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   <title>MFL Commissioner&apos;s Blog</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/" />
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   <id>tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature//70</id>
   <updated>2008-05-09T22:45:00Z</updated>
   <subtitle>League notes from the desk of Minnesota Fantasy Legislature commissioner Michael Marchio.</subtitle>
   <generator uri="http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/">Movable Type Open Source 4.1</generator>


<entry>
   <title>Weekly Recap</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/weekly_recap_4.shtml" />
   <id>tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature//70.17810</id>
   
   <published>2008-05-09T22:10:03Z</published>
   <updated>2008-05-09T22:45:00Z</updated>
   
   <summary>Only one week left in the session, and your lawmakers still have a lot of work left to do. Will there be a mall expansion? How about a state park on Lake Vermilion? Has the Central Corridor left the station...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Michael Marchio</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/">
      <![CDATA[Only one week left in the session, and your lawmakers still have a lot of work left to do.  Will there be a mall expansion? How about a state park on Lake Vermilion?  Has the Central Corridor left the station for good, or can lawmakers get it back on track? How about Sen. Linda Berglin's health care reform bill? Is that thing ever going to get out of conference?

How about the bills the governor has threatened to veto, like the minimum wage increase, or the omnibus education policy bill? Will the provision in that one making <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/05/09/hockey/">hockey the official </a>state sport be enough to convince the Guv to plug his nose and sign it, despite the sex ed provisions he doesn't like? We'll find out in the next week.

Right now, Gov. Pawlenty is gone fishin', so <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/05/09/talks/">budget talks </a>are on hold.  House Majority Leader Sertich said they've got their lines in the water and they're waiting for a bite from him, but that probably won't happen until Saturday or Sunday at the earliest. Many of those proposals are dependent on whether they get the budget situation resolved.  Sadly, there is no MFL prize for landing the budget deal, but we hope that fact doesn't deter lawmakers from getting one done. If not, the governor can balance the budget through unallotment, but that would mean completely cleaning out the state's budget reserves before he can cut spending. There's $65 million in there, and the budget hole is $950 million, so that leaves $300 million in cuts to wherever he chooses. It <a href="http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2003/01/31_ap_budgettalks/">happened in 2003</a>, it could happen again.

In his press conference, Minority Leader Marty Seifert said there were two impediments to getting a job done, and he wasn't shy about naming them: Sen. Linda Berglin and Sen. Larry Pogemiller.  Rep. Seifert said that they haven't been willing to offer the sacrifice any money from $300 million surplus Health Care Access Fund. DFLers argue that the Health Care Access Fund must be used on health care, not to balance the budget.

Here's your weekly update, maybe our last one for the session if things don't go to the May 19 deadline, but before we do that, Rep. Seifert gave us an answer for who would apply the Minnesota Legislature's version of the "Johnson Treatment" that I brought up in <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/liveblogging_transportation_po.shtml">our comments</a> yesterday.  He said Sen. Steve Murphy spent more time in the House than the Senate yesterday, twisting arms to get votes for the transportation policy bill that went down in flames later that night. The Commish was not in the chamber to see it with his own eyes, but the "Murphy Treatment," seems plausible. 


Gold League - 

Minnetonka Redress continues to lead here, picking up a tidy 80 points in floor-a-palooza bonus points, but only getting one bill signed.  Slow and steady, but they've got a nearly 1,000 point lead so no need to rock the boat there. Bemidji beavers are second, as they've been most season, but Highland Politics bumped off Caucus-o-Raucous for the third spot.

Maroon League - 

The But For Test is still first, but All Else Equals is gaining on them, picking up 400 points to the But For's 300 or so. The Ex-Pats took over third from Blue BMW thanks to 300 points in signed bills from the governor, and the MilVets continue their climb upwards, gettign 250 points from signed bills.  Keep it up MilVets.

Green League - 

id10t has a commanding lead here, no doubt about it.  They picked up another 500 points, and only had three bills signed to do it. Healthy Gophers became the first team to earn 1000 points on bill signings alone. That's 20 bills across the governor's desk.  Very impressive Healthy Gophers.  Victory 08, and Mary Jane Sieben's Healthy Gophers, and the Rump Group round out the top five.

Red League - 

Janet Reno's Dance Team holds the top spot here, adding about 600 points to their total.  Good By Mady's did better this week though, getting 80 points from floor-a-paloozas and 250 points in bill signatures.  Nice job, there. Brod Appeal fell to third, and the rest of the team here held their places.  Not much time is left, lets mix it up Red League.

Blue League - 

Ah, the Blue League, where competition is king. The top three teams here are all within 500 points of each other.  Blue Thunder is #1 right now, but a couple of savvy moves could easily put The Wobblers or The Party Party in their spot. political ninjas and House Call round out the top five, but they're not out of it either.  

Purple League - 

Liegislicious added 300 to their totals, and so did MN Connections, holding the #1 and #2 spots, but Obamazons beat out Hopemongers for third.  Thats change the MFL can believe in.  Fighting Mongooses jumped up to the #5 spot, moving Pirate's Booty and Junky Monkey down, but all three teams are within spitting range of each other.

Orange League - 

The only movement here was closet policy wonks using 80 floor-a-palooza points and 100 in signatures to win out for 5th from We Play 360.  These teams could use some fresh blood off waivers.  This will be your last chance to make changes.

Yellow League - 

Attack of the DFL picked up 600 points, very nice. Caucusing Fool held 2nd and Volatile Organic Compounds kept 3rd. Civic Civilians moved up from #6 to #5 and the rest here kept their spots.

Brown League - 

Ah, here's another 1,000 point team. The Ultraliberal Elite are proving how elite they are, nice job. The Indefatigable Bill Carriers, harry potter rules! round out the top three, and NoNewTaxers are holding the #4 spot they fought hard for.  

Black League -

Capital Punishers continue to lead the entire MFL with 5,468 points and another 240 points from floor-a-paloozas.  Farmers 4 No Lobby, though, have more signatures, joining the 1,000 club. Congressionistas topped the Walzies near the bottom of this league, but I think that a couple sharp pick-ups could make a difference in this last week of session.

Grey League - 

BSU Poliscientists added 400 points this week, which would be extraordinary for most teams but is pretty light for them. Still, it was enough to hold the top spot.  Strange Bedfellows and PoliSci 2nd Semester also have done well, holding #2 and #3.  There's an opportunity for CyberHouse Players, who only trail by about 30 points, to vault into the top three.

White League - 

Finally, some movement here.  Hit and Run has beaten Legislate THIS! for #4th place.  C'mon teams, I know you can keep up with the big dogs.  There's some lonely lawmakers on waivers who could help you out.  

