Update from the Lobbyists for MN Libraries

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Special Session adjourns Sine Die

Early this morning the Minnesota Legislature adjourned their Special Session ‘Sine Die’ having passed the seven bills in the global agreement with Gov. Mark Dayton.

The bills detailed a $46 million budget including $650 million reduction in taxes, $483 million for education, $300 million for transportation and nearly $1 billion in bonding for public works. All of the bills now will go to the governor for his signature or veto.

While the governor signed the global agreement that kicked off the special session, there were few details in that original document. As a result, activists, union leaders and some high-ranking DFLers are urging him to veto all or some of the agreement.

While general expectations are that Gov. Dayton will sign or veto the bills by the middle to end of next week, he has 14 days to consider the bills passed in the special session after they’re presented to him. The legislature has three days to present the special session bills to the Governor.

Bonding Bill
The bonding bill contains $2 million for library construction and renovation grants. There are no earmarks for these funds so an open grant process will ensue at the MN Department of Education. Sam Samuel P. Walseth Capitol Hill Associates 525 Park Street, Suite 255 St. Paul, MN 55103