Editor’s note: The following is Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s letter to Sen. Don Betzhold, DFL-Fridley, and Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis. It was sent to media statewide.

As your conference committee begins deliberations on the omnibus state government bill, please know that I share your interest in the productive and timely resolution of our differences. This letter is intended to provide you with an outline of my thoughts and concerns as the State Government Conference Committee crafts a final bill.

It is important to properly fund technology and other strategic operational initiatives that have the potential to improve the delivery of state government services, especially at a time when state resources are limited. My recommendations to complete the funding and implementation of Revenue’s integrated tax system, the installation of which is well underway, and the replacement of the Minnesota Accounting and Procurement System are critical to Minnesota’s ability to continue to provide service in key areas. As you know, work on the MAPS replacement project is in progress, supported by the planning funds appropriated by the Legislature last session. I appreciate the House’s support for replacing MAPS and the Integrated Tax System and urge conferees to move forward with immediate and full funding for both projects.

My budget also recommends several technology investments that will improve citizen services and government operations, including completion of the e-licensing system begun in 2007, operational funding for the real property system completed this year, and consolidation, of state data centers into a more secure and reliable facility. I highly encourage you to consider fully funding these efforts.

The sheer size and breadth of other topics addressed in the bills makes it difficult to specifically list of all of the provisions that concern me. Commissioners and staff will provide more detail to you shortly. However, several provisions in the House and Senate bills warrant specific mention now:

The House bill requires that state-paid health insurance must be made available to domestic partners if a collective bargaining agreement or plan provides state paid health insurance to spouses. The bill extends benefits to both same sex and opposite sex partners, I oppose this provision and will not sign a bill that includes this expansion of benefits.

The Senate bill contains a number of ill-advised cost-saving measures. They include: depleting the Facility Repair and Replacement Fund for state buildings, requiring the Office of Enterprise Technology to charge agencies for the costs of providing IT security services, eliminating funding for a continuous improvement program that provides LEAN training and facilitation to state agencies, and completely eliminating the general fund appropriation for management analysis and development. This approach is unwise. It will result in state buildings not being repaired in a timely fashion and lost opportunities to promote efficiency and lower operating costs during a time of great need. Most importantly, proposed cuts to the IT security program put sensitive government data and critical state systems at risk. The rationale for a general fund-supported IT security program is as strong as ever. All agencies are, vulnerable to security threats regardless of ability to pay.

The House and Senate bills also include provisions that impede the executive branches ability to manage its internal affairs and carry out its responsibilities. Proposals that would require significant reductions in policy-level agency positions, restrict or prohibit the ability of my office to enter into inter-agency agreements, or prohibit the use of a state car by the lieutenant governor represent an excessive infringement by the legislative branch upon the executive branch’s ability to manage and operate the executive branch,

The House bill contains changes to our election system that are problematic. Changes to our election system should be addressed in a comprehensive stand-alone elections bill that is bipartisan. Addressing such issues in a piecemeal fashion in an omnibus appropriations bill is not appropriate,

My budget includes a recommendation that local units of government use the state’s cooperative purchasing venture for purchasing goods and services unless they can document a more practicable and cost-effective purchasing option. I am disappointed the Senate bill failed to include my recommendation. While I appreciate recognition of this concept in the House bill, the current House language should be strengthened to require local units of government to at least review prices for purchases made by the state for similar items. This could lead to significant savings for local units of government at a time when state and local resources are limited.

My budget also includes several operational initiatives in the areas of grants management, in lieu of rent, financial oversight, and federal stimulus funds oversight that will deliver greater efficiency and financial accountability in state government. The bills currently provide some level of support for these initiatives, and I strongly encourage you to fully fund these efforts in the final bill. I also appreciate inclusion of a provision that provides state contracting preference to veteran-owned small businesses in the House bill, and hope that provision is in the final bill.

Tim Pawlenty, R-Eagan, is the Minnesota governor.