Okay, that's it for this week.  Next week should be a fun one.  Will the session end with compromise, or partisan armaggeddon? I look forward to finding out and hope you do too. 
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<entry>
   <title>Liveblogging Transportation Policy Bill</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/liveblogging_transportation_po.shtml" />
   <id>tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature//70.17783</id>
   
   <published>2008-05-09T02:57:16Z</published>
   <updated>2008-05-09T04:10:10Z</updated>
   
   <summary>Well, here it is, what should be the most controversial conference committee report of the session. HF3800 has just been introduced and it is the Commish&apos;s humble opinion that the chamber will be splitting in all sorts of interesting ways....</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Michael Marchio</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/">
      <![CDATA[Well, here it is, what should be the most controversial conference committee report of the session.  <a href="https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=ccrhf3800A.html&session=ls85">HF3800 </a>has just been introduced and it is the Commish's humble opinion that the chamber will be splitting in all sorts of interesting ways.  Here's how conference committees work:

After each chamber passes their version of the bill, it's sent to the opposite chamber.  They can either replace all the language with their own, or make amendments to the other chamber's language.  Any differences are resolved in smaller conference committees, with three members of the majority and two from the minority from each chamber.  Each member can choose to sign or not sign the final report and it gets sent back to a chamber.  It gives it the thumbs up or thumbs down.  If its down, they go back to work. If its up, it goes to the other chamber and then the Governor.  And with no further adieu, here's the liveblog. Watch <a href="http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/mnhouse.asx">here</a>.

9:59 - Rep. Hortman introduced the bill, explained the provisions, and said that what isn't in this bill is as important as what's in it.  She's referring to the provision that would require kids to be put in carseats. She wishes it was.  They took out the Senate language that would require the head or deputy of MnDot to be an engineer though, a none-too-subtle swipe at Carol Molnau.

10:01 - Rep. Rukavina made his statement quick.  He doesn't support it.  He hates laws regarding driving. Just hates them.

10:03 - Rep. Tony Cornish, a former cop, is urging members to support it.  This is somewhat of a surprise.  He's usually pretty libertarian (especially on guns), but he said that his experience as a cop is why he thinks its necessary.  He spared us most of the details about the horrors he's seen on the side of the road, but did describe one scene of a person's death from not wearing a seatbelt that seems like it would hang with you. He said people shouldn't be concerned about cops using it as an excuse to pull people over because there are millions of things they can already do for that.  He listed some of them.  

10:07 - Rep. Willie Dominguez said that he thinks it opens the door to racial profiling.  As a Hispanic, he said he's been pulled over because of his race. "Members you can hear the stories, but I live the story each and every day."

10:15 - Rep.Tim Faust said that he thinks its overbearing too, and that it should be sent back to committee.

10:19 - Rep. Lesch says that this could lead to discrimination and asked if what members are doing is really honoring their committment to uphold the constitution.  This thing might actually go down, nearly everyone who has spoken is against it, and they've been DFLers.  Only Rep. Berns and Rep. Cornish, along with Rep. Thissen who is a sponsor, have spoken for it.

10:25 - Rep. Erhardt just told a couple of people to shut up while he's speaking. Speaker Kelliher said maybe she should use the gavel instead of the language.
"Madam Speaker, they did shut up," Erhardt said.

10:30 - Rep. Erhardt is making the point that the decision on whether to wear a seatbelt isn't only personal ones.  The state ends up paying if someone becomes a paraplegic and can't work. Making the cost argument is a good one for his side of the aisle.

10:34 - Rep. Nornes is making a new argument, that the best way to prevent traffic deaths is to enforce the speed limit.  

10:35 - Rep. Mark Olson is arguing that if the state requires people to wear seatbelts, the injuries that are sometimes incurred by seatbelts in car crashes, the state might be held responsible.

10:38 - Rep. Lynn Wardlow says he used to teach driver's education, supports it. He asked members to think about how it feels to see a kid with the white bone of their femur sticking out of them.  Then to imagine them crying for their mom right before they die.  

10:40 - Rep. Seifert is speaking.  He says that he's pro-seatbelt.  He was almost killed in a car accident and was saved by his seatbelt.  He also said his best friend was killed in a car accident and wasn't wearing his seat belt. But he said he's against this bill because the question of seat belts is one of personal choice.  He said when he entered the Legislature, this bill would get 19 votes.  Now, he says, it passes easily.  He says he knows that most hospitals and doctors say that it should be in law, but that most constituents he hears from don't like it.  He put the House under call.

10:44 - It's tradition that the minority leader gets the second-to-last chance to speak, and then the bills author gets the last chance, so we're probably close to a verdict here. My guess is this thing passes, but very narrowly, maybe 69 votes to approve the report, 65 against. 

10:50 - There are no absent members, so we're dealing with a full 134 lawmakers.

10:52 - Rep. Hortman said that "Its not every day that we get the chance to save lives with a vote on the House floor," and urged members to support the bill. 

10:53 - Rep. Scalze is speaking, and she says this shouldn't be heard at 10:30 at night because people are tired, and it should have been brought up earlier.

10:54 - Rep. Rukavina said that he told Rep. Thissen that this law is unnecessary last year because cops can pull you over for any reason, and Rep. Cornish, a cop, just proved his point. He says he feels like the only liberal left because the root word is "liberty." Rep. Rukavina said he thought they "outlawed death" with the smoking ban last year.  He said he doesn't like all these excess laws, and pointed to the bill that would let dogs on patios of restaurants. "We let dogs take a leak on your leg and thats okay!"
Someone should compile Rukavina zingers. You could make a mint on that.

11:00 - Rep. Westrom has the floor. "We've lasted a long time in this state letting people make their decisions.  When I was in a car accident, if I had had my seatbelt on, I don't remember how it happened, but I would have been charcoaled, because the car started on fire." He told members to send it back to the Senate and tell them they don't know best.

11:05 - And here's the vote, at first the lights were blinking this way and that, from yes to no, with some members switching their votes, but now, they're pretty stable. 

11:06 - Upset!!! 72 ayes ayes and 62 nays.  The Commish had the numbers almost right, but for the wrong sides.  Since 72 voted to reject the measure, it goes back to conference.



