STATE OF MINNESOTA FORTIETH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-NINTH SESSION
JOB GROWTH & ENERGY AFFORDABILITY
POLICY & FINANCE COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Representative Pat Garofalo, Chair of the Job Growth & Energy Affordability Policy & Finance Committee, called the meeting to order at 12:07 P.M. on Monday, April 18, 2016, in Room 10 of the State Office Building. A quorum was present.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
GAROFALO, Pat
BAKER, Dave
CLARK, Karen
FABIAN, Dan
GUNTHER, Bob
HORTMAN, Melissa
ISAACSON, Jason
JOHNSON, Sheldon
LOONAN, Bob
METSA, Jason
NEWBERGER, Jim
O’NEILL, Marion
SCOTT, Peggy
SIMONSON, Erik
SMITH, Dennis
SWEDZINSKI, Chris
VOGEL, Bob
WAGENIUS, Jean
MAHONEY, Tim
Representative Wagenius moved the minutes of April 13, 2016 be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF3931 (Garofalo) Employment and Economic Development, Labor and Industry, and Commerce Departments, Housing Finance Agency, Public Utilities Commission, and Explore Minnesota Tourism funding provided; utility assessments modified; emerging entrepreneur fund program created, and money appropriated.
The HF3931 A17 Amendment was discussed
Mary-Margaret Zindren, Executive Vice President, American Institute of Architects Minnesota; Brian Swanson, Finance Staff member and Office of the Vice President of University Services, University of MN; testified on the A17 Amendment
Representative Garofalo moved the DE AN-A09 Amendment to HF3931 be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Henriet Hendriks, Non-Partisan Fiscal Analyst, gave a walkthrough of the fiscal spreadsheet for HF3931
Non-Partisan House Research Staff members Anita Neumann, Bob Eleff, and Ben Weeks gave a walkthrough of HF3931
Representative Scott assumed the gavel at 1:04 P.M.
Representative Garofalo assumed the gavel at 1:08 P.M.
The committee heard testimony on HF3931
Becky Roloff, CEO, YWCA Minneapolis; Peter Nelson, Director of Public Policy, Center of the American Experiment; Otis Zanders, CEO, Ujamaa Place; Megan Christianson, Executive Director, Visit Grand Rapids; Terry Mattson, President and CEO, Visit St. Paul; Eliot Seide, Executive Director, AFSCME Council 5; Margaret Anderson Kelliher, President and CEO of Minnesota High Tech Association and Chair of the Governors Broadband Task Force; Steve Gottwalt, Executive Director, MN Rural Health Association; Doug Busselman, Minnesota Farm Bureau, Paul Weirtz, AT&T and member of the Governors Broadband Task Force; Tony Mendozza, MN Cable Communications Association; Jennifer Parrish, child care provider and Coalition of Union Free Providers; Julie Seydel, Membership Director, Minnesota Association of Child Care Providers; Katie Clark Sieben, Commissioner, Department of Employment and Economic Development; Mike Rothman, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Commerce; testified on HF3931
The committee went into recess at 3:07 P.M.
The committee reconvened at 7:10 P.M.
The committee continued hearing testimony on HF3931
Erik Stolhanske, Chair, Minnesota Film Board; Brian Simpson, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 490; Cara Ruff, Executive Director, Minnesota Association for Centers for Independent Living; Ruby Lee, President, CLUES (Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio); Mary Tingerthal, Commissioner, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency; Heidi Ann Schester, Director of Operations, Splice; David Thornton, Commissioner, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; Todd J. Bornhauser, President, Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism; Ryan Smith, Owner, MidWest Mohos LLC; Jessi Dery, Owner, MidWest Mohos LLC; Remy Auberjonois, Actor and Director, Wakemup Productions; Kate Nowlin, Actress and Writer, Wakemup Productions; Michael Hanson, Owner, Wide Range Films; Cary Shaich, Insurance Agent, Ross Nesbit Agencies;
Bill Coleman, ComTechAdvisory; Stefanie Toftey, Citizen; Mike Arnold, Teamster 638; Edward Reynoso, Teamsters; Kathy Hollander, Volunteer, MN350; Lynn Hinkle, Policy Director, Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association; Kent Sulem, Minnesota Association of Townships; Dan Dorman, Greater Minnesota Partnership; Laura Ziegler, League of MN Cities; Anne Kilzer, Director, Minnesota Workforce Council Association; Joe Sullivan, Manager, Center for Energy and Environment; Charlie Vander Aarde, Government Relations, Metro Cities Association of Municipalities; Colleen Tollefson, Explore Minnesota Tourism; Rebecca Lucero, Policy and Advocacy Director, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity; Nicole Blissenbach, Public Employee Relations Board; J. Drake Hamilton, Science Policy Director, Fresh Energy; Michelle Rosier, Sierra Club; John Hottinger, Consultant, Sierra Club; Bob Ryan, United Steelworkers District 11; Julia Donnelly, Political Director, IUOE Local 49; testified on HF3931
Representative Baker assumed the gavel at 7:53 P.M
Representative Garofalo assumed the gavel at 8:29 P.M.
The committee went into recess at 9:42 P.M.
The committee reconvened at 9:55 P.M
Chair Garofalo moved the H3931A21 amendment be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Chair Garofalo moved the H3931A28 amendment be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Chair Garofalo moved the H3931A29 amendment be adopted. Representative Hortman requested a roll call vote. The results were as follows:
AYES:
GAROFALO, Pat
BAKER, Dave
FABIAN, Dan
LOONAN, Bob
NEWBERGER, Jim
O’NEILL, Marion
SCOTT, Peggy
SMITH, Dennis
SWEDZINSKI, Chris
VOGEL, Bob
NAYS:
CLARK, Karen
HORTMAN, Melissa
ISAACSON, Jason
JOHNSON, Sheldon
MAHONEY, Tim
METSA, Jason
SIMONSON, Erik
WAGENIUS, Jean
Members excused:
GUNTHER, Bob
On a vote of 10 Ayes and 8 Nays, THE MOTION PREVAILED
Representative Swedzinski moved the A16-1088 amendment be adopted THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Swedzinski moved the A16-1089 amendment be adopted THE MOTION PREVAILED.
An oral amendment to the A11 amendment was incorporated: On page 2, line 11, after “cogeneration facility or combined heat and power facility,” insert: “located in the electric service area of a public utility, as defined in section 216B.02, subdivision 4,”
Representative Loonan moved the A11 amendment, as amended, be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Mahoney moved the H3931A24 amendment be adopted. THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.
An oral amendment to HF3931 was incorporated: On page 67, line 8 strike “individual” and insert “intellectual”
Representative O’Neill moved the H3931A23 amendment be adopted
Steve Garvey, MN Power; Lynn Hinkle, Policy Director, Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association; testified on the H3931A23 amendment
Representative O’Neill renewed her motion that the H3931A23 amendment be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Smith moved the H3931A27 amendment be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Clark withdrew the H3931A2-1 amendment
Representative Clark moved the H3931A8 amendment
Sia Her, Executive Director, Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans; testified on the H3931A8 amendment
Representative Clark withdrew the H3931A8 amendment
Representative Clark moved the H3931A4 amendment be adopted. THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.
Representative Clark moved the H3931A3 amendment
Farhio Khalif, Executive Director, Voice of East African Women; testified on the H3931A3 amendment
Representative Clark renewed her motion that the H3931A3 amendment be adopted. THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.
Chair Garofalo moved that HF3931, as amended, be laid on the table. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:07 P.M.
Representative Pat Garofalo, Chair
Meagan Rice, Committee Legislative Assistant