January Capitol Report

As we begin the 2012 legislative session, I wanted to keep you updated on the latest news and events here at the Capitol. Here is the newest legislative E-Update. Included in this report is a letter regarding some of the leadership changes here at the Minnesota Senate, a 2012 session calendar with many of the upcoming legislative highlights, and information on the "Reform 2.0" plan that was announced last week.  

I hope that you will enjoy it and share with me your thoughts on these and any other legislative issue of interest to you. My staff and I are always available to assist you with anything you may need. 

I look forward to working together with you this session.

Senator Julianne Ortman
UPCOMING EVENTS

Tonight 8pm - Senator Ortman appears on Pioneer Public TV's live program,Your Legislator @ 8pm.  Will be available for viewing after 9am January 27 HERE.
Senator Ortman Appointed Deputy Majority Leader
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER SENJEM FINALIZES LEADERSHIP TEAM

St. Paul -- Senate Republican Caucus Majority Leader David Senjem (R-Rochester) announced today the appointment of Sen. Julianne Ortman (R-Chanhassen) as Deputy Majority Leader and Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria) as an Assistant Majority Leader.  Senjem's appointments are the final two additions to the new leadership team elected by Senate Republicans on Dec. 27.

"Senators Ortman and Ingebrigtsen are both experienced and vital members of our Senate Republican team, and have my utmost confidence going into this short but important session," Senjem said.

Sen. Julianne Ortman, elected in 2002 and chair of the Senate Taxes Committee, will serve as Deputy Majority Leader.

“I am honored to have been appointed to serve our caucus in this capacity as Deputy Majority Leader,” said Ortman.  “I am one of 36 members who will work closely with Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem to focus our energy on the important issues facing Minnesota.   Controlling runaway spending, promoting government reforms and improving our economic climate will remain our priorities.”

Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, elected in 2006 and chair of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee, will serve as an Assistant Majority Leader.  Ingebrigtsen commented: “It’s an honor to be asked to serve as an Assistant Majority Leader, and I thank Senator Senjem for allowing me this opportunity.  Our caucus remains committed to our goals of improving the business climate, making government work better, and putting more Minnesotans back to work.  I’m confident that the new leadership team, along with the entire Senate Republican Caucus, can accomplish these goals and more as we move forward in the New Year.”

The Senate Republican Caucus leadership team also consists of the following members, who were elected by the caucus membership last week: Sen. Roger Chamberlain (R-Lino Lakes), Sen. Paul Gazelka (R-Brainerd), Sen. Ted Lillie (R-Lake Elmo), and Sen. Claire Robling (R-Jordan).
January 3, 2012 - Senate Republican Caucus Majority Leader David Senjem (R-Rochester) announced today the appointment of Sen. Julianne Ortman (R-Chanhassen) as Deputy Majority Leader and Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria) as an Assistant Majority Leader.  Senjem's appointments are the final two additions to the new leadership team elected by Senate Republicans on Dec. 27.

"Senators Ortman and Ingebrigtsen are both experienced and vital members of our Senate Republican team, and have my utmost confidence going into this short but important session," Senjem said.

Sen. Julianne Ortman, elected in 2002 and chair of the Senate Taxes Committee, will serve as Deputy Majority Leader.

“I am honored to have been appointed to serve our caucus in this capacity as Deputy Majority Leader,” said Ortman.  “I am one of 36 members who will work closely with Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem to focus our energy on the important issues facing Minnesota.   Controlling runaway spending, promoting government reforms and improving our economic climate will remain our priorities.”

Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, elected in 2006 and chair of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee, will serve as an Assistant Majority Leader.  Ingebrigtsen commented: “It’s an honor to be asked to serve as an Assistant Majority Leader, and I thank Senator Senjem for allowing me this opportunity.  Our caucus remains committed to our goals of improving the business climate, making government work better, and putting more Minnesotans back to work.  I’m confident that the new leadership team, along with the entire Senate Republican Caucus, can accomplish these goals and more as we move forward in the New Year.”

The Senate Republican Caucus leadership team also consists of the following members, who were elected by the caucus membership last week: Sen. Roger Chamberlain (R-Lino Lakes), Sen. Paul Gazelka (R-Brainerd), Sen. Ted Lillie (R-Lake Elmo), and Sen. Claire Robling (R-Jordan).
Senator Ortman Receives Legislator of the Year Honor from Municipal Legislative Commission
Sen. Ortman & Mike Maguire, Mayor of Eagan and Chair of the MLC
St. Paul --- State Senator Julianne Ortman (R-Chanhassen) was recognized last Thursday as “Legislator of the Year” by the Minnesota Municipal Legislative Commission (MLC).  Each year, the MLC Board of Directors identifies two lawmakers who have done significant work in advancing MLC legislative priorities.  This year, Senator Ortman was honored for her work to reform the failing Market Value Homestead Credit (MVHC) program and implement the Market Value Homestead Exclusion. The MLC also highlighted Senator Ortman’s work as the Chair of the Senate Tax Committee as she helped lead the Minnesota Legislature through a lengthy state government shutdown.

