Capitol View: May 12, 2008 Archive

If A+B=C

Posted at 1:58 PM on May 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck

There have been lots of talks about the Legislature moving forward with Plan B today. Well, Gov. Pawlenty asked them to pause in their push to pass legislation that he has promised to veto. He's hoping that they could still hammer out an agreement on the budget. Pawlenty said the Tax Chairs and the Revenue Commisisoner are still working out several scenarios to best address property tax relief. Gov. Pawlenty wants to cap local governments from increasing property taxes at 3%. The Tax Conference Committee voted to cap property taxes at between 6% and 7%.

The governor said there would be a clear breakdown in neogiations if the Legislature chooses to vote on the budget related bills.

"Once they bring them to the floor and vote on it that would be a signal that they're going a different route," Pawlenty said.

DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher said they will delay the bills but may choose to to move forward with their initial plans later.

"I am not going to unilaterally disarm just yet," Kelliher said.

Lawmakers have one week until the constitutional deadline to adjourn.

L.A. Times: Ron Paul supporters plot a convention revolt

Posted at 2:53 PM on May 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck (7 Comments)

There's been a lot of discussion regarding Ron Paul supporters winning delegate seats to the Republican National Convention. MinnPost, the Star Tribune and WorldNetDaily all wrote about those efforts.

The Los Angeles Times says it may be a national effort by the Ron Paul forces.

Question of the Day: What impact does this have on a McCain candidacy?

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Quote of the Day

Posted at 3:02 PM on May 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck

A citizen waiting to talk to a specific lawmaker about a bill:

"This place is frustrating. I don't know how people can work here."

85th is breaking records!

Posted at 3:47 PM on May 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck

DFL House Majority Leader Tony Sertich just issued the "Sertich Stat of the Day" which says:

As of today, May 12th, the 114th day of the 85th Legislative Session, there have been 4,241 House bills introduced, the most ever for a two-year biennium.

Walking around money

Posted at 4:52 PM on May 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck

As the House and Senate determine whether they want to take up the budget bills, the House is taking up some other bills. The House passed a constitutional amendment asking voters to approve a citizens council to set legislative salaries and daily expense payments. Republicans ridiculed the proposal and tried to change the per diem language in the proposal to walking around money. The amendment failed.

Songs of the Session

Posted at 5:33 PM on May 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Here it is. Make your mixtape or your itunes playlist. It's the songs from the 2008 Legisltive Session. Please feel free to post additional requests (I feel like Mark Wheat on The Current).

UPDATE -- I added a few songs.

Budget Talks

Highway to Hell - AC/DC - The status of budget negotiations.
Tailspin - The Jayhawks - The status of budget negotiations.
Who's gonna take the weight? Gang Starr - budget speculation
The first cut is the deepest - Sheryl Crow - budget cuts
Nowhere fast - Mary J. Blige - the pace of budget talks
One Step Up - Bruce Springsteen - Budget talks in the final weeks of session
You can't always get what you want - Rolling Stones - Pawlenty to lawmakers
You can't always get what you want - Rolling Stones - Lawmakers to Pawlenty
All I want is you - Barry Louis Polisar - DFL Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller to Gov. Pawlenty
Anyone Else But You - The Moldy Peaches - Pawlenty to Pogemiller
Tonight, Tonight - Smashing Pumpkins - press corps praying that a budget deal gets done soon.
Work it Out - Jurassic 5 with Dave Matthews - The hope and plea from the public
Allentown - Billy Joel - What Pawlenty and Republicans say Minnesota will turn into if they don't cut taxes.
Bone Broke - The White Stripes -- What Democrats say Pawlenty's No New Taxes pledge did to the state.

