Capitol View: February 9, 2010 Archive

Pawlenty: No Vikings stadium proposal from me

Posted at 12:57 PM on February 9, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor, MN Legislature, Tim Pawlenty

Late last week, DFL legislative leaders said they won't act on a Vikings stadium proposal until Gov. Pawlenty puts his own proposal forward. This morning, Pawlenty said the plan won't be included in his supplemental budget plan and that he doesn't have a stand alone proposal.

The political hot potato is up in the air like a Chris Kluwe punt.

MNGOP dials phones that rarely ring.

Posted at 5:56 PM on February 9, 2010 by Tom Scheck (27 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, MN Legislature

Several DFL members of the Minnesota Senate say something happened that rarely occurs. Their phones within the Senate chambers were ringing.

That may seem odd but the phones, according to members, are only supposed to be used by Senate members and staff. But at least six Democrats say they got calls today from unhappy constituents. They were being urged to vote against a $1 billion bonding bill. DFL Sen. Don Betzold of Fridley says he got a call while the Senate was debating the bill.

"I've never gotten a phone call like that from the floor," Betzold said. "I have never gotten a phone call like that from a citizen, a lobbyist, anyone, until today."

DFL Sen. Terri Bonoff of Minnetonka said she got six calls from constituents. She said the callers said they were contacted by the Minnesota Republican Party and were patched through to their senators.

DFL Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller said the calls are a violation of Senate protocol. He said the phone numbers for the phones are unlisted and are only meant for internal business. He urged the Senate to stop the practice at the end of today's floor debate.

But it doesn't look like that will happen. Michael Brodkorb, a spokesman for Senate Republicans who also serves as Deputy Chair of the MNGOP, said he didn't know the calls were taking place until after the fact. He also said he didn't give the internal phone numbers to the MNGOP. But Brodkorb defended the practice stressing that the phones are paid for with taxpayer dollars.

"I don't know that's it's problematic," Brodkorb said. "They're public phones but I don't know how often the party is going to do it or not."

He said it's up to MNGOP Chair Tony Sutton and MNGOP executive director Ryan Griffin to decide whether the practice will continue.

Question of the day: What do you think? Should members of the Minnesota Senate get calls on the floor?

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Primary elections bill heads to the House floor

Posted at 9:26 PM on February 9, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, MN Legislature, Tim Pawlenty

A committee in the Minnesota House approved a bill that would move Minnesota's primary election to August 10th. The bill's next stop is the House floor. The full Senate is also set to vote on the bill. Pawlenty has indicated that he supports the August primary.