Johnson's Senate power shifts to spending

Finance Committee position keeps veteran legislator at center of action

For two decades as chairman of the powerful Senate Taxes Committee, Sen. Doug Johnson, DFL-Tower, has influenced Minnesota tax laws more than anyone else in state government.

When the Legislature convenes in January, Johnson will start something new.

Subject to a Senate rule requiring long-standing chairmen and chairwomen to rotate committees, Johnson earlier this week was named chairman of the freshly consolidated, newly powerful Finance Committee. For the past four years, the committee had been broken into three separate finance committees.

The appointment still must be confirmed by the Senate, but it is likely to give Johnson power over almost all state spending, except for taxes and education, said Vic Moore, chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe.

Speaking by phone from a hunting trip Tuesday, Johnson said he is "thrilled" with the Finance Commie assignment, calling it "probably
most powerful committee in state government.''

"I'm going to miss the tax come tee, but I think this is going to be a good challenge," Johnson said.

Both allies and foes of Johnso tax policies said he has been a powerful, effective lawmaker.

"He's basically written most of tax laws or been involved in writing most of the tax laws in the state," said Rep. Ron Abrams, R-Minnetonka, chairman of the House Taxes Committee.

With the House under Republican control since 1998, Abrams and Johnson have faced each other across the table at conference committees charged with working out differences between Senate and House tax bills. Abrams said the process has always been pleasant and respectful. Even when Abrams was in the minority in the House, Johnson was willing to listen to his ideas.

"If he agreed with you, he'd be the best guy to fight with you," Abrams said. "If he disagreed with ,you, you'd have a whale of a problem on your hands."

First elected to the House in 1970, Johnson became tax chairman in January 1981. He oversaw all tax breaks and increases proposed in the Senate, led negotiations between the Senate and House, and was known for giving the Northland a break. 

"If you compare the taxes on property and what have you in his part of the state relative to some other parts of the state, nobody could accuse him of not taking care of people in his region," Moore said. "He was also very, very good from a statewide perspective. He worked very bard on property tax relief."

Even those at ideological odds with Johnson said he is easy to work with.

"There are few legislators I disagree with more, but I really respect his temperament," said David Strom, legislative director for the Taxpayers League of Minnesota, a conservative tax group. "His legacy has been one of very high taxes."

Northland legislators hailed Johnson's new appointment, saying it will benefit the entire region.

"Having Doug on the Finance Committee is probably as good if not better - as having him on the Tax Committee," said Senator-elect David Tomassoni, DFLChisholm, the area's newest senator

"It gives us a better chance of accomplishing things," Sen. Sam Solon, DFL-Duluth, said. "It's more fun to spend money than to have to raise taxes . . . . It gives him an awful lot of power."

Issues at the top of the Legislature's agenda next year are expected to include property tax reform, education, health care, privacy, energy, telecommunications and a possible Vikings football stadium request.

With the possibility of another state surplus, Moore noted that Johnson has worked in recent surplus years to balance tax cuts with increased spending on education, transportation and other areas.

As Finance Committee chairman, Johnson said he will work to make state government more consumer-friendly, demand accountability and have an open public process.

"I'm going to push an agenda of spending reform," Johnson said. "It's an awesome responsibility and I certainly have a lot to learn."

Johnson ran for governor and lost in the 1998 DFL primary.

He also has a sense of humor, said Lynn Reed, research director for the Minnesota Taxpayers Association. Johnson once brought a miniature, battery-oerated toilet to a hearing, Reed said When the senator didn't
like an idea, he would flush the mini-toilet into his microphone.