The legislative session is almost over. Just one long weekend to go.

Late last night Gov. Pawlenty and legislative leaders did something they were unable to do last year. They reached a budget agreement during the regular session. That doesn't mean all the work is done but it sure helps. It's amazing what an election can do. MPR's Tom Scheck has the outline of the deal:

The agreement means about 200 million dollars will go to spending programs. The group suggested some of the money will be directed to housing sex offenders, cleaning up Minnesota's lakes and streams and preparing for a bird flu pandemic. The other $200 million will be directed to unspecified tax relief.

Gov. Pawlenty says the deal puts the wheels in motion for an orderly end to the legislative session. "It's a very good product for the people of Minnesota," he said. "It's a balanced product and it puts us in position now to finish up the session in a timely and productive fashion."

Of course nothing they've done over the past few years should give anyone any confidence they can follow though on that, but facing the voters certainly seems to have provided a good incentive for our leaders to do their work.

The Twins and Gopher stadium issues are still unresolved, although it's pretty clear the Vikings will not get a stadium this year. Some sports columnists are complaining that the Twins deal should have been finished earlier, and that lawmakers turned it into a "political football." Aside from the mixed metaphor, stadium opponents should have a pretty easy comeback. If the teams didn't want politics involved they could have easily avoided it by paying for their own stadiums. When you ask for hundred of millions of dollars in taxpayer money, politics does tend to enter the discussion.

The proposed constitutional amendment dedicating some sales tax money to natural resources and the arts is also still up in the air. The conference committee met Thursday night, but they seem far away from an agreement.

Finally, Minneapolis and St. Paul are making a joint pitch for the national political conventions in 2008. Would the Republicans ever come to cities that Democrats have represented so long? The last time they were here was in 1892. Just in case, the 2008 Democratic Convention is scheduled for August 25 through 28. And the Republican convention is set for September 1 through 4. Make your plans now to get as far away as possible!