Chanhassen Villager - State of the state - Comments

Saint Paul – As a result

FAdams — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:44:51 -0600

Saint Paul – As a result of Governor Pawlenty’s Drive to Excellence state government reform initiative, state and local governments will save an estimated $210 million on goods and services being purchased through Fiscal Year 2011, according to a media release from the governor's office.

The accomplishments are highlighted in a report prepared by the Drive to Excellence sub-cabinet, headed by Department of Administration Commissioner Dana Badgerow. Drive to Excellence was launched by Governor Pawlenty in April 2005.

The cost savings are being realized through a process known as “strategic sourcing” and are anticipated to accrue over five years at all levels of government on such items as computers, office furniture, supplies and other goods and services, based primarily on previous contract pricing.

Some specific costs savings include:
• Personal computer hardware and software - $40 million in cost reductions realized the first year, with an additional $55 million in anticipated cost reductions through FY11, with 88 percent of these reductions accruing to local governments, school districts and colleges and universities
• Multi-function (copy/print/scan/fax) devices - $45 million over five years
• Computer business recovery sites and services - $5.9 million
• Scanning and imaging systems - $1.34 million
• License agreement for statistical analysis system software - $1.6 million

Other accomplishments in the report include:

• Increased Quality via Lean Continuous Improvement Reform – The State has adopted “Lean Thinking” as its preferred process improvement tool. So far, 18 agencies are actively involved, with 302 staff members participating in 38 Kaizen improvement events. These events have yielded significant improvements in the delivery of state government services, from issuing duplicate birth certificates to processing State Soldiers Assistance requests.

Specifically, the Minnesota Department of Health reduced the time it takes to process requests for duplicate birth certificates by more than 80 percent, from six days to less than one and the Department of Human Services reduced by 89 percent the amount of time required for processing health care premiums.

• Increased Customer Service via Grants Management Reform – The establishment of an Office of Grants Management and a grants governance team that collaboratively revised and implemented 11 new statewide grants polices, conducted eight training sessions with 238 participants and created websites for grant information for the public and resources for agency grant managers and non-profits.

• Reduced Costs via Sourcing Reform – Standards for common products and services are leveraging volume to lower costs, while a strategy in which the state negotiates every contract is delivering better terms and conditions, including price.

“The successes of the Drive to Excellence so far are largely attributable to the more than 1,100 state employees who have contributed their time, talent and expertise toward improving state government,” said Commissioner of Administration Dana Badgerow, chair of the Governor’s Drive to Excellence Sub-Cabinet. “The projected savings are being realized across the spectrum and include cities, counties, school districts, colleges and universities.”

The recent reforms are detailed in the Drive to Excellence Annual Report to the Governor, available online at www.excellence.state.mn.us.

The Drive to Excellence includes 15 specific projects for reforming state government, ranging from strategic procurement to a Lean continuous improvement effort and the reform of state grants management. The projects focus on improving quality and customer service and reducing costs in the delivery of government services to citizens.

Trade mission from Minnesota

FAdams — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:54:00 -0600

Trade mission from Minnesota to Israel
(Photos by the Governor's Office)

From Minnesota to Israel: Gov. Pawlenty with Prime Minister Olmert: Governor Tim Pawlenty with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem (Monday, Dec. 15, 2008).

Wrapping up a three-day trade mission, Gov. Tim Pawlenty reportedly said he is "quite excited" about bringing some next-generation energy technologies back home to Minnesota.

In a conference call with reporters, he discussed riding in an electric car and an Israeli company, Better Place, that is developing cellulosic ethanol, according to reports.

Gov. Pawlenty with electric car: Photo by Governor's office Gov. Tim Pawlenty took a ride in a Better Place electric car in Israel, where he met with business leaders to discuss the automobile industry and renewable energy issues (Monday, Dec. 15, 2008).

Cellulosic ethanol can be produced from corn stalks, switch grass and other types of agricultural waste that are less expensive than corn, which Minnesota companies use to make ethanol.

Pawlenty reportedly urged Better Place to develop cellulosic ethanol plants in Minnesota, pointing out to them that the state has a developed biofuels industry that could adapt to new technologies and already has state siting and licensing policies in place.

GOVERNOR PAWLENTY APPOINTS

FAdams — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:22:09 -0600

GOVERNOR PAWLENTY APPOINTS FOUR TO OUTDOOR HERITAGE COUNCIL

Saint Paul - Governor Tim Pawlenty today, Nov. 25, announced the appointment of James Cox, Wayne Enger, Scott Rall and Bob Schroeder to the Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council.