Transportation Debate

The Great Compromise - John Prine - DFL deal with the Minnesota Chamber
Override of the Overture - Dismember - Do you know how hard it is to find a song with override in the title?
Protection - Bruce Springsteen - GOP House Minority Leader Marty Seifert's promises to the governor.
Thunder Road - Bruce Springsteen - Amount of arm twisting that occurred before the votes.
Beautiful Let Down - Switchfoot - What the House GOP did to Pawlenty or some would argue Pawlenty did to the House GOP.
Don't think twice, It's alright - Bob Dylan - DFLers to the Republicans who voted for the veto override.
The Breaks - Kurtis Blow - GOP to the override six that didn't get endorsed
Hit the road, Jack - Ray Charles - Republicans to the override 6.
Til I Retire - Pete Rock - Ron Erhardt and Neil Peterson vowing to run for reelection even though they lost the GOP endorsement
You're fired - Strike Anywhere - Senate DFL to Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau as Transportation Commissioner.
Sitting here in Limbo - Jimmy Cliff - The Central Corridor's fate at the Capitol.
It ain't me babe. - Bob Dylan - U of M on Central Corridor veto
Your Cheatin' Heart - Hank Williams - DFLers to U of M over Central Corridor
Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel - Duluth, Hastings and St. Cloud bridges
Tax Payin' Blues - J.B. Lenoir - Pawlenty and GOP on gas and sales tax increases in transportation bill
Gasoline - Sheryl Crow - House GOP gas tax ads ripping DFLers

Governor

List of Demands - Saul Williams - Pawlenty with all his veto threats.
On the Road Again - Willie Nelson - Pawlenty's travel
Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin - Gov. Pawlenty's repeated pleas for the Legislature to take up his immigration plan.
What I'd Say - Ray Charles - Pawlenty's letters to the Legislature
With or Without you - U2 - Pawlenty's unallotment comments from last week.
Bring Y'All back - Pete Rock - Pawlenty's special session talk
Watch What you say - Guru - Tony Sertich to Pawlenty over Cheap Shots comment
Veto - Cannibal - Do you really need an explanation?
Let me clear my throat - DJ Kool - Pawlenty after throat injury
Let it be me - Everyly Brothers - Pawlenty's hopes for a VP slot

House

Dark was the night, Cold was the Ground - Blind Willie Johnson - Late night floor sessions
Stir it up - Bob Marley - GOP Rep. Tom Emmer's comments on the floor
A Change is gonna come - Sam Cooke - Marty Seifert to GOP activists
Nowhere fast - Mary J. Blige - Democrats to GOP
Pulling Teeth - Green Day - The agony of the House floor sessions
Tired of Being Alone - Al Green - Mark Olson
Don't Take your guns to town - Johnny Cash - House DFL to Tony Cornish over Castle Doctrine
Bigmouth strikes again - The Smiths - House members who feel they have to speak on every amendment
Microphone Fiend - Eric B and Rakim - See above
Please, Please, Please - James Brown - DFL House members hoping the session ends well.
Beware of the Boys - Panjabi MC - Warning to House Speaker Anderson Kelliher when she heads to budget negotiations.
Butter - A Tribe Called Quest - House Speaker Kelliher's love for the Princess Kay of the Milky Way.

Senate

Right Here, Right Now - Fatboy Slim - DFL Sen. Steve Murphy to Brian McClung
My own worst enemy - Lit - Senate DFL
Steal my sunshine - Len - Senators who worry that the House gets all the press attention.
U Can't Touch This - MC Hammer - DFL Sen. Linda Berglin to Pawlenty on the Health Care Access Fund
Roll Over Beethoven - Chuck Berry - Senate GOP during floor debates.

Other

Lay Down little doggies - Arlo Guthrie - DFL Rep. John Lesch's breed specific dog ban.
For my Dogs - DMX - The backlash from Lesch's proposal.
I heard it through the grapevine - Marvin Gaye - Lobbyist chatter outside of the chambers
Don't Leave me this way - Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes - Minnesota to Northwest Airlines
The gorilla song - Raffi - GOP House Minority Leader Marty Seifert criticizing the bonding bill because it included funding for a gorilla exhibit at Como Zoo
Dancing with myself - Billy Idol - Minnesota Vikings
September - Earth, Wind and Fire - 4 AM bar closings at the RNC
In the wee hours of the morning - Frank Sinatra - Lobbyists during the RNC.
I'm still standing - Elton John - Mall of America folks who keep pushing for subsidies.
Kashmir - Led Zeppelin - Health care coverage debate because it's a long, winding issue that has gone just a bit too long.
Only sixteen - Sam Cooke - new teen driving rules
Foreclosure of a Dream - Megadeath - All the foreclosure related bills.
Half-Cocked Concepts - P.O.S - lawmakers who hold news conferences but can't explain their bills.
Can't Tell Me Nothing - Kanye West - Staffers on every level of state government who can't say hi to a reporter without getting the PR person's ok.
Bread and Butter - The Roots - The high cost of food because of investment in biofuels.
Sexy Back - Justin Timberlake - The AP's Brian Bakst

Finally

Beautiful Day - Mary J. Blige - May 19th