The Minnesota governor’s race between Democrat Mark Dayton and Republican Tom Emmer will be decided by a recount. Dayton leads Emmer by about 9,000 votes or less than one-half of one percent of all the ballots cast. The winner will replace Republican Tim Pawlenty, who is rumored to be considering a presidential run in two years. The Minnesota election is the last of the 37 governor’s races held November 2 to be resolved.
New York Democratic Gov. David Paterson delayed a previously scheduled special session but still is expected to call a lame-duck meeting of lawmakers to address the budget. Some lawmakers are balking because three Senate races remain undecided and partisan control of the chamber is expected to switch to the GOP. Governor Paterson wants the Legislature to endorse his plan to close a $315 million mid-year budget deficit caused by larger-than-expected Medicaid rolls and the failure to collect taxes on cigarettes sold on Indian reservations. But Republicans do not want to examine spending again until they control the chamber. Paterson says he is willing to cut $400 million, and use the extra cash to fund some programs legislators are clamoring to support. The partisan makeup of the Senate will be decided at the earliest when absentee ballots are counted. The final tally could be months away as court challenges are expected in the three contested races. When the recounts are completed analysts expect the Senate will be deadlocked or controlled by the GOP.
During his campaign, Michigan Governor-elect Rick Snyder, a Republican, promised he would pass a lower, simpler business tax and balance the state’s yawning $1.5 billion budget deficit. He promised to cut $1.5 billion in taxes by changing its much-maligned business tax and trimming another $1 billion from the state’s tax on companies’ equipment and materials. It is a serious challenge for the new governor and the legislature that is now solidly in the GOP corner. In his first budget, due in March, Snyder is expected to call for replacing the business tax on gross receipts and income with a straight six percent tax on corporate profits. That could deepen Michigan’s budget deficit to $3 billion, according to projections by two state budget forecasters.
Finally, in some states revenues from taxes and fees have begun to climb as the recession slows. For exampleGeorgia’s tax revenue rose 8.2 percent in October, the fourth consecutive month the state generated revenue growth. Through October, the state’s tax revenue was up 7.6 percent to $5.02 billion.
The following states are currently in session: Massachusetts (informal session), New Jersey, and Ohio. The District of Columbia Council is also in session. The U.S. Senate is in pro-forma session.
The U.S. House is in recess. The U.S. House and Senate will return on November 15. The Michigan House is in recess until November 17; the Senate is in recess until November 30.
The Illinois Senate convened a special session on November 4 to discuss pension bonds legislation; the session adjourned the same day but lawmakers may bring the issue back up during the fall veto session that begins November 16. The Illinois House will also return for its veto session on November 16. Lawmakers will be able to take up any bill from the current session.
Florida lawmakers will convene a special session on November 16 to consider overriding vetoes made by outgoing Republican Gov. Charlie Crist; the legislature will also hold an organizational session on the same day. Indiana will hold an organizational session on November 16. South Carolina will hold an organizational session on November 17.California Governor Schwarzenegger announced he would call a special session of the legislature on December 6 to revisit budget issues.
Pennsylvania is projected to adjourn on November 30; House leaders reversed their decision not to hold a lame-duck session before the start of the new biennium and will now hold a voting session on November 15. ThePennsylvania Senate is in recess until the call of the President Pro Tempore. Illinois is projected to adjourn on November 30.
