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The Minnesota state general funds budget continues to skyrocket. The Governor and legislature recently approved a $42.5 billion 2-year budget which is a 17% increase from the first budget that Governor Dayton helped to craft four years ago ($35.3 billion) and a 30% increase from the last biennial budget under Republican Governor Pawlenty in 2010-2011 ($30 billion.)

Alpha News Report on the increase in closed door meetings and negotiations in Minnesota politics.

In the world of legislation, the first time isn't usually the charm. Governor Dayton likely knew that installing taxpayer-funded universal PreK wasn't going to happen with a Republican House, but he planted a seed for future debate while securing increased funding to expand existing state PreK programs. There were many other education bills that the public never heard about this session which were also initial attempts to change policy. While they didn't make it far in 2015, taxpayers will most likely see them again in the future.

When news of a $1.9 billion taxpayer surplus broke in February, many Minnesotans anticipated some sort of tax relief would come. The Republican Party ran a campaign telling legislators to "Give it Back," in the form of $350 rebate checks, although the majority of Minnesotans said that tax cuts should be directed proportionately to those who paid the taxes.

The legislature finally completed its task of delivering a complete state budget on Saturday during a two-day special session, but the most problematic Minnesota state government program wasn't touched. Reforming MnSure, the state's Obamacare exchange created by the legislature n 2013, was largely cast aside for debates about universal PreK and waterway buffers.

The U.S. House voted Wednesday to permanently ban states from taxing internet access. The "Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act" passed the House unanimously. However, it may fail in the Senate where a measure could be added to the bill which would enable states to tax online retailers without a brick-and mortar presence.

Minnesota CPA's speak out after feeling they are being portrayed in a negative light by the Minnesota State Auditor debate.

Senator Carla Nelson of Rochester is attempting to reform how lawmaking in Minnesota is done by proposing adding a fourth deadline for leaders to deliver budget targets to finance conference committees at the end of the session.

Governor Mark Dayton failed in his push for $342 million to establish free PreK for all Minnesota 4-year olds, although he succeeded in negotiating for a total of $104 million to expand his tax-funded PreK scholarship program. Dayton and Democrats achieved another state education victory by establishing a new $8.5 million program called the "MnScu College Occupational Scholarship" which will pay for tuition and fees for 1,600 recent Minnesota high school graduates or GED recipients.

While it used to be the case that odd years at the legislature were for budgeting, and even years for bonding, the politicians now pass bonding bills annually. While budget bills are still in limbo, legislative leaders and the Governor have agreed to a bonding bill for the upcoming special session.