So I decided to take a few months off from writing this column. Did I miss anything? Let's see...three Supreme Court nominations, Peter McLaughlin's entire campaign, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Chris Coleman's big victory...oh, you get the idea. It doesn't pay to take time off in the news business.

So let's get on with it. Now that the 2005 off-year elections are history the 2006 campaign is well underway. And a big unresolved issue from the past few years is back in the headlines--the push to amend the constitutuion to ban same-sex marriage. About 250 conservative pastors met in Eden Prairie Thursday to say they'll push the Legislature to put a proposed amendment on the ballot next year. Several protesters were also on hand to object to what they consider discrimination against gays and lesbians. Which party might benefit from having the gay marriage amendment on the ballot next year? Here's a hint from Mark Zdechlik's MPR piece:

Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty is on record in support of a ban. Asked about the amendment at an event unrelated to the summit on Thursday, Palwenty said he wants the issue on the ballot next year when he's expected to run for re-election.

"I think traditional marriage is an important part of our society and it's a cornerstone of our society and we should not treat every domestic relationship as the equivalent of traditional marriage, and so I think protecting that is important," Pawlenty said.

The legislative session runs from March to May, and I guess we can look for this issue to dominate it. So much for the idea that it would be a quiet one.

Speaking of Gov. Pawlenty, he announced his plan for helping people pay their heating bills this winter. It includes an agreement with the state's two biggest utilities not to turn people's heat off when they can't pay their bills, and diverting some welfare money into heating assistance. He has also ordered state agencies to cut back on energy use. Sen. Ellen Anderson, DFL-St. Paul, says it's a start, but she still wants a special session to deal with energy issues.

All this may seem a little unnecessary on a day when Mark Seeley says it could hit 65 degrees in the Twin Cities. But did you see this story in the Pioneer Press?

November's warm weather has caused a sharp drop in natural gas prices, but whether Minnesota consumers will see lower heating bills as a result remains to be seen.

Experts say the fact that natural gas prices have declined certainly won't hurt, but whether it helps put much of a dent in predictions that home heating costs will be at least 40 percent higher this year in Minnesota is far less certain.

That's what we get for living in a cold weather state at the end of the pipeline. But at least we don't have to worry about hurricanes.

In other news former state GOP chair Ron Eibensteiner says he didn't do it-- didn't solicit an illegal corporate contribution from a Florida-based insurance company, that is. Eibensteiner took the stand in his own defense at his trial in Rochester as reported in the Star Tribune:

"No I did not" or "absolutely not" were Eibensteiner's responses to questions from his attorney William Mauzy about whether Eibensteiner solicited the donations or even was aware of them before the media inquired about them months later.

Eibensteiner also said he did not write or read the text of a letter, which he signed, thanking a lobbyist who arranged the contributions. It was an electronic form letter prepared by an unknown staff person and sent out under his name, Eibensteiner said.

No court Friday because of Veteran's Day. Testimony resumes Monday. As does this column. I promise!