legislative training game 2017

MSCSA Legislative Training Game and Session Preview

By Mike Dean

The results are in:◦ Governor Dayton is still Governor.◦ Minnesota House is still controlled by

Republicans. No change in higher education committee chair

(Bud Nornes-R Fergus Falls). ◦ Minnesota Senate flips from DFL control

to GOP. New committee chair-Sen. Michelle Fischbach

becomes chair.

2017 Minnesota Legislative Session

State has a significant budget surplus. There will be differing approaches on how to use

the surplus:◦ Governor Dayton likely to favor new spending in

many budget areas-including higher education.◦ Republicans will favor tax cuts/reductions and

some spending. Higher education policy changes:

◦ Different approaches here as well: Governor Dayton will be more status quo. Republicans will likely look for ways to change


Major higher education issues for the session: ◦ State budget: including Minnesota State◦ Bonding/Capital Investment: Will there be a

bill? ◦ Career readiness◦ College readiness/developmental education◦ Budget accountability (how is money being

spent)◦ Other reform efforts◦ U of M Regent elections


Major issues (non-higher education):◦ Passing the state budget◦ Bonding/Capital Investment◦ Transportation funding/investment◦ K-12 education funding/reform◦ Tax changes and cuts


Our legislative agenda: ◦ We’re focused on a few key issues:

College affordability and system funding. Developmental education reform Making our campus as efficient and “student

focused” as they can be. ◦ We’re asking legislators and the governor

to:Reform, Reinvest, Retain.

MSCSA at the Capitol

Here are the teams: ◦ Group 1: Anoka Ramsey: Cambridge and Coon Rapids◦ Group 2: Central Lakes (both campuses) and Anoka Technical◦ Group 3: MCTC, Century College ◦ Group 4: DCTC ◦ Group 5: Hibbing, Mesabi Range (both campuses), and St. Paul◦ Group 6: Inver Hills and Ridgewater (both campuses)◦ Group 7: North Hennepin◦ Group 8: Northland (both campuses) ◦ Group 9: Riverland: All three campuses◦ Group 10: RCTC and St. Cloud◦ Group 11: Pine Technical, Rainy River and Fond Du Lac ◦ Group 12: South Central College and M-State (all campuses)◦ Group 13: Minnesota West ◦ Group 14: Normandale and LSC ◦ Group 15: Hennepin Technical Brooklyn Park ◦ Group 16: Hennepin Technical Eden Prairie, Southeast

Technical Red Wing

Legislative Training Game- Teams

Tomorrow morning you will: ◦ Get into your teams (after a brief

introductory presentation). ◦ Plan out your strategy for the mock

meetings. ◦ Take part in two mock legislative

meetings. ◦ Do a “find your legislator” activity. ◦ Have fun (disclaimer: you may learn

something during this exercise, so be careful.)

Legislative Training Game- What to Expect Tomorrow

Tips for effective meetings:◦ Stay on our issues (don’t bring your axe to our

meeting)!◦ Focus on the talking points combined with

personal stories (how do these issues impact you)!

◦ Have a leader who sets the table, but everyone should participate.

◦ Prepare for questions ahead of time. ◦ Smile and be polite. ◦ Don’t make up information. ◦ If you don’t know the answer to a question, admit

that and commit to following up.

Legislative Training Game- Tips for Success

Each team will be given a score for each meeting.

The team with the highest cumulative score will be the grand-legislative-game-champion!

We will also recognize second and third place!

You will have prep-time before and after each meeting-use it wisely.

Legislative Training Game-Details

Group 1: Representative Christner (FA 280) Group 2: Senator Schoonmaker (FA 165) Group 3: Senator Beck (FA 190) Group 4: Senator Dean (FA Theater) Group 5: Representative Jahraus (FA 290) Group 6: Representative Nelson (FA 292) Group 7: Senator Thielen (FA 194) Group 8: Senator McDonald (FA 294) Groups 9-16: complete “Find Your

Legislator” activity

Room Assignments- Session 1 9:25 am- 9:40 am

Group 9: Representative Beck (FA 190) Group 10: Senator Dean (FA Theater) Group 11: Representative Jahraus (FA 290) Group 12: Representative Christner (FA

280) Group 13: Representative Nelson (FA 292) Group 14: Senator Schoonmaker (FA 165) Group 15: Senator Thielen (FA 194) Group 16: Senator McDonald (FA 294) Groups 1-8: Recap and plan for meeting #2

Room Assignments- Session 29:50 am- 10:05 am

Group 1: Representative Beck (FA 190) Group 2: Representative Nelson (FA 292) Group 3: Senator Dean (FA Theater) Group 4: Representative Jahraus (FA 290) Group 5: Representative Christner (FA 280) Group 6: Representative Schoonmaker (FA

165) Group 7: Senator McDonald (FA 294) Group 8: Senator Thielen (FA 194) Groups 9-16: Recap and plan for meeting

#2


Group 9: Representative Dean (FA Theater) Group 10: Representative Jahraus (FA 290) Group 11: Representative Nelson (FA 292) Group 12: Representative Schoonmaker (FA

165) Group 13: Representative Christner (FA

280) Group 14: Senator Beck (FA 190) Group 15: Senator McDonald (FA 294) Group 16: Senator Thielen (FA 194) Groups 1-8: Complete “Find Your

Legislator” activity


Questions?

legislative training game 2017

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