Capitol View: March 1, 2010 Archive

I-P gov candidates on Midday

Posted at 6:39 AM on March 1, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

Three of the Independence Party candidates for governor will be on MPR's Midday today. Tom Horner, Rob Hahn and John Uldrich will be on the show at 11.

Party primary moving to August

Posted at 11:23 AM on March 1, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor, Campaign 2010: U.S. House, Tim Pawlenty

The Minnesota Senate unanimously passed a bill that would move the party primary from September to August. The Senate decided to concur with a House bill rather than negotiate their differences in a conference committee. Governor Pawlenty has indicated that he'll sign the bill.

Here are the important dates to remember:

Candidate filing period: May 18 - June 1
Absentee balloting period for primary: June 25 - Aug. 9
Pre-primary campaign finance reports due: July 26
State Primary: August 10
State Canvassing Board meeting for primary: August 17
Absentee balloting period for general election: Sept. 17 - Nov. 1
Pre-general campaign financial reports due: Oct. 25
General election - Nov. 2

Pastor pops Pawlenty on God

Posted at 12:58 PM on March 1, 2010 by Tom Scheck (24 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor, MN Legislature, Pawlenty travel, Tim Pawlenty

Grant Stevensen, a Pastor at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in St. Paul, criticized Gov. Pawlenty today for cutting funding for health insurance for the poor while campaiging across the country saying "God is in Charge."

Stevensen was one of several members of the faith community who held a news conference today urging the Minnesota House to override Pawlenty's veto of a bill that extends General Assistance Medical Care for 16 months. The House just started debating the issue.

Before the House action, Stevensen ripped Pawlenty for invoking God during stump speeches yet cutting health insurance for the poor:

"I'm concerned that because they are feeling pressure from a governor who has a speech to write that he wants to run around the country and give as he's elected president. I'm not so sure he cares so much anymore about Minnesota and the people that are here.

I have a personal request of the governor. Governor please, stop talking to us about God. the governor is going around saying 'God is in control.' We elected you. We elected you to be making decisions for this state that will help everyone in this state. Things that will lift up the poorest in this state. Don't pass this on to God. That's no God we've ever heard of.

And please stop lecturing us about god. It's offensive. The only God we're aware of is the one who says 'If you want to follow me, you'll look our for the widows, and the orphans, for the fatherless, for the poorest in the land.' Please stop talking to us about God. It's offensive. We can't take it." Listen

Stevenson is referring to a portion of Pawlenty's stump speech that says God is in charge. Here's Pawlenty talking to GOP activisits in Las Vegas on Saturday night:

"One of the first principles that we should turn to always and remembers is that God is in charge. God is in charge. A lot of people hear me say that and say 'Pawlenty, don't bring that up, that's outdated, that's politcally incorrect or they'll put some other label on it. Hogwash. This is in the very founding perspective in our country. The Declaration of Independence says this "We are endowed by our creator by certain unalienable rights." Listen

Discuss...

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House fails to override GAMC veto. What's next?

Posted at 5:25 PM on March 1, 2010 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor, MN Legislature, