of Nov. 7 to announce a stadium proposal draws close, there’s growing sentiment that he is seriously weighing whether to cover the state’s share of the project with revenue from electronic pulltabs.

Sep 14, 2011

Latest revenue update signals trouble ahead

Although the state won’t issue its next economic forecast until early December, the outlook for the state budget is growing increasingly gloomy.

Sep 9, 2011

Minnesota’s chronic cash troubles ease

As recently as February 2008, Minnesota’s fiscal situation was cushioned by $1 billion in reserves, and state officials did not need to worry about cash flow.

Nov 10, 2010