Capitol View: March 2, 2007 Archive

Sweatin' to the Oldies

Posted at 2:50 PM on March 2, 2007 by Tim Pugmire (1 Comments)

Governor Pawlenty took a big-tent approach to his weekly radio show today when he interviewed fitness guru Richard Simmons.

The interview came a week after Pawlenty announced state initiatives to address childhood obesity and promote workplace fitness.

The always flamboyant Simmons recounted how he overcame his own childhood weight problem. He then launched into a rapid-paced sermon on exercise and diet. Simmons managed to sing a little, answer questions from listeners and promote his website. He also suggested Minnesota's governor could walk on a treadmill during the radio show.

The governor had to interrupt Simmons to try to regain control of the interview and ask another question.

"Now Richard, can I stop you there?," Pawlenty asked.

"When the governor says to stop, we stop," Simmons responded.

The fitness fiend also revealed his own political agenda. Simmons said he is lobbying Congress to get a physical education requirement for schools added to the federal No Child Left Behind Law.

Simmons is an entertaining guest. Just ask David Letterman.

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Hey, glad you made it

Posted at 3:01 PM on March 2, 2007 by Tim Pugmire

State lawmakers cancelled several committee meeting Friday at the Capitol.

But snowy weather didn't prevent members of the the House Labor and Consumer Protection Division from showing up. They heard four bills, including one from Rep. Joe Atkins, DFL-Inver Grove Heights, to protect the value of retail gift cards.

Buzz Anderson, president of the Minnesota Retailers Association, also showed up to speak against the bill. But it wasn't an easy morning for Anderson. He explained that a snowplow had blocked his driveway, his windshield wipers didn't work and his computer froze up with the testimony he had prepared for the hearing.

The casually-dressed lobbyist apologized to lawmakers.

"I didn't have time to change clothes. I mean no disrespect to the committee," Anderson said."

Rep. Atkins got a lot of laughs when he offered an explanation for the misfortune of the opponent to his bill.

"It took me a long time to do all that by the way," Atkins said.