STATE OF MINNESOTA TENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FIFTH SESSION
COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS
MINUTES
Representative Loren Solberg, Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, called the meeting to order at 7:45 P.M. on February 26, 2007, at the Kellogg Middle School in Rochester, Minnesota.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
Solberg, Loren - Chair
Swails, Marsha - Vice Chair
Brynaert, Kathy
Carlson, Lyndon
Dean, Matt
Erhardt, Ron
Gunther, Bob
Hilty, Bill
Huntley, Tom
Kahn, Phyllis
Murphy, Erin
Ozment, Dennis
Sviggum, Steve
Tschumper, Ken
Members Excused: Abeler, Clark, Eken, Greiling, Hilstrom, Holberg, Kelliher, Lencewski, Mariani, McNamera, Murphy, M., Paulsen, Pelowski, Sertich, Smith.
Other Members Present: Representative Tina Liebling, Representative Kim Norton, Representative Randy Demmer. Also present in the audience were former Representatives Bishop, Bradley, Kuisle.
A quorum was present.
The following people testified on the issue of Health Care:
Jeff Korsmo, Chief Administrator Mayo Clinic
Mark Liebow, MD, Physician at Mayo Clinic
Othelmo da Silva, Academic Adviser, Rochester Community & Technical College
Fran Bradley, Former Member, Minnesota House Representative
Judy Voss, Associate Director of Public Health, Olmsted County
Gabe Perkins, Chairperson of Community Health Services Advisory Board, Olmsted County
Dennis Reiman, Good Shepherd Lutheran Nursing Home, Rushford
Julie Vettleson, Green Lea Manor, Mabel
Lloyd Swalve, Caledonia Care and Rehab, Caledonia
The following people testified on the issue of Higher Education:
Marilyn D. Stewart, Chair, Rochester Higher Education Development Committee
Don Supalla, President, Rochester Community & Technical College
Karen Foreman, AFSCME Council 5 Member and MSU Employee
Kathy Merely & Joseph McMartin
The following people testified on the issue of Transportation:
Thomas Kuntz, Mayor of Owatonna & President of the Highway 14 Partnership
David Bishop - Former State Representative
Brad Meire, Owatonna Chamber of Commerce
The following people testified on the issue of Property Tax Relief:
Ken Brown, Olmstead County Commissioner
Jim Bier, Chair: Olmstead County Board
Paul Fleissner, Director: Olmstead County Community Services
Ardell Brede, Mayor of Rochester
The following people testified on the issue of Early Childhood Education:
Peggy O'Toole-Martin, Program Manager, Early Childhood Family Services, Rochester School System
The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 P.M.
REP. LOREN SOLBERG, CHAIR
Gerrie Boice
Committee Legislative Assistant