This document is made available electronically by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library as part of an ongoing digital archiving project. http://www.leg.state.mn.us/lrl/lrl.asp Senate Briefly Page 2 Highlights Page 4 Committee update Page 11 Preview The Senate Chamber came to life Tues., Jan. 29, as Senators reconvened to start the 2002 Legislative Session. Photo by David J. Oakes February 1, 2002 1 Senate Highlights Senators return, less two Sen. Douglas Johnson (DFL-Tower) Unemployment programs Reconvening for the second year of said Solon never forgot where he came evaluated from–honest, humble roots. However, the 82nd Legislative Session, Senators The Jobs, Housing and Community Johnson said, he believed Solon was took note of the major events that tran- Development Committee embarked on the spired in Minnesota and the nation since watching the Senate and perhaps even session Weds., Jan. 30, with a somber the Legislature adjourned last summer. trying to vote in the special election called overview of the status of the unemploy- Majority Leader Roger Moe (DFL-Erskine) to fill his seat. ment insurance and dislocated workers noted the two vacancies in the Senate and Noting that Solon liked floor programs. commented on the legislative careers of speeches to be kept short, Minority Leader Department of Trade and Economic the two men who once represented St. Paul Dick Day (R-Owatonna) said there was Development Commissioner Rebecca and Duluth. Of former Sen. Randy Kelly one overriding quality he admired about Yanisch testified to the stress of the mass (DFL-St. Paul), Moe said the Senate wishes Solon, his gentlemanly demeanor. lay offs on the state’s workers, unemploy- him the best as Kelly settles into the St. “On our side of the aisle, we have ment programs and economy. She said that Paul mayor’s office. “I have a feeling we never had anybody treat us as well. He was unemployment claims rose 50 percent will see a lot of Mayor Kelly in the years a class act and we’re going to miss him,” from 2000 to 2001 and Minnesota had lost and months ahead,” Moe said. Day said. 45,000 jobs since last May. Last session, Moe also repeated comments he made Senators also took action on H.F. Yanisch said, the Legislature was shocked earlier in January at the memorial service 2681, a bill regarding the terrorist attacks by the LTV Mine closing, which displaced for the late Sen. Sam Solon (DFL-Duluth). of Sept. 11, 2001. The bill is a resolution 1,400 workers in Northern Minnesota. Solon passed away Dec. 28, 2001, after a Since then, she said, things have only battle with cancer. “He was legendary for transmitting to the national government the Legislature’s sympathies to those gotten worse. She said Northwest Airlines being able to do things for his community has laid off 20 percent of its workforce and and his area of the state,” Moe said on the people directly affected by the attacks and appreciation of the actions and efforts of the possible closing of Fingerhut opera- Senate floor. He noted that the most tions will result in thousands more consistent part of Solon’s legislative career police, firefighters and rescue workers, unemployed workers. “We have twice as was a dedication to health and human among others. The bill was approved, 64- many dislocated workers this year than at services issues. “He gave of himself and 0. the same time last year, and last year was a gave of his time in his public life to help After dealing with several procedural record bad year,” she said. “You can see so many who didn’t have a voice and matters, including bill introductions and from the statistics that this is an emer- didn’t have the resources” to lobby the referral, the Senate adjourned until Mon., gency.” Senate, Moe said. Feb. 4. Of the $14.4 million that the dislo- cated workers program has to assist the Senate Briefly is a publication of the Photography: victims of mass layoffs, $10 million has Minnesota Senate Publications Office. David J. Oakes already been allocated. Yanisch said that During the 2002 Legislative Session, Shelley Hawes the remaining $4 million could pay for each issue reports daily Senate activities benefits for 1,250 individuals. between Thursdays of each week, lists Writers: Lee Helgen, director of the Minnesota upcoming committee meeting schedules Karen L. Clark Workforce Council Association, which and provides other information. The Joshua A. Dorothy provides educational programs, employ- publication is a service of the Minnesota ment services and training to unemployed Steve Holman Senate. No fee. It can be made available workers, said, “If we run out of money, we in alternative formats. Mary Kate Stimmler put people on the waiting list. We may Matthew Wickman even have to terminate the participation To subscribe, contact: of thousands of people using the workforce Senate Publications Office centers.” G-22 Capitol Director of the Unemployment 75 Constitution Ave. Insurance Program Jack Weidenbach St. Paul, MN 55155-1606 Senate Briefly is published weekly outlined the results of the soft economy on (651) 296-0504 during the Legislative session by the the state’s coverage of workers. He said 1-888-234-1112 Minnesota Senate Publications Office, that employee pay-outs from the insurance (TTY) 1-888-234-1216 G-22 Capitol, 75 Constitution Ave., St. fund during the week of January 6 were Paul, MN 55155-1606. Periodical $10 million greater than during the same week last year. “If the economy stays where Editor: postage paid at St. Paul, MN. POST- it is,” he said, “We will likely need to Karen L. Clark MASTER: Send address changes to Senate Briefly, Senate Publications borrow.” Office, G-22 Capitol, 75 Constitution Weidenbach said that the unemploy- Assistant Editor: ment surcharge paid by employers may not Ave., St. Paul, MN 55155-1606. Joshua A. Dorothy be used to pay off the interest on loans. Instead, he said, a special higher solvency 2 Yvonne Prettner Solon won the second special election, in Senate District 7, to fill the seat left vacant by her late husband, Sen. Sam Solon. Prettner Solon, a DFLer, served on the Duluth City Council and is a psychologist. She has a BSD in social development and psychol- ogy and an MA in educational psychol- ogy. Both Moua and Prettner Solon will be sworn in Mon., Feb. 4, during the Senate session. Frequently called numbers Senate Secretary of the Senate 231 Capitol (651) 296-2344 Senators-elect Mee Moua, left, and Yvonne Prettner Solon were elected to the Senate Voice mail/order bills (651) 296-2343 Tues., Jan. 29. Photos by David J. Oakes Senate Index 110 Capitol (651) 296-2887 rate of the unemployment surcharge goes unemployed persons and the economy. Senate Information into effect to repay the interest. However, “Minnesota’s workforce is our greatest 231 Capitol (651) 296-0504 he said, the unemployment rate this year strength,” said Moe. “We need to keep that Toll free 1-888-234-1112 Senate Committee Hotline (651) 296-8088 will probably not be great enough to up and keep workers here. Otherwise, Senate Sergeant at Arms trigger the higher rate even though the when we come out of the recession, we’ll G-1 Capitol/Chamber (651) 296-1119 fund may go into debt. be back with the same labor shortage we Senate Counsel & Research “But if employee pay-outs are low had before.” Yanisch said, “Our goal is to G-17 Capitol (651) 296-4791 enough we may be able to pay off the debt come out of this economic downturn TTY, Senate (651) 296-0250 before it incurs interest,” Weidenbach said. stronger than we came in to it. We can Toll free 1-888-234-1216 He explained that because of the structure only do that by investing in skills of of the billing schedule, money borrowed workers.” between January and September and paid House off before September does not accrue Chief Clerk of the House interest. “Timing is important and tricky,” Special elections held 211 Capitol (651) 296-2314 he said. In addition to being the first day of House Index Union representatives testified about the legislative session, Tues., Jan. 29, was 211 Capitol (651) 296-6646 the importance of the state’s commitment also the day for two special elections to fill House Public Information to workers. Brad Lehto from the Minnesota Senate seats left vacant during the interim. 175 State Office Building (651) 296-2146 Toll free 1-800-657-3550 AFL-CIO said, “The ability of the state’s Voters in Senate District 67 made House Committee Hotline (651) 296-9283 economy to rebound depends on the state’s history with the election of DFLer Mee workers.” He said that $63 million had House Sergeant at Arms Moua, the first person of Hmong descent 45 State Office Building (651) 296-4860 been diverted from the dislocated workers in the nation to be elected to a state House Research fund and used to pay for non-labor legislature. Moua, 32, was born in Laos 600 State Office Building (651) 296-6753 programs. Now that the funds are desper- and lived for about five years in a refugee TTY, House (651) 296-9896 ately needed, there is no money left to camp in Thailand, before her family came Toll free 1-800-657-3550 help workers, he said. Tim Lovaasen, to the U.S. She lived in Rhode Island and representing the Communication Workers Wisconsin, received a BA from Brown of America, said, “The unemployment Joint insurance is not a tax, it is a premium University, an MA from the Lyndon Legislative Reference Library employers pay for their workers.