http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/?rsssource=1 League notes from the desk of Minnesota Fantasy Legislature commissioner Michael Marchio. Copyright 2009, Minnesota Public Radio Tue, 20 May 2008 16:30:51 -0600 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=4.21-en http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Michael Marchio The 85th Legislative session now belongs to the ages, and I think we can say it was a good one. The governor got a property tax cap, we'll have the first new state park in 30 years put on Lake... http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/some_parting_thoughts_1.shtml?rsssource=1 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/some_parting_thoughts_1.shtml Tue, 20 May 2008 16:30:51 CDT Michael Marchio Here's an exclusive first look at the 2010 gubernatorial race: No, actually that sign is a joke that Sen. Mee Moua (DFL-St. Paul) put together for her colleague in the House, Rep. Tom Rukavina (DFL-Virginia). Your Commish is hard at... http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/a_run_in_2010.shtml?rsssource=1 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/a_run_in_2010.shtml Mon, 19 May 2008 15:41:36 CDT Michael Marchio Congratulations, lawmakers, the 85th Legislative session is over. Retiring lawmakers in the House are giving speeches, and I'd encourage you to watch.... http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/sine_die.shtml?rsssource=1 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/sine_die.shtml Sun, 18 May 2008 23:43:06 CDT Michael Marchio Sen. Murphy just did his impression of how Sen. Pogemiller walks (think a guy hurling himself forward holding invisible briefcases), Sen. Metzen threatened to send the sergeants after him, and then did his impression of House Chief Clerk Albin Mathiowetz... http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/that.shtml?rsssource=1 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/that.shtml Sun, 18 May 2008 22:51:32 CDT Michael Marchio It sounds like the Senate is about ready to call it a session after all. Sen. Pogemiller and Sen. Clark just thanked staff, committee chairs, the minority lawmakers everyone involved in the process for their work this year, and Sen.... http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/maybe_no_constitutional_amendm.shtml?rsssource=1 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/maybe_no_constitutional_amendm.shtml Sun, 18 May 2008 22:18:07 CDT Michael Marchio Sen. Tarryl Clark's HF3796, the constitutional amendment to have a citizen's council set lawmaker pay, is being intoduced on the Senate floor. The mood in the Capitol suggested that lawmakers were about to call it a session, but maybe not.... http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/hey_we_might_get_a_constitutio.shtml?rsssource=1 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/hey_we_might_get_a_constitutio.shtml Sun, 18 May 2008 21:46:50 CDT Michael Marchio Some Iron Rangers are expressing their anger about the Lake Vermilion State Park, arguing that in an area as economically distressed as theirs, taking more land of the tax rolls won't help. "The problem is now we have no place... http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/session_ending_in_a_bang_liter.shtml?rsssource=1 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/session_ending_in_a_bang_liter.shtml Sun, 18 May 2008 20:42:55 CDT Michael Marchio Those were the words of Speaker Kelliher as the vote came in on HF3149, the omnibus tax bill. Whenever there's a last minute vote change, the Speaker announces it, and when she announced that one, applause broke out. When Rep.... http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/buesgens_votes_aye.shtml?rsssource=1 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/buesgens_votes_aye.shtml Sun, 18 May 2008 19:54:38 CDT Michael Marchio The Senate just passed two of the big three bills, with the bonding and budget bills sailing through easily. Every DFLer voted for the bonding bill, even Range lawmakers skeptical of the Vermilion project, along with Sens. Steve Dill, Dennis... http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/bonding_through_the_senate.shtml?rsssource=1 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/bonding_through_the_senate.shtml Sun, 18 May 2008 19:20:33 CDT Michael Marchio Here's an interesting little factoid. Bonding bills need 60 percent of the vote in each chamber to pass. This usually isn't a problem at all, because pretty much every member has a project included in the overall bill. Everyone votes... http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/bonding_bill_looking_for_41_fr.shtml?rsssource=1 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/bonding_bill_looking_for_41_fr.shtml Sun, 18 May 2008 16:32:36 CDT Michael Marchio That light at the end of the tunnel isn't an oncoming train, but this budget's going to have money for one on University Avenue. A breakthrough has been reached, and we'll have more details soon. What we know is that... http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/and_were_off.shtml?rsssource=1 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/and_were_off.shtml Sun, 18 May 2008 14:42:36 CDT Michael Marchio Well, it's just past 2:00 a.m. but the Senate and House are about to take up Sen. Linda Berglin and Rep. Tom Huntley's heath care reform bill, SF3099. A deal was reached on it hours ago, but other budget negotiations... http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/a_vote_finally.shtml?rsssource=1 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/a_vote_finally.shtml Sun, 18 May 2008 01:54:52 CDT Michael Marchio SF2492 would create a Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources. This group would decide where some of the money for the dedicated natural resources funding would go if the Constitutional amendment is adopted in November. It passed, easily. Speaking of Constitutional... http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/how_would_you_spend_conservati.shtml?rsssource=1 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/how_would_you_spend_conservati.shtml Sat, 17 May 2008 22:47:06 CDT Michael Marchio Looks like your Commish was wrong about that time, but the good news is that the House is about to begin any minute now. Did you know that Sen. Satveer Chaudhary has a TV show? One where he goes fishing... http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/maybe_not_9.shtml?rsssource=1 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/maybe_not_9.shtml Sat, 17 May 2008 22:06:57 CDT Michael Marchio The House and Senate have been in recess since around 4:00, but, if you can believe it, the budget negotiations looks like they're entering their last stages. Health care reform has been agreed on, and it sounds like the length... http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/coming_back_at_9.shtml?rsssource=1 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/fantasy_legislature/archive/2008/05/coming_back_at_9.shtml Sat, 17 May 2008 20:28:05 CDT