Dayton to lay out budget plan

"Money," the jarringly incongruous song on "Dark Side of the Moon":

Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash…

Happy budget day.

At 11, Gov. Mark Dayton will hold a news conference to announce the details of his budget proposal (Department of Revenue, Skjegstad Room, 600 North Robert Street, St. Paul.)

In the evening, Dayton, Lt. Gov. Tina Smith and members of the cabinet will attend meetings of the House and Senate GOP caucuses, and the Senate DFL caucus.

Here's what we know so far, from the Strib's Ricardo Lopez. Between the child care tax credit, money promised for human services and education, $30 million for the U of M Med School, it adds up to $660 million of the estimated $1 billion surplus.

Then there's the big transportation proposal, released Monday.

The Strib's Janet Moore reports:

Gov. Mark Dayton's $11 billion transportation proposal to fix the state's most decrepit roads and bridges over the next decade and improve transit would also sock Minnesotans with significantly higher gas taxes at the pump and some with a higher sales tax.

In a far-reaching plan, Dayton on Monday proposed a 6.5 percent gross receipts tax on gasoline at the wholesale level, meaning drivers would pay an extra 16 cents a gallon at current prices. But as gas prices rise, so would the wholesale tax. At $4 per gallon, the wholesale tax would be 22 cents. That would be on top of the existing state gas tax of 28.5 cents per gallon.

To fund mass transit improvements, the governor is asking for a half-cent increase in the sales tax for the seven-county metro area....

The money raised would pay to upgrade 2,200 miles of state roadways, and repair or replace 330 aging bridges. Transit projects funded by the sales tax would include the controversial Southwest light-rail line linking Minneapolis to Eden Prairie. (A Senate DFL plan proposes a ¾-cent increase in the tax, a key financing tool for bus and light rail.) In addition, the state's general fund would provide $120 million for transit projects in greater Minnesota.

Republicans say no way.

One more time

A new hire in the department of finger wagging, Pioneer Press reporter David Montgomery, on Twitter:

Lots of reporters not understanding — or misunderstanding — how gross receipts tax would work. I explained it 1/12: blogs.twincities.com/politics/2015/…

MinnPost with an in-depth report: More than one-quarter of Minnesota high school grads had to take remedial classes when they go to a Minnesota college or university.

Disaster relief approved, Pat Condon reports:

The Legislature on Monday gave final approval to $17 million in recovery dollars for 47 counties and three American Indian reservations that suffered damages and other expense from flooding last June.

Parental Choice in Education Forum with Tim Keller, Institute for Justice and Terry Brown, School Choice Wisconsin; 9:00 a.m.; RSVP to SPeterson@MNCC.org or 651-227-8777; St. Croix Lutheran School; 1200 Oakdale Ave.; West St. Paul

AgriGrowth luncheon Wednesday, 11:30 to 1 with Rep. Rod Hamilton and Rep. Paul Anderson, 11:30 at the old Kelly Inn, Mary Kay Delvo: 651-905-8900.

Speaking of agribusiness, a big breakfast cereal merger.

And, my story setting the table on environmental issues this session, with the Legislature moving right and environmentalists playing defense:

That's the new political dynamic that will play out this session as agribusiness, mining and other industries and their legislative allies try to press their new advantage while environmental activists play defense.

MPR on the gun rights lobby at the Capitol.

Via Pat Kessler on Twitter: HF372: repeals requirement for permit holders to tell Public Safety Dept they carry a gun in the State Capitol.

Washington

Rep. John Kline has a new DFL opponent in the Second Congressional District, Allison Sherry reports:

Angie Craig, a vice president at a medical device company, announced Monday that she plans to run against GOP Rep. John Kline next year in the Second Congressional District.

Craig told the Star Tribune that next month she plans to step down from the executive leadership team at St. Jude Medical to prepare to seek the DFL nomination in 2016.

She plans on staying with the company, where she has worked in various management positions for a decade, in a strategic capacity.

She has never before run for political office.

42 years old lives in Eagan, four children.

Good reads

Times: Koch brothers to spend $889 million next election cycle.

Times: Obamacare getting cheaper, due to slowing health care cost increases.

Washington Post: Obama back at 50 percent in the Gallup.

Finally, Rep. Frank Hornstein, DFL-Minneapolis, on traveling to Poland. Auschwitz was liberated 70 years ago today.

you know where to find me

Tips, complaints, insider stock trading advice to patrick.coolican@startribune.com; follow me on twitter: @jpcoolican