Capitol View for September 29

Good morning and happy Thursday.

More on the campaign finance numbers released Wednesday: Just among the two main contenders for governor – DFL incumbent Tim Walz and Republican challenger Scott Jensen – the combined spending this year is about $7.8 million. MPR’s Brian Bakst notes one group has topped that on its own. The Alliance for a Better Minnesota, a heavyweight on the DFL side, has spent $9 million so far in the race on TV and Internet ads – almost all of it attacking Jensen’s position on abortion.

Here's a rundown: Walz entered the final six weeks with about $3.2 million on hand. Jensen had about $865,000. The two brought in similar amounts over the past to months, but that was helped along by a $584,000 public subsidy Jensen received.

In the attorney general’s race: DFL incumbent Keith Ellison retained a $923,000 to $321,000 available cash edge over Republican challenger Jim Schultz. Like Jensen, Ellison benefitted from a $147,000 public subsidy when Schultz opted out of the program. But outside entities have made ample television reservations for the closing weeks, which could dwarf what even what the candidates put in.

For secretary of state: DFL incumbent Steve Simon held a commanding bankroll advantage over Republican Kim Crockett – $967,000 to $287,000. There, too, groups were starting to steer significant amounts into the race.

The state auditor’s contest was the sole race where the Republican candidate had more money left to spend. First-time candidate Ryan Wilson entered fall with $162,000 at the ready while DFL incumbent Julie Blaha had roughly $75,000. But Wilson has gotten there by personally absorbing most of his campaign’s costs.

Party control of the Legislature is a big battle headed toward November. And the money proves it. Outside spending by political groups and parties is beginning to rack up. New fundraising reports show more than $4.3 million has already gone into independent efforts such as canvassing, ads and phone banking done without coordination or approval of candidates. Ten House races are already well into six figures in and six Senate contests were as of Sept. 20. More mailers and commercials are sure to push up that total. Brian tweeted a list. If history is a guide, Minnesota will see several legislative races in pivotal areas attract more than $1 million in spending with some pushing closer to $2 million.

Also in the attorney general’s race, Schultz won the endorsement of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49. Local 49 Business Manager Jason George said in a statement that the race “is personal for the 49ers.” He said tradesmen were “terrorized by lawbreaking Line 3 protestors” during construction of the pipeline. And that Ellison failed to publicly reject a request from Line 3 protestors that Walz appoint Ellison as a special prosecutor. “Today, our members working in both the public and private sector in the Twin Cities do not feel safe on the job in far too many circumstances. This must end,” George said. Ellison responded by tweeting endorsements for his campaign from the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters and the Laborers' International Union of North America.

Meanwhile, Walz moved Wednesday to back off a dispute with a state judge. Last Friday, Judge John Guthmann rebuked Walz for comments he made last week about a case last year involving Feeding Our Future, which is at the center of an alleged fraud scheme that stole at least $250 million. Walz told reporters Wednesday that the main thing he wants people to keep in mind is that the Justice Department has filed criminal charges against 49 people. "My anger is not directed at the courts, and I fully respect them,” Walz said. “There's a lot of decisions that I might not agree with. My anger is with the people that committed this fraud. It just boggles my mind, in the middle of a global pandemic." Republicans have targeted Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison for not stopping the alleged fraud sooner. Walz says his education department alerted the FBI which started an investigation that led to the criminal charges.

Homeowners in St. Paul are set to see a big property tax increase.The Pioneer Press reports: The average St. Paul homeowner can expect to pay $3,924 in property taxes next year, a one-year increase of $506 or 14.8 percent, according to new projections from Ramsey County’s budget office. Those figures apply to the median home in the city, which last year was valued at $228,700 but today is worth $266,300. Home values have risen faster than other property types. That means “taxes will shift somewhat,” with homeowners paying more, said Corey Erickson, interim deputy county assessor. Tax bills will go up an average of 6.5 percent for apartments and just 1.3 percent for commercial buildings. “These are huge increases” in property values and taxes in most neighborhoods, city council member Rebecca Noecker said Wednesday during a meeting of the Joint Property Tax Advisory Committee. She asked that the members meet to discuss what they can do to bring taxes down.