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<entry>
   <title>Winkler and Latz get their signatures</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/winkler_and_latz_get_their_sig.shtml" />
   <id>tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature//70.17780</id>
   
   <published>2008-05-08T20:47:02Z</published>
   <updated>2008-05-09T01:42:26Z</updated>
   
   <summary>It took a while, but Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL-Golden Valley) and Sen. Ron Latz (DFL-St. Louis Park) finally got a signature on their bridge victim compensation bill. The governor signed an additional 12 bills, including Rep. Karla Bigham and Sen....</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Michael Marchio</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/">
      <![CDATA[It took a while, but Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL-Golden Valley) and Sen. Ron Latz (DFL-St. Louis Park) finally got a signature on their <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/05/08/bridgefund/">bridge victim compensation bill</a>. The governor signed an additional 12 bills, including Rep. Karla Bigham and Sen. Ann Rest's criminal history background check, and SF3490/HF3189, carried by Rep. Bigham and Sen. Ron Latz (again) that would require anyone who has had their license revoked for drug offenses to take a driver's exam. 

Two other significant ones, <a href="https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S3189.0.html&session=ls85">SF2881/HF3236 </a>from Rep. Jim Davnie (DFL-Minneapolis) and Sen. Linda Scheid (DFL-Brooklyn Park), a mortgage lending bill, and <a href="https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S2706.3.html&session=ls85">SF3401/HF2706</a>,  Rep. Bill Hilty (DFL-Finlayson) and Sen. Yvonne Prettner-Solon's (DFL-Duluth) green building codes were signed into law. Most of the rest were technical modifications, but signatures are signatures, and earn points all the same.

He also gave out some vetoes.  One was for <a href="https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H3610.2.html&session=ls85">SF3132/HF3610</a>, carried by Sen. Scheid and Rep. Diane Loeffler (DFL-Minneapolis) that would prohibit health care providers from disclosing or obtaining medical or financial debt information. 

Gov. Pawlenty wrote in his veto letter that medical debt is defined, but financial debt is not, and that the bill included the term "medically necessary" without defining what that is.  He wrote "Without further definition, the language suggest that all non-cosmetic medical services are subject to this bill.  This would include all routine and specialized medical care and elective procedures, provided that the procedure treats an existing medical condition." 

Stem Cells, the minimum wage increase, and the education policy bill with the sex ed provisions <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/polinaut/archive/2008/05/veto_unallot_or.shtml">were all threatened </a>with the business-end of the governors well-worn stamp.

He also vetoed is SF543, carried by Sen. David Tomassoni (DFL-Chisholm) and Rep. Michael Nelson (DFL-Brooklyn Park). It was a resolution to Congress supporting the Employee Free Choice Act. Supporters argue it would make it easier for people to form and join unions, and opponents argue it would create unfair pressure on employees to do so.

You can check out his reasons why here.

<span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-file" style="display: inline;"><a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/Res.%202%20Veto%20Message.pdf">Res. 2 Veto Message.pdf</a></span>

Or you can just watch this ad that's been airing on TV against the bill.  

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/N6yrZtq27e0&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/N6yrZtq27e0&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

This is the second resolution he's vetoed, after the Cuba one.  I don't know how I feel about vetoing symbolic resolutions. They don't actually do anything, and since the Legislature too the time to pass them, it seems a bit spiteful. It might be more adult to just let them pass without signing them. Maybe he's worried about having something like used against him if it passed under his watch if he runs for, I don't know, higher office?

The House is recessing for dinner right now, and Rep. Sertich told DFLers to hurry back, and Republicans to take their time.  The House may be taking up the Transportation policy bill, the one that almost got Sen. Steve Murphy into a <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/polinaut/archive/2008/05/lets_take_it_ou.shtml">rumble with the governor's staff</a>. Check back, we may have posts later on through the night.  You can watch <a href="http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/mnhouse.asx">here </a>or just turn to TPT if you're in the Twin Cities, my guess is this will preempt other programming.

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<entry>
   <title>Greatest Generation honored in the House</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/greatest_generation_honored_in.shtml" />
   <id>tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature//70.17774</id>
   
   <published>2008-05-08T17:27:41Z</published>
   <updated>2008-05-09T18:55:53Z</updated>
   
   <summary>This morning, the gallery of the House was filled with veterans of the Second World War. Many of them wearing their military insignia hats identifying their ships and units, their Representatives on the floor read of their service as each...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Michael Marchio</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/">
      <![CDATA[This morning, the gallery of the House was filled with veterans of the Second World War. Many of them wearing their military insignia hats identifying their ships and units, their Representatives on the floor read of their service as each one rose for acknowledgement.

One of them was our Legislature's very own Rep. Bernie Lieder (DFL-Crookston). Rep. Lieder's life story reads like the American dream.

Drafted in '43, he trained as an engineer and served as a replacement artillery man in the infantry. He knew German, so he helped interrogate captured soldiers, take care of displaced German citizens and set up local units of government after the war. He came back and married his high school sweetheart, and worked as a county engineer for the highway department, and has served in our legislature since 1984.

He rose to speak after a standing ovation in the House.

"I think that every day that passes, we're getting fewer. I really appreciate the fact that all the veterans, that we recognize its coming to a close...I think we have to recognize, looking at what happened with what we call the greatest generation, it was a time where America came into its own and came together, more so than we ever have before. And it wasn't just the military, it was everyone. We put together the biggest economic impetus that we've ever seen, and that certainly made a real change for America.  As I look back, I think practically everyone who was here that was in the service, men and women both, it would've been rarer that we had gone over 25 miles from home until we entered the service. And as we here about the many things that happened with the individuals, its something we can talk about now, and its just like everything else, its a passing thing.  The greatest generation I hope has left its impact on the United States of America so that we recognize that things go around and come back around. We thought that was the war that would end all wars, but it didn't happen that way... I know we supposedly should learn from history, but sometimes history repeats itself and that's what's going on."

Rep. Lieder thanked Speaker Kelliher and everyone else who helped organize the event, and they adjourned for snacks.

My grandparents are members of the greatest generation, and both served during the war. What always struck me is about how, with all the hagiography and TV specials and books surrounding what they did, they're still so humble about it. They viewed serving as their duty, and something that had to be done.  They didn't ask for or expect us to sanctify them as the greatest people our nation or any other has ever produced, but they deserve it. Around 400,000 American men and women died. Largely because of what they did, sacrificing, fighting and winning that war and making the world a much safer place for Americans, we can't even contemplate that scale of loss. Today, over 4,000 have died in Iraq, and nearly 500 in Afghanistan. It is an unspeakable tragedy for every one of those families who have lost someone, but they're the only ones who have been asked to sacrifice during a time of not one but two wars.

When you hear Rep. Lieder speak about everyone worked on the war effort, and our leaders tell us not to sacrifice a lick today, and instead to go shopping, or the <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/03/23/walterreed/">shameful way</a> injured veterans have been cared for, its hard not to see that as an affront to what the men and women of his generation did. 

I promise this is the last of the Commish's editorializing, but if you see a World War II vet today, give them a thank you.  If it weren't for them, we might all be living in a very different world.

