Ideas for saving state money and not saving state money
Officials with a state workers union say they know how to save Minnesota more than $350 million by eliminating areas of government waste.
But the leaders of the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE) say their recommendations have been ignored by Gov. Tim Pawlenty and his administration. MAPE Executive Director Jim Monroe says most of the savings could come from uncollected fees and payments that are currently written off by state agencies. But Monroe says the union also wants to streamline what it sees as "bloated" management ranks in state government.
"There's been a large number of management positions appointed in this administration, Monroe said. "A chunk of those have been former legislators that have gone into management positions."
Monore's estimated savings break down as $6.8 million by replacing outsourced electrical inspectors with MAPE electrical inspectors $110 million by streamlining management, and $240 million from capturing uncollected accounts receivable.
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And speaking of uncollected money:
The Minnesota House voted today to forgive part of a state loan to the city of St. Paul, which would allow construction of a new community ice facility next to the Xcel Energy Center.
The loan forgiveness language was included in an economic development budget bill that the House passed by a vote of 74 to 57. Under the provision, St. Paul would end up paying debt on its Xcel Energy Center loan for 12 years instead of 20. The city would then use the savings to issue local bonds for the project known as "the Pond." Republicans call it an inappropriate bailout. House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, tried unsuccessfully to send the bill back to conference committee.
"Go back to your coffee shop," Seifert said. "Go back to your hardware store, like I did in Marshall on Sunday afternoon. And ask people if you think this is an opportune time for us to be forgiving over $30 million that's owed to the state of Minnesota from a deal that was struck in the 1990s, when we are $6 billion in the hole."
Seifert is predicting Governor Tim Pawlenty will veto the entire bill over the St. Paul provision.
But Rep. Tim Mahoney, DFL-St. Paul, defended the loan forgiveness. He said the state should step up.
"We wanted to bring hockey back to the state of Minnesota," Mahoney said. "So, St. Paul agreed to a bad deal. And we're back here asking you to fix that bad deal."