Tim O'Driscoll

As the State Legislature and the Governor continue to spar over high profile issues like the budget, gay marriage, and a Vikings stadium -- there's also bills that have quietly passed that tinker with the State Land and Legacy Amendment. The Land and Legacy Amendment brings in hundreds of millions of dollars, and state lawmakers have been voting on conflicting bills on where that money should go.

Monday will be a big day at the State Capitol. The latest budget forecast will be released. The last budget forecast released in November projected a $6.2 billion deficit in the next two-year budget cycle, which starts on July 1st. However, that same forecast had our current budget running at a surplus.

The issue of a potential bonding bill bubbled up to the surface again this week when Governor Dayton unveiled his plan to spend $1 billion in construction projects. Representative O'Driscoll would prefer to first spend the money that's already been allocated. And Representative Hosch says he's disappointed Governor Dayton left the SCSU Science Lab out.

Three freshmen lawmakers from the St. Cloud area will be sworn-in tomorrow at noon. King Banaian, Tim O'Driscoll, and John Pederson take their oath of office right before the 2011 State Legislative session begins.