Bob Collins over at NewsCut did a three-part series honoring the women of World War II, you can check out <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/news_cut/archive/2008/04/next_month_female_veterans_of.shtml">here</a>.

I'll have another post for you this afternoon on MFL related stuff, but if you're interested in watching this mornings event, you can <a href="http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/ls85/hfsA050808.asx">here</a>.



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<entry>
   <title>Westrom...Westrom...Westrom</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/westromwestromwestrom.shtml" />
   <id>tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature//70.17758</id>
   
   <published>2008-05-08T02:46:06Z</published>
   <updated>2008-05-08T20:23:13Z</updated>
   
   <summary>Your lawmakers are earning their paychecks tonight, folks. Both chambers are meeting, possibly until or past midnight. What are they doing so late? Mostly approving conference committee reports so they can be sent to the governor. I&apos;ll give you a...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Michael Marchio</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/">
      <![CDATA[Your lawmakers are earning their paychecks tonight, folks.  Both chambers are meeting, possibly until or past midnight. 

What are they doing so late? Mostly approving conference committee reports so they can be sent to the governor. I'll give you a full recap tomorrow, but Rep. Torrey Westrom gave the chamber a nice bipartisan belly laugh.  Minority Leader Seifert put the House under call shortly after they came back from dinner break, and slowly the big board lit up with green dots - except for one. Chief Clerk Al Mathiowetz, in his inimitable voice, started calling "Westrom...Westrom...Westrom." That went on for about five minutes, until an exasperated Rep. Westrom showed up in the chamber to applause.  He was all the way over in the State Office Building, southwest of the Capitol and connected by a tunnel underground.

When he got there, Speaker Kelliher said "Rep. Westrom, what you don't know is that was Rep. Seifert's Call of the House and he made me a deal that whoever was last couldn't speak for the rest of the night."

Out of breath, he rose on a point of personal privilege and said "Madam Speaker, the hallways are empty and its easy to run."

As MFL members may or may not know, Rep. Westrom uses a cane to walk because he is blind, but the Commish has traveled the tunnel from the SOB to the Capitol, and can say that Rep. Westrom made the trip in what would be record time for anyone. For anyone doesn't think lawmakers work hard, Rep. Westrom is risking life and limb to prove otherwise.

I'll get you the audio tomorrow, its a real treat.

Remember that bill <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/03/a_sparklers_red_glare.shtml">I wrote about earlier </a>this year that would have allowed more powder in certain kinds of fireworks? It never got a hearing, but Rep. Tom Hackbarth (R-Cedar) tried to insert it into the omnibus public safety bill, during conference and then tonight on the House floor. It wasn't adopted, but it seemed to the Commish it was more lawmaker confusion than opposition that stopped it.  It <em>sounds </em>like adding gunpowder would make it more dangerous, but in actuality it only would make a 3 minute firework last longer, like 5 minutes, which isn't inherently any more dangerous, and could be less dangerous if it means people are walking up to light things with less frequency. No MFL points for trying though, sorry Rep. Hackbarth.

Rep. Satveer Chaudhary (DFL-Fridley) is getting crap from Minority Leader Senjem (R-Rochester) over in the Senate.  Sen. Dick Day earlier said that either Sen. Chaudhary had to put a tie on, or he would take his off. I though he was joking, and it was just too late for Senators to be laughing, but Sen. Senjem brought it up too. I think Sen. Chaudhary was wearing some type of <strike>Indian formal shirt</strike> Nehru jacket, that, while it didn't have a tie, looked sorta formal I guess, but not to the decorum hawks out there. As the "Upper Chamber" of the Minnesota Legislature, all the men have to wear coats and ties.  Female senators seem to have more leeway in what they want to wear. Check out <a href="http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/swkly/1995-96/select/dress.txt">this article </a>from the old school Session Daily from 1991 about this.

 Representatives can wear whatever they want, more or less, in the House, and Rep. Cy Thao was wearing his "Prom King" jacket earlier on the House floor, and Rep. Sertich, I believe, said he was proud that they can do that in the "People's chamber".
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<entry>
   <title>Senate floor-a-palooza; stem cells in House</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/senate_floorapalooza_stem_cell.shtml" />
   <id>tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature//70.17751</id>
   
   <published>2008-05-07T20:32:45Z</published>
   <updated>2008-05-07T21:36:58Z</updated>
   
   <summary>Lately the Commish has been giving more attention to the House than the Senate. What can I say, Representatives love floor-a-paloozas and floor-a-paloozas love them. Today, though, we&apos;re going to give the Senate their long-promised floor-a-palooza. On Monday, the House...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Michael Marchio</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/">
      <![CDATA[Lately the Commish has been giving more attention to the House than the Senate. What can I say, Representatives love floor-a-paloozas and floor-a-paloozas love them. 

Today, though, we're going to give the Senate their long-promised floor-a-palooza.  On Monday, the House had one for the omnibus tax bill, and the Senate's taking it up right now, so its only fair we give them a chance to earn their teams some points. Sen. Tom Bakk (DFL-Vermilion), the tax czar in the Senate, just offered his amendment to replace all the House language for HF3149 with the Senate language, so the bills are, as of right now, a lot different.  Still, taxes are something I feel a few of them will want to chime in on, so lets see it lawmakers.  (I shouldn't have to bribe them, but if any mention their power ranking or otherwise talk up the MFL, the Commish may give out bonus points).

Over in the House, Rep. Phyllis Kahn (DFL-Minneapolis) is carrying the stem cell policy bill, SF100. She has a Ph.D in Biophysics, and she's dropping knowledge on the chamber. So far, its been mostly Republicans asking questions and offering amendments to the bill. One, offered by Rep. Matt Dean (R-Dellwood) would have allowed only work on adult stem cells, not the embryonic kind that many opponents <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/12/07/midmorning2/">liken to abortion</a>. Rep. Kahn's bill would allow the state to appropriate funds for the research, something that must be done with private money under current law.

The bill also bans the sale of fetal tissue and of "human cloning". 

Rep. Dan Severson offered one that requires the Attorney General to give a legal opinion on whether embryonic stem cell research is even legal, because, he argued, a scientist told him that the embryos are alive when the research is conducted.

The bill passed by a surprisingly close 71-62 vote. Last year, the governor <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/02/05/stem_cells/">told </a>the Minnesota Family Council that "I do not support wide open embryonic stem cell research," which is more or less what Rep. Kahn's bill would do.  We'll see if he inks this one up with a big <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/02/06/stemcellfolo/">veto</a>.











