MSCSA Executive Director Mike Dean Think you’re an expert at talking to legislators? Or are you brand new to the advocacy game? Put your skills to the test in MSCSA’s legislative training game! Participants will be out in teams and attend mock legislative meetings using key higher education issues/talking points. Teams will be scored by mock legislators and a champion will be crowned!

1. MSCSA Legislative Training
Game and Session Preview
By Mike Dean

2.  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

3.  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
2017 Minnesota Legislative
Session

4.  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
2017 Minnesota Legislative
Session

5.  Major issues (non-higher education):
◦ Passing the state budget
◦ Bonding/Capital Investment
◦ Transportation funding/investment
◦ K-12 education funding/reform
◦ Tax changes and cuts
2017 Minnesota Legislative
Session

6.  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

9.  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

10.  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

11.  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

12.  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

13.  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

14.  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 2
9:50 am- 10:05 am

15.  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
Room Assignments- Session 3
10:15 am- 10:30 am

16.  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
Room Assignments- Session 4
10:40 am- 10:55 am

17. Questions?