DefCon 3

The Minnesota House is moving forward with debate on an Education funding bill. That has increased the level of tension regarding budget negotiations. DFL Rep. Mindy Greiling said they need to take the bill up because "We're at the drop dead date should we try to override" a veto. It could be interesting to watch which House Republicans vote for the bill since it does include an increase in school funding. He called it "political games."

Several Education Department officials (including Education Commissioner Alice Seagren) were heavily lobbying the Legislature yesterday.

Update: I just talked with Governor Pawlenty. He said it's not helpful that the House is taking up an education funding bill. Pawlenty said budget negotiations are now headed in the wrong direction with the House action.

"It's disappointing that they decided to piecemeal this. At the end of last night I thought we had a good understanding with how this was going to proceed today and apparently there's been a change of heart or change of mind from the other side."

Budget meetings have not been scheduled at this time.

The sucking sound you hear is the sound of the air being sucked out of the DFL's balloon.