A constitutional amendment establishing the Outdoor Heritage Fund was passed by Minnesota voters November 4, 2008. The Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council was created to manage and make recommendations to the legislature on appropriations of money from the Outdoor Heritage Fund. The council will consist of 12 members including four public members appointed by the Governor.

Cox, of Cologne, is the owner of Midwest Thermo Equipment Inc. He is a lifetime member of several outdoors, habitat and conservation organizations. Specifically, Cox has been actively involved in his local chapter of the Minnesota Waterfowl Association (MWA) and from 2003-2006 Cox was the president of the MWA statewide organization. As president of MWA, Cox was instrumental in turning the organization around from earlier financial and organizational problems. Cox is also an active member of Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl, and serves on the board of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust. Cox is appointed to a term that expires January 3, 2011.

Enger, of Perham, is the Otter Tail County Director of the Farm Service Agency. He is a recent past president of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, and former member of Minnesota Bow Hunters Inc., Ducks Unlimited, and Future Farmers of America. He served as a Governor’s appointee on the Environment and Natural Resource Trust Fund Advisory Task Force and has a number of years of experience as an advanced hunter education instructor. Enger is appointed to a term that expires January 7, 2013.

Rall, of Worthington, is an active member of organizations carrying out habitat and natural resource protection in southwest Minnesota. He is a lifetime member of Pheasants Forever and currently serves as the president of the Nobles County chapter of P.F. Rall has served as the president of the Southwest Minnesota Fishing Club. He is a member of the National Turkey Federation and Ducks Unlimited. Rall writes a weekly outdoors column in the Worthington Daily Globe and spends much of his free time as a Labrador dog trainer. Rall is appointed to a term that expires January 3, 2011.

Schroeder, of Minneapolis, was the deputy chief of staff to Governor Pawlenty from 2003 to 2008. He previously served the state of Minnesota as the deputy Secretary of State, and assistant commissioner at the Department of Administration. Schroeder has a bachelor of arts degree in botany from Drew University in New Jersey, and a master of science degree in forestry from Duke University in North Carolina. Schroeder practiced forestry for over ten years and is the former chair of the Minnesota Chapter of The Nature Conservancy and former chair of the Environmental Quality Board. Schroeder is appointed to a term that expires January 7, 2013.

PASSED: 2008 Constitutional

FAdams — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:16:10 -0600

PASSED: 2008 Constitutional Amendment to increase the sales tax for Natural Resource and Cultural Heritage Purposes

VOTED YES: 56%
VOTED NO: 44%

OVERVIEW: It amends the Minnesota Constitution, so there's a new 3/8 of one percent sales tax for a 25-year period.

The money is dedicated to the following four purposes:
33.00% • To restore, protect and enhance wetlands, prairies, forest and habitat for fish, game and wildlife.
33.00% • To protect, enhance, restore water quality in lakes, rivers,
and streams with at least 5 percent of the fund to be spend to
protect drinking water sources.
14.25% • To support parks and trails
19.75% • For arts and cultural heritage

Saint Paul – Eight

FAdams — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:10:01 -0600

Saint Paul – Eight projects that will accelerate the development of renewable energy projects and advanced biofuels in Minnesota will receive nearly $3 million in state grants awarded by the Next Generation Energy Board. The projects include cellulosic ethanol production, an anaerobic digester technology for hog manure, and using turfgrass to produce electricity.

Governor Tim Pawlenty made the announcement today at the University of Minnesota – St. Paul Campus. The U of M Department of Forestry was awarded $100,000 to study the sustainability of the state’s approximately 16 million acres of forests that will supply wood for biomass energy.

“Emerging technologies are dramatically changing the way we produce and use energy,” Governor Pawlenty said. “These grants are part of our broader effort to Americanize and improve our energy sources and position Minnesota for economic growth.”

The Next Generation Energy Board was established by Governor Pawlenty as part of the Next Generation Energy Act of 2007. The board develops next generation energy and biofuels policy, and makes recommendations to the Governor and Legislature about how the state can invest its resources to most efficiently achieve energy independence, agricultural and natural resources sustainability, and rural economic vitality.

A total of 28 proposals were submitted to a technical review committee comprised of staff from the Departments of Agriculture, Natural Resources, Commerce, Employment and Economic Development and the Pollution Control Agency. After ranking the projects, eight were selected for funding. The eight projects are:

Central Minnesota Ethanol Partnership, Little Falls - $910,000

The development of Minnesota’s first commercial scale cellulosic ethanol plant is closer to reality because of this joint venture between the Central Minnesota Ethanol Cooperative, SunOpta BioProcess, and Bell Independent Power Corporation. The grant will fund the final stage of a study to determine the feasibility of building a commercial scale cellulosic ethanol plant that would be co-located with the existing Central Minnesota corn ethanol plant.

Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company, Benson - $700,000

This project will introduce new technology that will allow the Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company facility to use farm or woodland biomass to power plant operations, replacing up to 90 percent of its current dependence on natural gas. The technology will also allow the facility to eventually transition from corn-based ethanol production to cellulosic ethanol production. Demonstrating the feasibility of this technology is a critical step in making biomass gasification a commercial reality.

Rick Neuvirth Farm, Elkton - $220,000

Anaerobic digester technology uses methane gas produced from manure or other waste materials to generate electricity. This technology helps livestock facilities meet their energy needs and reduce operating costs while improving air quality and reducing odors. Anaerobic digester technology has proven to be very successful on dairy farms, but it has yet to be implemented in swine operations in Minnesota. Mr. Neuvirth, a hog producer, plans to use anaerobic digester technology on his swine operation, generating electricity to meet nearly 100 percent of his farm’s energy needs.

Northern Excellence Seed, Williams - $200,000

This seed company’s project will demonstrate the viability of burning waste biomass such as grasses to produce electricity, which will bring the state closer to commercializing small-scale gasification technology and use of turfgrass biomass to produce electricity.

Minnesota Valley Alfalfa Producers, Raymond - $400,000

One of the challenges facing biomass-to-energy technology is how to efficiently store and transport various raw materials such as crop waste, grasses and woodland biomass. This farmer-owned cooperative will demonstrate a promising approach called “pelletizing,” in which a variety of biomass materials are processed into uniform sized pellets that can be more easily stored and transported.

University of Minnesota Department of Forestry, St. Paul - $100,000

The U of M will study the sustainability of the state’s approximately 16 million acres of forests. As the demand for woody biomass increases, the study will provide key information for public officials and private investors about the supply of woody biomass in order to ensure sound policy and investment decisions.

Central Lakes College Ag Center, Wadena - $100,000

The project will provide significant insight into the production feasibility and energy content of five perennial energy crops, including four native prairie plants. The project is a partnership between a MnSCU campus, local farmers and University of Minnesota faculty in evaluating switchgrass, intermediate wheatgrass, Survivor false indigo, prairie cordgrass and miscanthus. The project will demonstrate best-management practices for growing and harvesting the grasses for use as cellulosic energy crops.

University of Minnesota, Morris - $50,000

The University of Minnesota, Morris is in the process of installing a biomass gasifier to serve as the campus heating plant and help reduce campus energy costs. This project will lead to the development of a contract with a biomass producer and establish a model for biomass production.

Pawlenty secures federal

FAdams — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:34:27 -0600

Pawlenty secures federal waiver to
allow Minnesota Care funding to continue

Saint Paul – Following requests by Governor Tim Pawlenty and his administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has granted the state a waiver that will ensure 18,000 parents remain eligible for MinnesotaCare health insurance. The agreement means that Minnesota will receive more than $100 million a year in federal funding through June 2011.

“Our administration has been negotiating with the federal government to ensure that funding was preserved for this program,” Governor Pawlenty said. “I appreciate the help of our state Congressional delegation to obtain this waiver.”

In August, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) changed its agreement with the state that would have resulted in a loss of over $135 million in federal MinnesotaCare funding for three years. Governor Pawlenty met with HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt in September and worked with Minnesota’s Congressional delegation to overturn that decision. The agreement reached with CMS avoids any loss of coverage and the related loss of federal funding.

With the waiver, which runs through June 30, 2011, health insurance for parents with incomes between 100 and 200 percent of poverty will be funded with federal Medicaid funds rather than with federal State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) funds. In exchange, the state will access SCHIP funding for some MinnesotaCare children under age 19.

MinnesotaCare is a publicly subsidized program for Minnesotans who do not have access to affordable health care coverage. Approximately 118,000 people were enrolled in the program during state fiscal year 2007.

Under other terms of the agreement, the state secured approval for federal matching funds for five years worth of nursing home pay increases that are already in place and will receive a higher amount of funding for graduate medical education than CMS originally proposed.

Saint Paul – Governor

FAdams — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:53:28 -0600

Saint Paul – Governor Pawlenty will host the 6th Annual Minnesota Governor's Deer Hunting Opener in East Central Minnesota this Thursday through Saturday with events in Cambridge, Isanti, and North Branch. Thursday, November 6

Saint Paul – Governor Tim

FAdams — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:52:11 -0500

Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty will lead a trade mission to Israel in December to help Minnesota-based companies increase exports to the country, build strategic relationships and explore new business opportunities.

The mission, which is scheduled for December 11-18, 2008, will include visits to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, major IT firms, business incubators and education institutions. Governor Pawlenty will also speak before Israel’s top business and political leaders at The Israel Business Conference. The delegation is expected to include approximately 20 to 30 business, community, educational and government leaders.