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<entry>
   <title>Busy morning for Sen. Anderson</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/busy_morning_for_sen_anderson.shtml" />
   <id>tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature//70.17741</id>
   
   <published>2008-05-07T16:18:13Z</published>
   <updated>2008-05-08T00:24:55Z</updated>
   
   <summary>Sen. Ellen Anderson (DFL-St. Paul) may be hovering around the #40-range in our power rankings, but she&apos;s been on a roll this week. On Monday, her foreclosure bill, SF3396 that would allow a one-year deferment on foreclosures for people stuck...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Michael Marchio</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/">
      <![CDATA[Sen. Ellen Anderson (DFL-St. Paul) may be hovering around the #40-range in our power rankings, but she's been on a roll this week. On Monday, her foreclosure bill, <a href="https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S3396.3.html&session=ls85">SF3396</a> that would allow a one-year deferment on foreclosures for people stuck with subprime loans, squeaked by in the Senate. 

Today, her "Dangerous Dogs" bill, <a href="https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H2906.3.html&session=ls85">SF2876</a>, had a conference hearing, and later, she'll have a conference committee on her "Green Solutions" bill. Between those three alone, that's 302 points.  She's proving persistence pays off, even in these waning days of the session.

The Commish has been noticing a lot of different faces pop up in the Speaker's chair over in the House lately.  Today, Rep. Frank Moe (DFL-Bemidji) was holding the gavel.  It turns out that Speaker Kelliher is giving retiring lawmakers a few moments in the big seat, which is why Rep. Dennis Ozment (R-Rosemount) had a chance <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/bow_ties_for_everyone.shtml">earlier</a>.  Apparently Rep. Chris DeLaForest (R-Andover) had a chance too, according to staff, but the Commish must have missed that one.   

Rep. Leon Lillie (DFL-NorthSt. Paul) rose on a point of personal privilege to give him this sendoff.

"I want to express my disappointment in my fellow sophomore, I understand we've got a retirement coming.  All these red plaid shirts we've had to see for years here, and all that walleye we've had to eat, and now to hear that he's leaving, I don't know if members could just join me in expressing our disappointment," to which Rep. Moe got a good-natured, hearty boo for his leaving.

Both floor sessions are coming later this afternoon. Check back, we may have a floor-a-palooza over in the Senate.

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<entry>
   <title>Lawmaker pay and special sessions on the ballot?</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/lawmaker_pay_and_special_sessi.shtml" />
   <id>tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature//70.17730</id>
   
   <published>2008-05-06T19:25:09Z</published>
   <updated>2008-05-06T23:23:32Z</updated>
   
   <summary>A couple of constitutional amendments are making steady progress and might actually get on the ballot this November. The first one, which I wrote about last week, would have a council set wages for lawmakers, instead of current law which...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Michael Marchio</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/">
      <![CDATA[A couple of constitutional amendments are making steady progress and might actually get on the ballot this November.  The first one, which I <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/04/how_should_lawmakers_be_paid.shtml">wrote </a>about last week, would have a council set wages for lawmakers, instead of current law which leaves it up to lawmakers themselves. Sen. Tarryl Clark (DFL-St. Cloud) is carrying this in the Senate. It passed the State and Local Government Commitee and it is awaiting a hearing in the all-powerful Rules Committee, while the House heard their version today in their Rules Committee. Rep. Kent Eken (DFL-Twin Valley) is carrying it in the House, but no word yet on whether it passed.

The other possible amendment is being carried by (who else) Sen. Ann Rest and Rep. Lyndon Carlson (DFL-Crystal) is <a href="https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H2554.1.html&session=ls85">HF2554/SF3072</a>. This one would allow either the presiding officers from both chambers or the a majority vote from both chambers to call a special session. Right now, that's an ability enjoyed only by the governor. The Commish is confident that MFL managers enjoy performing their civic duty by voting as much as he does. Now that we're down to crunch time, are these amendments you'd want to support?

This is a bit off subject but last night during the floor session, Majority Leader Tony Sertich (DLF-Chisholm) made the point that Rep. Carlson, the author of that special session amendment, had been at the Legislature longer than he'd been alive.  I thought he was joking, so I paged through one of those little red legislative directories and found this.  Take a look at the committees Rep. Carlson works on:

Finance, chair, Capital Investment Finance Division, Rules and Administration, Taxes, Ways and Means,

Ex officio on: Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Finance Division; Education Finance and Economic Competitiveness Finance Division; Energy Finance and Policy Division; Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division; Finance (Chair); Health Care and Human Services Finance Division; Housing Policy and Finance and Public Health Finance Division; Minnesota Heritage Finance Division; Public Safety Finance Division; State Government Finance Division; Transportation Finance Division.  

Along with Sen. Linda Berglin, Rep. Carlson is the longest-serving member of the Legislature, both first elected in 1972. Rep. Sertich was born in 1976. The amount of policy knowledge stored away in Sen. Berglin and Rep. Carlson heads, along with other long-serving lawmakers, got the Commish thinking about one of those issues that always poll well but don't always work like they're supposed to: term limits.

Through the 1990s, 21 states adopted term limits.  They were kind of a fad, like legislative pogs or starter jackets. The phrase "career politician" is about as well liked as "root canal", and campaigning against them using ballot initiatives to implement term limits was pretty popular. Some states, though, came to regret the decision, and six, Idaho, Utah, Oregon, Wyoming, Massachusetts and Washington went back and repealed the limits. A report by the National Conference of State Legislatures in 2006 found that implementing them led to some unintended consequences.  From <a href="http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=134247">Stateline</a>, a great resource for you MFL participants looking to keep up with legislatures around the country, here's what they found:

<blockquote>"Under term limits, less-experienced legislators cede more power and influence to the governor and lobbyists, according to the study. For instance, four in-depth case studies used for the report found that legislators made many fewer adjustments to governors' budgets after term limits took effect."
 
"Because they do not have as much time to learn the nuances of policy or political maneuvering, term-limited legislators -- and especially committee chairmen -- have to rely on the policy expertise of lobbyists and the institutional knowledge of staff, according to the study."

"Members are less collegial and less likely to bond with their peers, particularly those from across the aisle. The consequences of this are more than a simple change in the social climate -- the decline in civility has reduced legislators' willingness and ability to compromise and engage in consensus-building," the report said. </blockquote>

The New York Times recently profiled a lawmaker from Nebraska who believes he was the sole cause of their state enacting term limits I'd encourage you to check out <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/29/us/29nebraska.html?ref=opinion">here</a>.

No lawmakers have sponsored bills limiting terms in this session, but what you MFL managers think? 






