Thompson Led Legislation Could Freeze School District Salaries

Editor's Note: Capitol Review is a weekly look at what your state legislators are doing at the Minnesota Capitol—how they're voting, the bills they're writing and the issues they're getting behind. Come back to Lakeville Patch every Monday for a new Capitol Review.

Freshman Sen. Dave Thompson (R-Lakeville) who represents district 36 in the Minnesota Senate, made his first big splash at the Capitol last week when he co-authored a bill that would prohibit salary increases for any school district or charter school employee until June 30, 2013.

SF0056 was posted on Jan. 14 and will be introduced on Jan. 18, and does not include increases to health insurance benefits, but does prohibit any salary increase for teachers, administrators and other staff for cost of living, longevity, step and lane changes, compensation plans or pay grade adjustments.

The bill would also prohibit district employees, and thereby unions, from strikes or requests for arbitration.

Lakeville Patch will have more on this potential new legislation in the coming days. The bill will be headed to the Senate’s Education Committee for further review.

Here’s what’s happened this past week with other bills authored or co-authored by local legislators:

Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-Farmington)—Introduced a bill that would exempt pet sales from sales taxes. HF0036 was introduced Jan. 10.

Rep. Pat Garofalo—Introduced a bill that would amend teacher licensure provisions by establishing an alternative teacher preparation program that allows eligible individuals to acquire a two-year limited-term teaching license. HF0063 was introduced Jan. 11.

Rep. Pat Garofalo—Introduced a bill that would increase sanctions for careless driving resulting in a death to be a gross misdemeanor. Currently it’s a misdemeanor. HF0068 was introduced Jan. 13.

Rep. Mary Liz Holberg (R-Lakeville) wasn’t chief author of any legislation last week.