STATE OF MINNESOTA THIRTIETH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-SIXTH SESSION
HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
FINANCE AND POLICY DIVISION
MINUTES
Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division, called the meeting to order at 1:05 P.M. on Monday, August 10, 2009, in Room 5 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
Rukavina, Tom, Chair
Bly, David, Vice Chair
Anderson, Sarah
Gunther, Bob
Haws, Larry
Mahoney, Tim
McFarlane, Carol
Murphy, Mary
Nornes, Bud
Obermueller, Mike
Slocum, Linda
Members excused:
Atkins, Joe
Brynaert, Kathy
Clark, Karen
Dettmer, Bob
Downey, Keith
Eastlund, Rob
Norton, Kim
Poppe, Jeanne
Reinert, Roger
Welti, Andy
A quorum was present.
Chair Rukavina opened the discussion regarding problems with the unemployment insurance system.
Brad Lehto, AFL-CIO, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding union members and others who are unemployed, and the problems they have had with both the unemployment insurance program and the dislocated worker program.
Questions and discussion followed.
Jack Thronson, President of the Union Local at Keetac, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding problems with the unemployment system.
Questions and discussion followed.
Harry Melander, President of the Minnesota State Building Trades Council, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding members’ challenges with the unemployment system.
Minutes
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
August 10, 2009
Page Two
Questions and discussion followed.
Harry Melander provided testimony regarding the need for Minnesota to focus on creating employment opportunities.
Questions and discussion followed.
Tim Olson, a dislocated worker from the printing industry, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding his personal experiences with the dislocated worker program.
Questions and discussion followed.
David Zander, Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding the problems encountered by the Asian community relative to the programs offered through workforce centers, the need for interpreters and special one-on-one staff, and the need to focus on job creation.
Questions and discussion followed.
Dan McElroy, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, introduced himself provided testimony regarding workforce centers and their programs, the use of federal stimulus money. And the status of federal unemployment insurance extensions.
Questions and discussion followed.
Commissioner McElroy continued his presentation.
Questions and discussion followed
Representative Slocum assumed the Chair at 2:40 P.M.
Questions and discussion followed.
Representative Rukavina resumed the Chair at 2:45 P.M.
Questions and discussion followed.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:32 P.M.
Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair
Susan Scott, Committee Legislative Assistant