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<entry>
   <title>Does that make Rep. Seifert Han Solo?</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/does_that_make_rep_seifert_han.shtml" />
   <id>tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature//70.17722</id>
   
   <published>2008-05-06T17:04:15Z</published>
   <updated>2008-05-06T18:40:27Z</updated>
   
   <summary>There aren&apos;t many more quotable lawmakers than Minority Leader Seifert. Along with Rep. Tom Rukavina and Sen. Steve Murphy he could go in the MFL hall of fame for delivering zingers. Rep. Seifert said what he saw on the floor...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Michael Marchio</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/">
      <![CDATA[There aren't many more quotable lawmakers than Minority Leader Seifert.  Along with Rep. Tom Rukavina and Sen. Steve Murphy he could go in the MFL hall of fame for delivering zingers. Rep. Seifert said what he saw on the floor last night reminded him of one of his favorite movies.

"A not so long time ago, in voting booths not so far away, voters thought they were voting for some real change and put in a cast of characters at the legislature to construct solutions to their problems."

"Rep. Lenczewski and Rep. Marquart, I appreciate your hard work but you have created the death star of tax policy."

"The governor has his lightsabre ready to slash this bill down because it hurts a majority of the taxpayers out there."

"The House Democrats are like the storm troopers in those movies - they're many in number but they're really poor shots when it comes to accomplishing good policy."

"Members, stick with the good side of the force today, do not be compelled to the dark side of higher taxes, more complication hurting your constituents and making them pay more taxes under the guise of tax relief. It cannot get much more weird than this unless it was revealed that Sen. Pogemiller is my father."

So it went with HF3195, the omnibus <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/05/06/tax_bill/">tax policy bill </a>that was the subject of our floor-a-palooza.  

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Lenczewski, for her part, delivered a humdinger of a speech, though no references to death stars, that got her a standing ovation at the end of the night.  You can check it out <a href="http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/ls85/hfsB050508.asx">here</a> at the 10:07 mark.  Yep, that's ten hours.  How your lawmakers have the endurance to debate for that long is a mystery to the Commish.

If you want it short and sweet, basically the bill recalibrates how much you pay in property taxes based on your income, so, according to its proponents, the wealthiest people don't also receive the most tax benefits. It also stops the state from entering into any more JOBZ tax free zones, but maintains the ones that currently exist.The only significant amendment added was one that exempts military pensions from the income tax, which passed 75-54 and I'll have up for you on VoteTracker shortly.

The Senate version of the bill includes money for the Mall of America's expansion, and not the exemption for military pensions, so they'll have to figure that out in conference.



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<entry>
   <title>Some rowdy Senators</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/some_rowdy_senators.shtml" />
   <id>tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature//70.17699</id>
   
   <published>2008-05-05T20:59:20Z</published>
   <updated>2008-05-05T21:41:08Z</updated>
   
   <summary>On most days, maybe because the DFL has such a large majority, or just because there are half as many lawmakers, the Senate ends their floor session earlier than the House. When they do, some usually wander over into the...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Michael Marchio</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/">
      <![CDATA[On most days, maybe because the DFL has such a large majority, or just because there are half as many lawmakers, the Senate ends their floor session earlier than the House. When they do, some usually wander over into the House to hobknob with their fellow lawmakers from the lower chamber. That happend today, and some were noisy enough that Rep. Ron Erhardt (R-Edina) had to lay the smack down.  

He rose on a point of personal priviledge and asked if the chair could use the "secret slogan that rids this place of the senators so we can hear what we're doing."

Rep. Erhardt said he'd "get the file out that invokes the curse of the senator for the day." Curse or not, it worked, and he got those senators to pipe down.

Things are humming along pretty well for your floor-a-palooza, with almost two dozen lawmakers speaking up on the tax bill, and a pretty good mix too, with some, like Rep. Dean Simpson (R-Perham) and Rep. Robin Brown (DFL-Albert Lea) who rarely pipe up doing so.  

The governor signed 10 bills today, including one to commemorate the end of the Korean War, the <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/05/05/bovine/">bovine TB bill,</a> and <a href="https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H3217.1.html&session=ls85">HF3217</a>, which makes prank calling the police or fire deparments and reporting an emergency when none exists a misdemeanor.  

The Senate looks like it may have only recessed, so if they come back and take up that redistricting bill I promised you a floor-a-palooza on, we'll be handing out points for that too.

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<entry>
   <title>House: Bridge relief on the way</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/house_bridge_relief_on_the_way.shtml" />
   <id>tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature//70.17695</id>
   
   <published>2008-05-05T18:57:54Z</published>
   <updated>2008-05-05T19:53:28Z</updated>
   
   <summary>Rep. Winkler&apos;s 156 point behemoth, HF2553, the bridge relief compensation, has made it past its last House stop, getting the conference committee report approved. Next will be the Senate approval of the report, and then the governor&apos;s desk. I spoke...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Michael Marchio</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/">
      <![CDATA[Rep. Winkler's 156 point behemoth, HF2553, the bridge relief compensation, has made it past its last House stop, getting the conference committee report approved.  Next will be the Senate approval of the report, and then the governor's desk.

I spoke with a couple victims who had gathered in the gallery after the bill had passed. One, Karge Olsen, said that "It's a proud day for the Legislature, a proud day for the governor's office and a proud day for the victims."

Another, Jennifer Holmes, has been involved with the process, speaking at committee hearings for the legislation.  Her husband Patrick died in the collapse.

"We're just very happy that they recoginized that we need help, and they're taking into consideration that some of us might need more help than just the tort $400,000," she said.

I asked if it bothered her that some lawmakers didn't support the bill.

"Everybody has their opinions, and we've been hearing the negatives all along, I think its good that that people question," but that most members recognized the need for the fund.

Most declined to comment, and I can't say I blame them, after nine months of questions about a painful subject that most probably want to move past as much as they can.  

The House is just taking up HF3149, the subject of our floor-a-palooza, but the Senate has yet to touch the redistricting bill.  Watch the House <a href="http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/mnhouse.asx">here</a>, I'll link to the Senate and let you know when and if they take it up.]]>
      
   </content>
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<entry>
   <title>Shooting for two floor-a-paloozas</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/shooting_for_two_floorapalooza.shtml" />
   <id>tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature//70.17694</id>
   
   <published>2008-05-05T18:03:46Z</published>
   <updated>2008-05-05T18:25:51Z</updated>
   
   <summary>Okay MFL managers, we&apos;re going to shoot for two floor-a-paloozas today. There was no budget breakthrough this weekend, but at best we&apos;ve got another two weeks left, so the Commish is going to do his best to get your teams...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Michael Marchio</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/">
      <![CDATA[Okay MFL managers, we're going to shoot for two floor-a-paloozas today.  There was <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/05/05/pawlentybudget/">no budget breakthrough </a>this weekend, but at best we've got another two weeks left, so the Commish is going to do his best to get your teams as many chances for points as he can. 

