Isn't there a way to mandate that the legislature deal with the budget immediately, and that they can't discuss their 'candy issues', such as abortion, gay marriage and the like until a comprehensive budget and bonding bill is passed? -- Jan, Spring Grove

Excellent question, Jan. If you ever had an older brother or sister, you probably can guess the answer. Brother Spin, in my case, would occasionally come up to me and pretend to hit me. Try as I might not to flinch, I always would. And Brother Spin would then laugh mightily leaving me to scream "Mommmmmmmmmmmmmmmy."

You'll note that there actually hasn't been discussions of abortion and other "candy issues," just the rumor that there would be. This is, from what Citizen Spin hears, what caused Sen. Johnson not to pursue any floor action late Thursday; the possibility that the House would lob a "grenade" over. In this case,the House is Brother Spin.

The best way to prevent this from happening is through a series of "gentleperson's agreements" that this not happen. You may have noticed that gentlemanly demeanor is no longer a part of Minnesota politics, however. There's little in the rules to prevent the "flinch games."

Other than that, you could threaten those with whom you disagree with a good thrashing when Mom/Dad get home. But they're smart enough to know that Mom and Dad aren't due home until early November 2006.

Why don't you proofread your answers? Is your keyboard missing commas and spaces? Spin should at least seem quasi-professional. -R.F. D, PA

Citizen D, Citizen Spin does not claim to be professional, since the act of answering a question, even in an attempt to elicit a small smile from a state not given to humor, is not by definition a profession. Spin is more interested in the simple joy of communication and courtesy than in proving that the Citizen is so smart as to know one cannot be missing more than one comma on a keyboard.