“I am very pleased to be named ‘legislator of the year’ by this outstanding organization, the MLC,” said Senator Ortman.  “During my service as Carver County Commissioner and now as Chair of the State Senate Tax Committee, I’ve learned a great deal about the complexity of the relationships between the State of Minnesota and our local partners, and the taxpayers that fund our budgets.  Eliminating the Market Value Homestead Credit was a giant step forward for simplifying our property tax system and improving transparency for taxpayers, who now can more clearly see the relationship between their property tax payments and the services they receive. READ MORE
Senator Ortman Receives TEKNE Award From Minnesota High-Tech Association
(St Paul) - 
St. Paul – Senator Julianne Ortman (R-Chanhassen) is 1 of 5 legislators recognized by the Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) as recipients of the 2011 Tekne Award for Public Service.  Members of the
MHTA created this new Public Service award category this year to honor individuals who provide outstanding service to support Minnesota’s growing technology economy.  During the November ceremony, the MHTA also
honored more than a dozen Minnesota-based technology and innovation leaders throughout a range of fields including manufacturing and sustainable technologies.
Senator Julianne Ortman (R-Chanhassen) is 1 of 5 legislators recognized by the Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) as recipients of the 2011 Tekne Award for Public Service.  Members of the MHTA created this new Public Service award category this year to honor individuals who provide outstanding service to support Minnesota’s growing technology economy. During the November ceremony, the MHTA also honored more than a dozen Minnesota-based technology and innovation leaders throughout a range of fields including manufacturing and sustainable technologies.

Sen. Ortman was praised for taking a leading role in improving Minnesota’s prosperity through technology and innovation. Specifically, Sen. Ortman was commended for the inclusion and advancement of critical funding for Minnesota’s Science and Technology Authority in the Senate Tax bill.  The funds will provide grants for research projects developed by colleges, nonprofit organizations and qualified science and technology companies. In addition, Sen. Ortman was recognized for her advocacy to include Data Center Tax Credits in the Omnibus Tax Bill, which was signed into law in July following the 2011 Special Legislative Session. READ MORE
Senator Ortman Receives National Award for Support of Small Businesses
(St. Paul) – State Senator Julianne Ortman (R-Chanhassen) is recognized as a “Guardian of Small Business” by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).  Mike Hickey, the Minnesota NFIB Director, cited Sen. Ortman’s support for low taxes, her advancement of innovative lawsuit reform and the successful implementation of estate tax conformity as prime examples of small business-friendly legislation.

“Sen. Ortman authored a major tax bill that contained two significant provisions to help small business; conforming to the federal exemption on the estate tax law and a provision to significantly reduce commercial property taxes in Minnesota by eliminating the statewide portion of that tax. She also authored three of the four major tort reform bills that were considered during the 2011 session,” said Mike Hickey  “Senator Ortman’s leadership and support for small business is unprecedented and we are very grateful to her for all the effort she made during the 2011 session. She is very deserving of this award.”  READ MORE
Dispelling Minnesota Tax Myths

Senator Ortman was featured on Capitol Report discussing property tax changes.  See the 8-minute video interview here.

Click here to read Senator Ortman's September 2011 Star-Tribune OpEd regarding Property Taxes and the myths behind the DFL message.

Keith Carlson, Executive Director of the Minnesota Inter-County Association also weighed in to support the truth. Click here to read his follow-up OpEd.

The League of Minnesota Cities supports the MVHC elimination. Click here to read more.

MPR recently put Senator Ortman's tax statements to the PoliGraph® test and she earned an "accurate" grade. Click here to read their analysis.

The seven metro counties have set their preliminary tax levies. Anoka: -7.4%, Carver -2.2%, Dakota and Washington: 0%, Scott and Hennepin: +1%, Ramsey: +1.7%.
December 2011 Capitol Report
Click to catch up on Senator Ortman's post-session activities, and to learn more about property tax changes.
LGA Study Group Appointments
“The membership of this study group will lend their valuable institutional knowledge of the strengths, weaknesses and problems surrounding local government aid,” said Sen. Ortman. Click to read the full press release.