In the House, the subject of our floor-a-palooza will be <a href="https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H3149.2.html&session=ls85">HF3149</a>, the omnibus tax bill carried by Rep. Ann Lenczewski. 

In the Senate, the bill will be <a href="https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S2211.1.html&session=ls85">SF2211</a>, carried by Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller.  This one isn't a sure thing to be heard today, but if this one has to be delayed until Wednesday or Thursday, we'll do it then.  This could be considered one of the most important bills lawmakers deal with this year, especially if Minnesota loses a congressional seat after the 2010 census. I'm guessing your lawmakers will have a lot to say about both of these bills.

The first bill the House is taking up is the conference committee report on HF2553, the bridge collapse <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/03/13/bridgecomp/">compensation bill</a>, and some victims of that collapse are in the House chamber right now. The commish will see if he can get some reaction from them. 

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   </content>
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<entry>
   <title>Weekly recap</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/weekly_recap_2.shtml" />
   <id>tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature//70.17654</id>
   
   <published>2008-05-02T19:15:55Z</published>
   <updated>2008-05-02T21:37:50Z</updated>
   
   <summary>You know the session is nearing its final days when every committee is a conference committee. The health care reform bill, omnibus public safety, transportation policy, higher ed policy, economic development, and agriculture and veterans bills are sadly the only...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Michael Marchio</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/">
      <![CDATA[You know the session is nearing its final days when every committee is a conference committee.  The health care reform bill, omnibus public safety, transportation policy, higher ed policy, economic development, and agriculture and veterans bills are sadly the only ones getting attention by our lawmakers, so it won't be a great day for MFL points, but the governor has helped us out by signing 17 bills this week.  Some <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/05/02/budgettalks/">high-stakes negotiations </a>are set to take place this weekend, we'll see if there's a breakthrough. 

As promised, here's your weekly recap.

Gold League - 

Minnetonka Redress is really running away with this one.  Last week, they had 3,413 and the second place team, bemidji beavers, had 3,033.  After 80 floor-a-palooza and 250 bill signing points later, they're up to 4,062.  Pretty good stuff, Minnetonka Redress.  Bemidji beavers, Caucus-o-Raucous, Highland Politics round out the top four, with Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy bumping Know Spin Zone out of 5th. Whig'n Out had a good week, jumping ahead of Pragmatics and the Sausage Makers. Alas, the Kill Bills are once again bringing up the rear.

Maroon League - 

The But For Test had a nice bounce, from 3,630 to 4,219 points in one week.  Why are these top teams earning 600 points each week? The answer, it seems, is they both have the presumptive MFL MVP on their teams, Sen. Ann Rest. All Else Equals is #2 again, but Blue BMW, the Ex-Pat and the Lawsages keep grappling for spots 3,4, and 5. Blue BMW has earned themselves about a 100 point lead, but only 40 points separate the Ex-Pats and the Lawsages. MilVets had a really good week, moving up to number #6.  They had 4 bills signed for 200 points.  Sen. Tony Lourey is this teams heavy hitter, but Rep. Dan Severson is a reliable floor-a-palooza point getter.  Good job, MilVets. Sweaters not Suitcoats, Rochester Ramblers, The Second Readings and Delete all hold their positions though.

Green League - 

id10t continues to lead here, at 3,905 from 3,408 last week.  Elizabeth Tobias's Healthy Gophers finally made some separation with our other Healthy Gopher's team, run by Mary Jane Seiben, thanks to a very solid week by Victory 08, who moved into the third spot between our Gophers. Victory 08 moved from 2,384 last week to 2,989 today.  Thats pretty good. The Rump Group and fear and loathing on the campaign trail both held their spots, and Frankenphile had a considerably better week than their <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/05/01/accountants/">namesake did</a>, moving from 1,792 to 2,523.

Red League - 

Brod Appeal and Good Bye Mady's are closing on the #1 team over here, Janet Reno's Dance Team. They're still in the lead, but Brod Appeal had a great week, getting four bills past the governor for 200 points and another 60 in floor-a-palooza points.  They made #2 this week, and Good Bye Mady's fell to third.  Every other team here held their position.

Blue League - 

Blue Thunder nearly doubled their bills signed and did double their floor-a-palooza points, to bring their total to 3,234 from 2,617 last week.  The Wobblers beat the Party Party for the #2 spot, though, and political ninjas gave a kung-fu chop to House Call, who fell to five in this league. This still remain pretty close here, and I could see more than a few teams coming away with the MFL banner before the end of the session.

Purple League - 

Legislicious is still #1 here, but MN Connections is the real story this week.  They had five of their bills pass, and picked up a tidy 80 points in floor-a-paloozas this week to bring them to #2, over Hopemongers and the Obamazons. Those two teams are third and fourth, and Pirate's Booty also did all right, taking the Fighting Mongooses spot at 6.

Orange League - 

Teams here look pretty locked into where they are.  Outstaters, followed Curlybro's Congress, and The Rudi G's are all first, second and third, like they were last week. The only movement we've had is with the Leginators beating the Veto Gals for the ninth spot.  Seems like some teams should try mixing it up, and using our waivers.  Its crunch time, and there are a lot of lawmakers who are going to get floor hearings on their bills.  Check out the calendar for the <a href="http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/cco/calendar.asp">House </a>and <a href="http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/orders/calendar.html">Senate</a>.

Yellow League - 

Attack of the DFL is still number one here, followed by Caucusing Fool and the Volatile Organic Compounds.  Again, every one not in first should be looking at that calendar before waivers on Sunday to see who has a lot of bills coming up.  Rainy days like this are a good time for legislative wonkery.

Brown League - 

The Ultraliberal Elite picked up their usual 600 points this week, from 3,949 to 4,511. The Indefatigable Bill Carriers are no slouch either at 3,571, but they didn't pick up points quick enough to catch the Ultraliberal Elite this week. Harry potter rules is still number 3 but the Now New Taxers continue to climb. This week they're in fourth, and added another 150 to their total.

Black League - 

The Capitol Punishers are knocking on the door to 5,000 points. This week, they're at 4,898 and the safe money is on them cracking that wide open by next week.  Farmers 4 No Lobby are in second, with Fritz's Frenzy beating out the newburg filibusters and the Warriors for third.  Way to go Frenzy.

Grey League - 

Every team held its spot here, with the BSU Poliscientists continuing to lead, with Strange Bedfellows, PoliSci 2nd Semester and the CyberHouse Players holding their spots.  The Knights topped the Bush League Bombers and the Conservatives too are marching steadily upwards, topping poliwho and the Liberal students of change.

