It's inauguration day in Washington and that's where most of the political news is focused. But there's still enough going on at the Capitol for a quick rundown. Having said that, let's start outside the Capitol. Two of the state's top religious leaders did some long distance lobbying to try to convince lawmakers to be careful when cutting programs for poor people. MPR's Toni Randolph had the story:

Much of the recent talk about human services has been about cost. But Wednesday, Catholic Archbishop Harry Flynn and Lutheran Bishop Peter Rogness said the talk is starting in the wrong place. They want lawmakers to see the human side of human services, rather than just the money. Rogness says it's simple.

"You don't start with the question of money, you start with the moral judgment about what kind of people we're going to be together."

In order to make their point, Rogness and Flynn tried to put a human face on poverty in Minnesota by touring several human services programs based in the Church of St. Matthew on St. Paul's west side. They visited a non-profit developer of affordable housing, a health clinic and food kitchen, as well as the only licensed day care center of the West Side of St. Paul.

If the message isn't clear enough, how about this quote from Harry Flynn reported by the Associated Press's Elizabeth Dunbar:

"The state's budget is more than just a document. It is a moral statement," Flynn said. "If we must pay higher taxes in order to meet needs of our communities, then so be it."

No lawmakers or representatives from Gov. Pawlenty's office went along on the tour. The two bishops want people to write to lawmakers to tell them to bring compassion to the state's budget process. It will be interesting to see what kind of impact that could have on the process.

Meanwhile at the Capitol, the bonding bill is off to a fast start in the Senate. MPR's Laura McCallum had this item:

The bill would authorize the state to borrow money for about $975 million worth of building projects across the state. The rest would come from higher education institutions, where about a third of the projects would be built.

The bill would also pay for environmental and transportation projects, including the proposed Northstar Commuter Rail line between Minneapolis and Big Lake.

DFL Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson of Willmar says Senate Democrats want to pass the bill as early as Monday.

"It's about putting 10 to 12,000 men and women back to work, and many of the plans and designs are in place, and we're ready to go. And I can see no reason why we ought to wait."

Last session, a slightly smaller bonding bill failed to pass the Senate, with most Republicans voting against it. Republican Senate Minority Leader Dick Day says he thinks two-thirds of his caucus will vote for the bill this time.

He says he still thinks the bill is too big, but says the public wants lawmakers to compromise and get their work done.

It's amazing the impact an election can have. Tarred with the "do nothing" label last year, legislators are racing to get things done this year.

And Gov. Pawlenty, who will attend the inauguration is teaming up with other governors to try to keep the flow of Canadian prescription drugs coming. MPR's Michael Khoo has this item:

Gov. Tim Pawlenty is asking Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin to meet and discuss the importation of prescription medicines into the U.S.

Canadian officials say they're studying plans to restrict the cross-border flow of prescription medications. But Pawlenty says any barriers to Canadian medicines could cut off an important source of low-priced drugs to Americans struggling with health care costs.

Pawlenty has set up a state-managed website that connects Minnesotans with approved Canadian pharmacies. Canadian officials, however, say there's unease about allowing Canadian physicians to authorize prescriptions for patients they've never even met.

Pawlenty and five other governors are asking to meet Prime Minister Martin in Ottawa to discuss their concerns. Pawlenty and another group of governors is also asking Congressional leaders to legalize drug importation.

Finally, it's been a tough year for Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson. The Star Tribune had this brief item:

The wife of Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson, who has suffered from cancer for five years, is near death at a Willmar nursing home, Johnson announced Wednesday.

Avonelle Johnson, 60, is resting comfortably surrounded by relatives and friends, her husband said at a State Capitol news conference. "My wife is coming to the end of her life," he said. "The doctors say that everything that can be done for her has been done."

Dean Johnson, DFL-Willmar, has been absent recently from several Senate events, including Gov. Tim Pawlenty's State of the State address on Tuesday, while tending to his wife. His father, Erlyn, died Dec. 31 at the age of 92.

"As my father said, life can be unkind, but we must move forward," said Johnson, a 26-year veteran of the Legislature and a Lutheran pastor.