Minnesota Legislature Opens

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - The Minnesota Legislature opens its 2010

session today. Balancing the budget - again - is the top

order of business, but much more will debated and voted upon before

lawmakers wrap up. They must finish the session by mid-May.

A preview of issues likely to arise:

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BONDING

A package of public works projects will be one of the few areas

where lawmakers will authorize new spending. Expect approval for

from $815 million to more than $1 billion in borrowing for projects

for college campuses, flood prevention and landfill cleanup. Gov.

Tim Pawlenty can control the size of the final bill through his

line-item veto authority.

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CRIME

Forfeiture laws could get a makeover in the wake of the Metro

Gang Strike Force implosion. The special gang unit was dismantled

last year amid allegations of misconduct and mishandling of

evidence seized from people under investigation. Pawlenty is also

pushing for tougher sanctions on drunken drivers, such as expanding

the use of breath-activated ignition locks for those convicted of

the crime.

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DEFICIT

It's been a perpetual patch job for Minnesota's battered budget.

This time, Pawlenty and legislators must confront a $1.2 billion

deficit, which could grow with a late-February economic update and

a pending court ruling on the legitimacy of billions in prior

budget cuts. The state is also contemplating something it hasn't

had to do for a quarter-century: Taking out short-term loans to pay

its bills.

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EDUCATION

Schools are holding plenty of state IOUs already and could

accumulate more. In lieu of cuts, Pawlenty has moved to delay some

school payments. Education spending is 40 percent of the state

budget, so further delays may be unavoidable. School leaders are

warning that they'll have to take out loans, drawn down investment

accounts or cut staff to get by. Lawmakers say they'll attempt to

change laws to further insulate schools.

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ENERGY

Nuclear power heats up as Minnesota seeks more energy from

renewable sources. Last year, a move to undo the ban on new nuclear

plants fell eight House votes short after passing the Senate.

Expect it to return. Nuclear waste could also get some attention.

Lawmakers have the option of weighing in on a plan - already

approved by the Public Utilities Commission - to let Xcel Energy

store more nuclear waste at its Prairie Island nuclear plant.

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ENVIRONMENT

Lawmakers will vote on a new batch of outdoors and cultural

initiatives funded by a voter-approved sales tax increase that

started last year. Projects that could benefit include plans to buy

up and restore prairie land, river buffers and fish and wildlife

habitat.

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FORECLOSURES

Democrats will try again to win Pawlenty over on a foreclosure

mediation bill he rejected last year. The plan would force lenders

to the mediation table to work out loan terms with struggling

homeowners before they could proceed with foreclosure. The

Republican governor's veto message left some room for compromise,

but specifics are unclear.

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HEALTH CARE

The General Assistance Medical Care program for low-income

adults ends April 1 because of Pawlenty's cuts last year. Lawmakers

would like to piece together coverage for more than 30,000 people,

while the governor's administration plans to switch many patients

to MinnesotaCare, another state program that may not work for some

of the most vulnerable. Other health issues could crop up:

Legislators are considering policies to protect nursing home

patients from falls and to fight obesity. There's talk of taxing

sodas and other calorie-laden drinks.

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SOCIAL ISSUES

Seldom does a session go by without a social issue or two taking

over the conversation. Conflagrations in past years have flared up

over abortion, sex education, stem cells and gay rights.

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TAXES

Despite consistent veto threats, Democrats have tried to steer

tax-hike bills through the Legislature. Pawlenty has struck all of

them down, whether they deal with income, alcohol or credit-card

company taxes. Another deficit could lead to a replay.

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VIKINGS STADIUM

A run deep into the playoffs created plenty of buzz around the

Vikings, but did little to stir lawmakers to action before the

session. The team is two seasons from completing its Metrodome

lease, which it has no plans to renew. The Metropolitan Sports

Facilities Commission has unveiled an $870 million stadium plan

without a way to pay for it. The Vikings are counting on a

substantial public contribution.

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VOTING

Expect quick action to get you to the polls quicker. It's all

but certain that lawmakers will move up the state primary from its

traditional September to the middle of August. That's because a

federal law change requires a longer window between the primary and

general elections. Other election changes, such as clearer absentee

ballot standards, no-excuse early voting and a photo ID requirement

to vote face steeper challenges.