Capitol Review: Daley Joins Committee for State Government Finance Omnibus Bill

Editor's note: Capitol Review is a weekly look at what your state legislators are doing at the Minnesota Capitol—how they're voting, the bills they're writing and the issues they're getting behind. Come back to Eagan Patch every Monday for a new Capitol Review.

Daley, Anderson and Wardlow will be holding a joint Senate District Town Hall meeting Monday, April 25 at 6:30 p.m. at Wescott Library. The public is invited and the legistlators will discuss what's been happening at the Capitol as well as listen to citizens' concerns.

Here’s what’s happened this past week with bills authored or co-authored by local legislators:

State Sen. Ted Daley (R-District 38) of Eagan and Burnsville

• Daley was appointed to the joint Senate-House conference committee for the State Government Finance Omnibus bill. According to a press release, "Daley is a member of the Senate State Government Innovation & Veterans Committee and author of a provision in the bill for a 15 percent state workforce reduction by the year 2015.  The provision is intended to reduce the state’s workforce by encouraging voluntary termination or attrition, using tools such as the pension service credit incentive, which gives the most tenured employees an opportunity to terminate voluntarily."
  
  “With a $6.2 billion budget shortfall, it’s time government look at
  redesigning its workforce to be streamlined and reflect economic
  realities,” he said in the press release. “It’s a pro-worker plan that has been union supported and worked in other states. It would do well in Minnesota.”
• In addition, he co-authored a bill (SF1192) to limit dues check off for probationary teachers

State. Rep. Diane Anderson (R-District 38A) of Eagan

• Authored a bill (HF1500) to make changes to chemical and mental health
  services and making rate reforms; Also, authored a bill (HF1474) to create judicial election districts, amend mandatory retirement date for judges, create optional retirement dates and impose partial forfeiture of annuity under certain circumstances, according to the Minnesota House of Representatives website.
• Co-authored a bill (HF1511) setting certain rules and guidelines on the sales of  certain food products by farmers

State. Rep. Doug Wardlow (R-District 38B) of Eagan

• Co-authored a bill (HF1467) relating to firearms, that includes "directing the commissioner of human services to report mental health commitment information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for the purpose of facilitating firearms background checks, creating a reporting requirement and eliminating the common law duty to retreat in cases of self defense outside the home," among many other items.