White League - 

Each team, as it has for pretty much the whole season, held its spot here, so the White League could probably use a little mixing up too.  Take a look at those Calendars and try to pick up lawmakers who have there names attached to a bunch. This league is still anyone's to win, but those lawmakers aren't going to pick themselves up.  

The House and Senate will be meeting on Monday, Thursday and probably one day in between this week, so I'm going to try for a floor-a-palooza in both chambers. I'll issue a post when we find a nice controversial piece of legislation they'll be taking up.

 


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<entry>
   <title>An answer on bridge victim compensation</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/an_answer_on_bridge_victim_com.shtml" />
   <id>tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature//70.17645</id>
   
   <published>2008-05-02T16:29:12Z</published>
   <updated>2008-05-02T19:15:47Z</updated>
   
   <summary>The Commish would like to think it took his mention in the blog to jumpstart House and Senate negotiations, but it was probably going to happen anyway. The difference, you&apos;ll remember, was that the House provided $40 million with no...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Michael Marchio</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/">
      <![CDATA[The Commish would like to think it took <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/04/house_finishes_first_for_once.shtml">his mention in the blog </a>to jumpstart House and Senate negotiations, but it was probably going to happen anyway.  The difference, you'll remember, was that the House provided $40 million with no cap on individual awards, and the Senate provided $26 million with a $400,000 cap on individual cases.  It looks like Rep. Winkler's House version won out, even though the Governor <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/03/26/victims/">expressed a preference</a> for the Senate one. The final agreement allocates $38 million to victims.  Here's MPR's Tom Weber with the <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/05/02/bridge_agreement/">story</a>.
<blockquote><small>
The deal includes creating two funds. The first would allow victims to get up to $400,000 each, which Latz said at a press conference Friday morning should take care of most victims' needs. For those with medical costs and lost wages that surpass that cap, a second fund will be created to dole out $12.6 million. Latz says that money will pay for medical costs; long-term health care for those who will likely face health issues in the future and who won't be eligible for some insurance because of their injuries; and lost wages. </small></blockquote>.

As I wrote yesterday, Sen. Ann Rest's bill that would allow state employees three hours paid leave to donate blood was given approval by the Senate. A few amendments were offered to kill it, and one to allow, but not require state employers to let their workers to donate blood while on the clock, but none went through. 

GopherMPH pointed out in our comments that blood donations are <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/04/22/blood/">very low</a>, and the Red Cross's policies on <a href="http://www.redcross.org/services/biomed/0,1082,0_557_,00.html">who can donate and when </a>doesn't help matters.  Some even argue the policies are outright<a href="http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=521801">discrimination </a>.

Still, between this bill and one sponsored by Rep. Patti Fritz (DFL-Fairbault) and Sen. Kathy Sheran (DFL-Mankato) that allows 16-year-olds to donate blood, this should help things.

The Governor is handing out signatures like they're going out of style, so check back for the weekly update, your teams should be well treated.]]>
      
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</entry>

<entry>
   <title>Sen. Tomassoni was an Olympian? With Italy?</title>
   <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/sen_tomassoni_was_an_olympian.shtml" />
   <id>tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2008:/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature//70.17606</id>
   
   <published>2008-05-01T20:16:04Z</published>
   <updated>2008-05-06T16:30:48Z</updated>
   
   <summary>Apparently so, according to Sen. Gen Olson (R-Minnetonka). She informed the body of this neat factoid when offering an amendment to the state government policy bill, SF3190, to the make hockey the official state sport. She also said Sen. Jim...</summary>
   <author>
      <name>Michael Marchio</name>
      
   </author>
   
   
   <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/">
      <![CDATA[Apparently so, according to Sen. Gen Olson (R-Minnetonka).  She informed the body of this neat factoid when offering an amendment to the state government policy bill, SF3190, to the make hockey the official state sport.  She also said Sen. Jim Metzen (DFL-South St. Paul) was a goalie, and holds a record for saves at South St. Paul high school. Her amendment was adopted, and while I don't know how the governor feels about the rest of the bill, but I'm sure he'll like her amendment.  

The blog "Lets Go DU" a University of Minnesota Duluth hockey blog, actually picked up a story from the Mesabi Daily News <a href="http://letsgodu.blogspot.com/2006_07_01_archive.html">about Sen. Tomassoni the Olympian</a>.  

<small><blockquote>Twenty-two years ago today, David Tomassoni of Chisholm scored a unique two-thirds of a hat trick at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.

Tomassoni, now a DFL state senator, was a 31-year-old member of the Italian National Team in the locker room and ready to take the ice against the vaunted Russian squad when his stomach "did a back-flip. I turned to a teammate and said, 'Mike, I think my baby might have just been born over in Hibbing. And, you know what else, I might just score a goal today,'" Tomassoni said in a telephone interview Wednesday.

He was right on both counts.

That day at the Hibbing hospital, his wife, Charlotte, gave birth to their third child, Danny.

Meanwhile, the Italians would play well against a much stronger and heavily favored Russian team, losing 4-1.The lone Italian goal was scored by Tomassoni, who at the time only thought he was a father a third time.

There were no cell phones two decades ago, so Tomassoni had to seek out a land line after the game to call back home.

"I was trying to find a phone when I ran into Brent Musburger (longtime and well-known television sportscaster) who directed me to the press room. I called home and found out Danny had been born a couple hours earlier," Tomassoni said of his youngest child.

Tomassoni was one of three Americans playing as foreign nationals on the Italian hockey team, which finished in ninth place, with its lone win against Poland. "We finished one place lower than expected," he said.</blockquote></small>

Also included in that bill is Sen. Ann Rest's proposal that would allow state employees 3-hours paid leave to donate blood.  No vote yet on the overall bill, I'll keep you posted on it.  

<a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/05/01/backgrond/">Background checks for coaches</a> seems like a bill that would pass pretty easily, but Rep. Karla Bigham (DFL-Cottage Grove) had to fight to get it through today.  It had been approved earlier, but had to go to conference committee to smooth out the differences with the Senate. Hey, more points for her. There was a surprising amount of opposition, with Rep. Mark Buesgens (R-Jordan) saying actions like requiring background checks is eliminating trust in society. Others were concerned whether the bill would hurt volunteering in rural Minnesota, because of the invasion of privacy and.  The bill doesn't actually make any requirements on what schools do with the background checks, just that they conduct them.  Then the schools themselves can judge for themselves if a person has a criminal history whether they want to employ them.

Rep. Neva Walker's sex ed provisions in the <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/05/01/veto/">education policy bill </a>have been deemed unacceptable by Gov. Pawlenty.  Does that mean we've got a veto override on the way?

Tomorrow, we'll have a weekly recap for you, so check back.
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