“Israel has a healthy economy that, like Minnesota, emphasizes innovation, research and development,” Governor Pawlenty said. “This is an opportunity for Minnesota companies, especially high-tech firms, to connect with promising trade and research partners in that part of the world.”

Israel is the largest U.S. market in the Middle East, importing $121 million in manufactured goods from Minnesota in 2007. Transportation equipment, machinery and computer products lead the list of manufactured items that Israel imports from Minnesota. Overall, Israel imported more than $12 billion of U.S. products in 2007.

More than 100 companies from Minnesota are already doing business in Israel, including 3M., Cargill, and Radisson Hotels & Resorts.

Tony Lorusso, executive director of the Minnesota Trade Office, which is organizing the trade mission, emphasized that the mission will help Minnesota business executives learn about research and development efforts in Israel that might benefit their companies.

“Israel has more than 35,000 high-tech firms, and the country invests about 4.5 percent of its gross national product on research and development, significantly higher than any other country,” Lorusso said.

Minnesota has educational ties with Israel as well, including a medical exchange program involving the University of Minnesota Cancer Center and Poriya Government Hospital in northern Israel. In another relationship, the University of Minnesota and Israeli universities have shared $1.1 million in grants from the Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund in Israel.

The trade mission is being planned in collaboration with the American-Israeli Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Minnesota and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas. This will be Minnesota’s second trade mission to Israel. Governor Arne Carlson led a mission to the country in 1993.

People interested in joining the trade delegation should contact Paul Hansen, 651-259-7486 or paul.hansen@state.mn.us, at the Minnesota Trade Office by the deadline of Wednesday, October 29.

Gov. Pawlenty is scheduled

FAdams — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:56:21 -0500

Gov. Pawlenty is scheduled to become chairman of the Education Commission of the States this summer.

The Denver-based education commission was created as a nonprofit in 1965 to spur policy discussion and the exchange of education ideas among political and school leaders.

Pawlenty will hold the title until the summer of 2010, the final year of his current term as Minnesota's governor.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty named his

FAdams — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:52:16 -0500

Gov. Tim Pawlenty named his former law partner, Eric Magnuson, to replace Russell Anderson as the chief justice on the state Supreme Court.

Anderson announced last week he would retire in June. Magnuson will become the first chief justice without previous experience on the Supreme Court since 1944.

In Minnesota, judges don't require legislative confirmation.

Gov. Pawlenty will get a

FAdams — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 17:57:03 -0500

Gov. Pawlenty will get a fourth pick to the seven-member Minnesota Supreme Court when the current chief justice, Russell Anderson, steps down in June. The departure means Pawlenty will have named a majority of justices over his five years in office.

Pawlenty previously named G. Barry Anderson, Lorie Gildea and Christopher Dietzen to the Supreme Court.

Now 65, Anderson has been on the Supreme Court since 1998. He was elevated to the top position two years ago by Pawlenty. He cited his age and concerns about his wife's health as reasons why he thinks now is the right time for him to step down.

State general fund revenues

FAdams — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:58:42 -0600

State general fund revenues for the 2008-09 biennium are now forecast to total $32.542 billion, $530 million less than projected in November and $1.270 billion less than end-of-session estimates. Expenditures are now expected to exceed November’s projections by $64 million and end-of-session estimates by $130 million. When combined with a $33 million reduction in dedicated reserves, this leaves a projected $935 million deficit for the current biennium, $562 million more than forecast in November. The deficit is 2.7 percent of total general fund spending.

Media reports today claim

FAdams — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:50:04 -0600

Media reports today claim the projected deficit for the state's two-year budget cycle has grown to $935 million. The state constitution requires lawmakers to solve the deficit problem by June of next year.

Local media is reporting

FAdams — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:57:53 -0600

Local media is reporting that Governor Tim Pawlenty has said most government jobs that become vacant should go unfilled.

Earlier this month the state Finance Department announced that tax collections slipped in January.

Lawmakers in St. Paul are facing a $373 million budget deficit by the middle of 2009. The predicted shortfall is expected to grow in the next budget forecast.

State of the state

FAdams — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 10:42:55 -0600

St. Cloud – Saying “our state is strong, even as we are challenged by circumstances,” Governor Tim Pawlenty highlighted the strength, character and resolve of Minnesotans in his 2008 State of the State address delivered at the St. Cloud Civic Center.

In the speech, the Governor said that “Minnesotans are understandably concerned about a fragile economy, rising health care and energy costs, making ends meet and government’s never-ending claims on their pocketbooks. But Minnesota is up to the challenge.”