Rep. Kurt Zellers named new minority leader
With former House Minority Leader Marty Siefert, R-Marshall, stepping down to make a run for governor, the House Republican Caucus elected a new leader. Rep. Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove, defeated Rep. Randy Demmer, R-Hayfield, for the position. The minority leader is instrumental in raising money and helping elect new candidates into office. Zellers said his goal is to see the caucus membership increase to around 70 members after the 2010 election, two more than needed to regain control of the House. Currently, House Republicans hold 47 seats. He said that anything is possible and that “a year from now is a long time.” Zellers also said the House Republican Caucus will “stick to the basics” like limited government and low taxes.
Rep. Kurt Zellers began his state service in 2003 when he won a special election to the House of Representatives. This past session, he was the Republican lead on the House Commerce and Labor Committee and also has served on the House Labor and Consumer Protection Division, House Taxes Committee and House Transportation, and Transit Policy Oversight Committee.
Governor race wide open
Since the announcement that Gov. Tim Pawlenty will not seek a third term in office, a lengthy list of contenders stepped forward. The lists below are those who have announced they will run, and still others who are exploring a run and are likely to throw their hats in the ring. For the DFL party, those who have announced their candidacy for governor include:
Other DFL candidates exploring a run:
· Current St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman
· Former State Sen. Steve Kelley
· Current Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak
· Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher
· Representative Tom Rukavina
The Republican Party candidates include:
Other Republican candidates exploring a run:
· Former State Auditor Pat Anderson
· Current State Sen. David Hann
· Current State Sen. Paul Koering
· MN Business Partnership, former governor chief of staff and former State Rep. Charlie Weaver
· Former Speaker of the House and Dept. of Labor and Industry Commissioner Steve Sviggum
July economic update below forecast
According to Minnesota Management and Budget, the state’s general fund revenues for fiscal year 2009 are estimated $150 million or 1 percent less than February’s economic forecast. Individual income tax receipts were cited as the primary source of the shortfall, down $232 million, or 3.2 percent, from the forecast. Also down were sales tax revenues by $16 million. Receipts from the corporate income tax, motor vehicle sales tax, and other taxes and revenues exceeded projections by a combined $98 million. All fiscal year 2009 results are preliminary and subject to change. A complete accounting of fiscal year 2009 revenues will be published in the October Economic Update.
New laws take effect July 1.
The House of Representatives Public Information Services office publishes summaries of all new laws from the 2009 session. The new laws for 2009, taking effect July 1, can be found at: