DFL Rep. Alice Hausman held a news conference calling on Gov. Pawlenty to approve the Central Corridor Light Rail line. Hausman said she intends to create a one item bonding bill that includes Central Corridor and said it could pass the Minnesota House. Hausman started off her news conference saying she read her horoscope this morning which said:

"You suddenly decide enough is enough and opt for a different path. How you deal with someone could change dramatically. Anger and frustration start surfacing. Look for the most appropriate way to deal with this issue."

After reading her horoscope, Hausman said she read Gov. Pawlenty's, which said:

"Work with someone directly. Do the necessary digging. You'll find answers quickly and effectively."

Hausman said she decided to push for the stand-alone bonding bill after reading those horoscopes and speaking with folks who were unhappy with the possibility of losing the federal money for the train. No word on whether the Magic 8 ball was consulted.

Gov. Pawlenty said he would not sign off on Central Corridor unless they reach a budget agreement.

Since Governor Pawlenty is Up North at the Fishing Opener, legislative leaders don't think there will be budget negotiations until Sunday.

Gov. Pawlenty is at the Governor's Fishing Opener so it's unlikely that anything will happen regarding budget negotiations until Sunday. The Pi Press has a budget update.

Pawlenty said he's reviewing his options if a deal isn't made. He mentioned special and unallotment.

DFL Rep. Alice Hausman will announce a proposal to get the Central Corridor running. Meanwhile the U of M and the Met Council exchange blows over the choo-choo. The Pi Press and the Star Tribune have stories.

The House worked late into the night. The Star Tribune said they ok'd a higher minimum wage and a higher drop out age.

The Education Bill also includes hockey language. Forum Communications, MPR and AP have stories.

AP has a separate story on the minimum wage.

House sends the transportation policy bill back to conference committee after concerns were raised about the primary seatbelt requirement. MPR and AP have stories.

Longer bar hours for the RNC has been approved.

An emissions progress report is on its way to the Governor.

A measure gives spending oversight to citizens regarding money generated by a proposed constitutional amendment for the outdoors.

The state will study the impact of lake home rentals on resort industry.

Forum Communications says 8,000 bills were introduced this session.

KARE says the debate over medical marijuana heats up over the latest ad.

R.T. Rybak said he was surprised to learn that his driver's license suspended.

Congress

The Farm Bill is heading for a vote and a veto. The Star Tribune, Forum Communications, AP and MPR have stories.

GOP Sen. Norm Coleman signs on to a Great Lakes Legacy Act.

Coleman and DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar sign a letter opposing efforts to waive the renewable fuels standard.

Minnesota Monitor says GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann claimed credit for an earmark she voted against.

County officials urge lawmakers to back waste to energy projects.

The Club For Growth releases their 2007 legislative scorecard.

2008 Race for President

Politico says Obamamania has swept the Capitol. DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar is mentioned.

Hillary Clinton makes a campaign stop in Sioux Falls. She vowed to stay in the race.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar will also speak in Montana this weekend. The Billings Gazette says it's part of presidential campaigning.

2008 Race for Senate

Al Franken and Norm Coleman trade barbs over which one is flip-flopping.

USA Today said Coleman may have to rely on McCain's independent streak.

2008 Race for Congress

RealClearPolitics said the House GOP has shifted into panic mode. GOP Rep. John Kline is mentioned.

Pawlenty for VP Watch

The Fix says Pawlenty is the likely VP choice:

1.Tim Pawlenty: So Tpaw and McCain had something of a disagreement over the cause of last year's bridge collapse in Minnesota. The Minnesota governor remains the candidate in the Republican vice presidential field who fits best with what McCain wants and needs in a VP. Pawlenty has been elected twice in a Democratic-leaning state that is almost certain to be a battleground in the fall. He is liked and respected by both conservatives and moderates and gets rave reviews for his political instincts. He has also known McCain for nearly three decades and has been a supporter since the early days of the contest.

RNC Convention

Free bike use during the RNC.

Gov. Pawlenty issued some veto throw downs today.

Embryonic Stem cell bill - Veto

Education Policy bill - Veto

Minimum Wage increase - Veto

Transportation Policy - He has issues with it but didn't use the word that rhymes with Cheeto.

Liquor Bill (which includes the 4AM bar close for the week of the RNC) - Safe but added that "No good happens after bar closing time."

Pawlenty added that his staff has run an unallotment exercise (no word on whether squat thrusts and sit-ups were required) in case they don't reach a budget agreement. The governor also said he's open to calling lawmakers back for a Special Session. He hasn't made up his mind on what he would do.

The governor also said he does not want to be boastful or overconfident but reminded us that he's caught a fish every year at the Governor's Fishing Opener. Pawlenty mentioned that the Wisconsin Governor, with the exception of 2003, has had a horrible streak of catching a fish at the governor's opener. Take that Bucky!

Here's the question of the day: Did the governor jinx his chances by bragging a bit about his fishing prowess?

Gov. Pawlenty signed a bill into law that would provide compensation to the victims and the family member of those who died in the bridge collapse.

After the signing, the governor took some questions. He said he would veto a bill that increases the minimum wage. MPR, the Pi Press and AP have stories.

The governor said he also has some concerns about the transportation policy bill but didn't offer specifics. Lawmakers took a booster seat requirement out of the transportation bill to ease some of his concerns. MPR, the Star Tribune, Forum Communications and AP have stories.

The Pi Press says statistics show that teen driver restrictions work.

The House votes to allow state money for embryonic stem cell research. The governor said he would veto the bill but does support stem cell research. He said new scientific developments could make the process moot. MPR, the Pi Press and AP have stories.

The Senate passes a bill forbidding high school drop-outs until 18. Pawlenty gave the bill an f.

Budget talks are continuing. Property tax cap, which programs get cut, the use of a health care fund and the use of a reserves are still being discussed. The Political Animal and Polinaut have updates.

Legislators will question the DNR over spending.

The House supports a psychiatric hospital in Woodbury.

The foreclosure bill faces a veto.

Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem wants DFL Sen. Steve Murhpy to apologize for threatening comments to Pawlenty's staffer.

WCCO Reality Checks who is to blame for high gas prices.

Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin is elected to chair the new Metro Transit board.

The Iron Range Energy project gets tax credits.

The state wants fisherman to get the lead out.

Gov. Pawlenty leaves tonight for the fishing opener festivities. Here are the details.

Congress

Delta/NWA execs assure Congress that jobs wills stay in Minnesota. MPR, the Star Tribune and the Detroit News have stories.

Lawmakers reach agreement on the Farm Bill as it heads for floor votes. They also vow to defeat a veto. DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is mentioned.

GOP Sen. Norm Coleman introduces a resolution that would urge countries involved in the Holocaust to enact restitution legislation

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar rips the EPA for axing official who urged cleanup by Dow.

House Republicans are trying to determine how to discipline a colleague who was arrested for drunken driving. GOP Rep. Jim Ramstad is mentioned.

DFL Rep. Betty McCollum corrects the belief that the RNC will be held in Minneapolis.

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann will speak at a Blaine townhall on Friday.

A House panel hears arguments on a surcharge bill for freight. DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar is mentioned.

2008 Race for President

Hillary Clinton campaigns in South Dakota today.

Klobuchar says superdelegates need to take a stand.

Obama's campaign said the race will be over on May 20th.

The Arizona Republic looks at John McCain's voting record and declares that he's not a maverick on tough votes.

2008 Race for Senate

The Star Tribune says the MNGOP faces bookkeeping problems of their own.

GOP Sen. Norm Coleman holds a conference call with conservative bloggers.

2008 Race for Congress

DC appears to be moving in on the Ashwin Madia campaign. A DC based press person will take over communications work for the 3rd District DFL candidate. The Chair of the DCCC will also campaign for Ashwin Madia next week.

3rd District IP candidate David Dillon lays out his energy policy.

The House GOP creates a "rapid response panel." GOP Rep. John Kline is mentioned. UPI and Politico have stories.

President Bush says 2008 will not be a rerun of 2006. Kline is mentioned.

Pawlenty for VP

John McCain tells the Daily Show that Dwight Schrute from "The Office" is being considered.

Human Events profiles Michael Steele.

2008 RNC

The Minneapolis City Council hears protest plans.

Gov. Pawlenty and legislative leaders are back in budget talks this morning. We'll update and file Digest after 10AM Pawlenty newser.

No word on whether there will be budget talks tonight but here's the latest:

Governor Pawlenty and legislative leaders met last night and haven't met since. DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher said one of the sticking points is what programs will be cut from the budget. They want to cut $355 million from the budget but the governor has put some caveats on those cuts. Kelliher said he didn't seem willing to cut his own spending priorities. She said they have agreed on $215 million in cuts but said the governor has to think about his top priorities in the next few days.

"We can't balance this budget on just making cuts to either things that either the Legislature cares about or that a lot of Minnesotans care about and not things the governor cares about. We all have to share in this..."

DFL Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller said they "were very close to an agreement" and is hopeful there will be one. He said they would process the bills in "an orderly, timely fashion" if there isn't an agreement.

There are still some other issues on the table. Governor Pawlenty wants a firm property tax cap and there is disagreement on whether $48 million from a Health Care Access Fund should be used to erase a portion of the $935 million projected budget deficit. The governor didn't have time to talk about budget negotiations when reporters contacted him tonight. I'm sure he'll address it during a news conference tomorrow morning.

He tells the Daily Show that Dwight Schrute from "The Office" is being considered.

It appears that the Legislature will send Gov. Pawlenty some legislation that could force him to take stands against some controversial legislation (aka wedge issues).

The Minnesota House started debating a bill that would allow state money be used for embryonic stem cell research. Gov. Pawlenty has said he would veto the bill despite polling that suggests the research is favored nationwide. Anti-abortion groups and Christian conservatives don't like it because of life concerns.

Meanwhile, a conference committee has reached agreement on a bill that would increase the minimum wage. The governor has raised concerns about the agreement and his position is being watched by some national groups on the measure. On the downside, vetoing the bill may not help Pawlenty with low income voters and could contradict his campaign line that Republicans "need to be the party of Sam's Club, not just the country club."

The House is also expected to take up a bill soon that would allow chronically ill patients to legally buy and smoke marijuana to relieve their pain. The governor has said he would veto the bill because he "stands with law enforcement." The problem is that a majority of those polled in a recent Survey USA poll don't agree with law enforcement or with him.

Pawlenty didn't address these issues in a recent interview with Human Events but he did talk openly about his faith and his conservative credentials. It's a fascinating read for Pawlenty watchers.

Here's the question: Will these vetoes help or hurt Pawlenty with the conservative base? With the general public?

Obama Girl has gotten on my nerves but this little ditty with Mike Gravel made me laugh out loud.