Budget pieces emerge from House and Senate, Governor releases revised budget
Since our last update much has happened on the state budget. The Senate released targets for spending which includes $2 billion in unspecified revenues, 2.4 billion in permanent spending reductions, and a 7% reduction of all budget areas.

The House is rolling out a budget plan in several segments, starting with a proposal to remove or redefine an array of tax benefits. House Tax Chair Lenczewski believes the proposal will increase progressive taxation.

And the Governor released his revised budget proposal in response to the new economic forecast and the federal economic recovery money. It appears to utilize all the major sources of federal stimulus funding, relies very heavily on one-time solutions for solving the FY 2010-11 deficit, recommends a few (but important) changes to his original spending reductions, and presents an unrealistic plan for solving the FY 2012-13 deficit.

The Minnesota Budget Project continues to cover all these developments in their Budget Bites blog, and will provide additional analysis in the weeks ahead.

Read the entry on Senate budget targets
Read the post about House tax plan
Read the blog reaction to the Governor's revised budget
Read the Governor's press release
Read the revised budget plan for the FY 2010-11 biennium

MCN joins nonprofit voices opposing restrictive changes to state benefit programs
Last week the House Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight Committee heard a package of bills aimed at changes in the state's benefit programs that included, among others, a provision to require fingerprinting the elderly, children, and disabled individuals in order to participate in certain state benefit programs. MCN joined many other nonprofit organizations in opposing the measure. The bill did not move out of committee.

Read the letter MCN sent to the committee opposing the bill
Listen to archived committee hearing including excellent testimony from Colleen Moriarty (Hunger Solutions), Deborah Schlick (Affirmative Options Coalition), and MCN board member Ethan Roberts (Jewish Community Relations Council)

Your participation needed at the Capitol to meet with legislators
The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits is a part of Invest in Minnesota, a coalition of nonprofit, faith and labor organizations working to ensure that fair revenue-raising is a part of the solution to the State’s budget deficit.

The coalition has meetings set with key legislative leaders starting the week of March 23rd to discuss Invest in Minnesota principles and concerns. We are striving for balanced, constituent representation from nonprofit organizations, unions, and the faith community at each meeting. Your participation is critical to our success.

Please contact Leah Gardner at 651-757-3063 or leah@mncn.org as soon as possible if you or someone else from your organization is willing to serve as a nonprofit representative or as a point person for reaching out to your contacts. We have a growing list of meetings in place and can provide details as to the districts where we need constituent representation. We will take care of all necessary coordination and will have materials available to help you prepare.