Ewald at the Capitol

August 21, 2015

ewald at the capitol

Ewald Government Relations Team New Member of Minnesota Legislature Loses a “Quiet Feel free to contact any member of our team: Supreme Court Giant” David Ewald Standing on the front steps of the Minnesota Legislators from both sides of the aisle mourned 651-290-6276 Supreme Court, Governor Mark Dayton the loss of State Representative David Dill (DFL- [email protected] announced Natalie Hudson will be the court’s Crane Lake), who passed away from cancer on Nick de Julio newest Associate Justice. Judge Hudson is Saturday, August 8. Originally from Indiana, 651-290-6286 [email protected] currently serving the Minnesota Court of Rep. Dill moved to Northern Minnesota and Valerie Dosland Appeals and is set to replace Justice Alan Page, opened a resort after selling a successful 651-265-7857 who will retire at the end of the month when commercial flight business to Federal Express. [email protected] he reaches the mandatory retirement age of He later became the City Administrator for Eric Ewald 70. First appointed to the Court of Appeals by the City of Orr, and ran for the open House 651-290-6266 [email protected] then-Governor Jesse Ventura, Judge Hudson seat in 2002 after then-Rep. Tom Bakk (DFL- Patrick Lobejko also has served as the City Attorney for St. Cook) decided to run for the open State Senate 651-290-7473 Paul, Assistant Attorney General to the State of seat. Throughout his tenure serving the House [email protected] Minnesota, and Assistant Dean at the Hamline of Representatives, Rep. Dill was seen as a Jess Myers University School of Law. moderate voice that was well respected by 651-290-7465 [email protected] colleagues from both sides of the aisle. Troy Olsen Gov. Dayton will have to fill another vacancy 651-288-3424 shortly, as Justice Wilhelmina Wright, “What he had was a wealth of knowledge,” [email protected] appointed in 2012, has been nominated by reflected Rep. Denny McNamara (R-Hastings), Becca Pryse President Barack Obama to serve on the U.S. “He was real quiet, but a quiet giant.” 651-265-7858 [email protected] District Court for Minnesota. Members of the State Supreme Court are generally elected Reps. Dill and McNamara were counterparts Katie Wilkerson 651-288-3427 during general elections, but when a member as chairs of the environment committees when [email protected] steps down, either due to retirement or pursuit their respective party was in control. Rep. Owen Wirth of another office, it is the duty of the governor McNamara continued, saying he was a “go-to 651-288-3438 [email protected] to appoint a successor. person” on certain issues for members on both sides of the aisle. Key Legislative They said it: Contact Info House Information Office “The district lost a real champion. He was one of the better legislators I’ve seen. He was 651-296-2146 absolutely stellar at dealing with constituent problems. He never dropped the ball on anything, which is an amazing quality for a lawmaker.” —Senate Majority Leader Tom Senate Information Office Bakk (DFL-Cook), on the death of State Representative David Dill. 651-296-0504 State Legislature Website www.leg.mn

Rep. Dill had served in the House of Representatives since protection services. This group met for the first time on Tuesday, 2003 and was in the middle of his 7th term representing House August 11. The task force, co-chaired by Rep. Ron Kresha District 3A, which is geographically the largest House District (R-Little Falls) and Sen. Kathy Sheran (DFL-Mankato), convened in Minnesota spanning from Grand Portage all the way to to discuss initial ideas on possible fixes and to take public the Lake of the Woods. The funeral was held on August 15 in testimony, but no official action was taken. The task force will International Falls. meet again on Tuesday, August 25.

Senate Bonding Tour Announced The task force was created in response to a number of cases and articles released last year detailing tragic instances of social This week the Senate Capital Investment Committee services failing Minnesota children that resulted in a four- announced on their website – Build.MN, that they will begin year-old’s death. The task force will issue a final report with to tour the state in preparation for next year’s bonding bill. recommended improvements to child services by the beginning Their first trip will span from September 15th-17th, and will of next year. make stops across Northeast Minnesota including the Duluth Steam Plant, the International Wolf Center and Vermillion Office of the State Auditor Community College in Ely. According to Sen. Leroy Stumpf (DFL-Plummer) this will be the first of six tours that the Late in the 2015 legislative session a law was passed allowing committee will go on before next session. counties the option to use private CPA firms to conduct their audits, as opposed to being required to use the Office of Capital Investment Committees in the House and Senate are the State Auditor. State Auditor Rebecca Otto, who remains responsible for touring the state and deciding how the state opposed to these changes even though they are not set to will invest in state-owned infrastructure projects. start until August of 2016, brought more light onto the subject when her office sent out engagement letters to 59 county No Special Session on the Horizon officials asking them for a three-year commitment to allow her office to continue conducting each county’s annual audit. When the Lake Mille Lacs walleye season was officially The engagement letters piqued the interest of members on closed early on August 2, the legislature convened a working the House State Government Finance Committee, who held a group to discuss possible financial relief for local businesses. hearing this week to discuss these recent actions. Committee Last week the working group adjourned without approving members were concerned that sending out a letter looking to a relief package and they had no plan to reconvene. Rep. engage in a three-year contract will cause confusion among Tom Hackbarth (R-Cedar), co-chair of the committee, stated county officials who were going to compare the cost-savings of the situation should be dealt with during a regular session, hiring a private firm to conduct their audit. and unless Gov. Dayton offers a specific proposal the group will not meet again. Gov. Dayton called the decision The State Government Finance Committee invited Auditor Otto “disappointing” and has stated previously that he supports to testify at the meeting, but the invitation was declined and no no-interest loans and more tourism marketing to help suffering one from her office spoke before the committee. They ultimately businesses, but without more specifics legislators are reluctant adjourned without taking any action but the committee will be to call a special session. drafting a letter to Auditor Otto asking her to address a number of questions that were raised by members during the hearing. Child Protection Task Force Convenes

This year the legislature established the Legislative Task Force on Child Protection, charged with improving Minnesota’s child