Polinaut: May 12, 2009 Archive

The Daily Digest: 5-12-09

Posted at 7:05 AM on May 12, 2009 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

Democrats in the Legislature are moving on three tracks to finish on time. Override Gov. Pawlenty's veto of a tax bill, pass budget bills with a placeholder of $1 billion in unspecified revenue and pass a "lights on" bill. They are also aiming to pass the remainder of their budget bills as early as today. MPR has the story.

The House and Senate are sending Governor Pawlenty a HHS bill that faces a questionable future.

They also flat out rejected Governor Pawlenty's latest budget offer.

Minnesota raked in $24 million less than expected in April.

Hundreds rallied at the State Capitol for tax hikes.

Supporters of Education funding will hold a mock bake sale today to call for increased school funding.

The Minnesota Senate passed a $100 million bill to provide loan guarantees to launch private construction projects across the state.

The fight over cabin property tax money is back at the Capitol.

Ignition locks for repeat drunk drivers will go statewide this summer.

2008 Race for U.S. Senate

Democrat Al Franken files his brief in the Senate recount trial. He said he won the race and wants the court to order Gov. Pawlenty to issue the election certificate. MPR, the Star Tribune, AP and the Pi Press have stories.

RNC Chair Michael Steele replied "Hell no" when asked if Republican Norm Coleman should concede.

D.C.

The White House says the budget deficit is $1.8 trillion.

President Obama praises the health care industry for promising health cuts.

The White House says 750,000 jobs will be saved or created by the stimulus.

An AP analysis found that states are planning to spend 50 percent more per person in areas with the lowest unemployment than it will in communities with the highest. DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar said he believes the Obama Administration oversold the transportation aspect of the stimulus.

The top American commander in Afghanistan was forced out Monday to bring a shake-up in the war there.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar said she's pleased journalist Roxana Saberi has been released.

Klobuchar also attends "The Ultimate Women's Power Lunch" in Chicago.

DFL Rep. Tim Walz and DFL Rep. Collin Peterson support a proposal that would require an audit of the Federal Reserve Bank. GOP Rep. John Kline, GOP Rep. Erik Paulsen and GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann also support the bill.

Walz also requested funding for the Hwy 14 expansion.

GOP Rep. Erik Paulsen will deliver the commencement address at St. Olaf's graduation.

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann wonders whether the states are next in line for a bailout.

2010 Race for Congress

ECM interviews Democrat El Tinklenberg and Democrat Maureen Reed. Both are hoping to challenge GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann.

Comment on this post

Nada, nothing, zilch, zippo...

Posted at 5:09 PM on May 12, 2009 by Tom Scheck

Gov. Pawlenty and legislative leaders met behind closed doors today but there's little to report. DFLers say Gov. Pawlenty needs to support $1 billion in "ongoing revenue" in order to get the budget deal done. Pawlenty said no way, no how. He prefers his latest offer which borrows $500 million, delays payments to schools and drains the budget reserve.

Tick tock.

By the way...

I post up to the minute legislative and Pawlenty updates on Twitter.

You can follow me here.

The absence of the V word?

Posted at 9:41 PM on May 12, 2009 by Tom Scheck

GOP Rep. Pat Garofalo made an interesting comment to a group of reporters today when discussing the K12 conference committee report:

"We're disappointed that it comes in less than the governor recommended. The governor proposed an increase in education funding, this freezes it. But more importantly, it has little to none of governor's reform or innnovation ideas. And I look forward to standing at the press conference where he vetoes this bill."

When I asked Garofalo if he thought Pawlenty would veto the K12 bill he responded:

"I'm technically not allowed to use that word. Only he has that word and it's locked up in a safe and I just goofed up."

So it appears that Pawlenty's team is being careful with the word "veto." When I joked earlier today that Pawlenty was likely to veto the HHS bill, Pawlenty's spokesman Brian McClung said "I didn't say he would veto the bill. I said it wasn't the type of bill that we're likely to support."

Alice Seagren, the Education Commissioner, wouldn't tell the K12 conference committee whether Pawlenty would veto the bill but said he had concerns with it. Corrections Commissioner Joan Fabian's response when asked if Pawlenty would veto the Public Safety bill was "I don't know. He hasn't said."

I sent a note to McClung asking if Pawlenty would veto the K12, Higher Ed and Ag and Vets budget bills. Here's McClung's response:

"Governor Pawlenty will consider the bills passed by the Legislature and act on them within the timeframe outlined in law. He reserves his right to veto or line-item veto bills."

When I sent a follow up to McClung asking whether the Governor has instructed staff and GOP lawmakers to stay away from the Veto word, McClung responded "No he has not."

There has been one time this year when both McClung, Pawlenty and other Republicans have not been shy about saying "veto." It was when the House and Senate passed a Tax Bill with a $1 billion tax increase. That bill now sleeps with the fishes in White Bear Lake.

DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher hinted to the Pi Press today that the House and Senate may try to override that veto. No word on when that could happen.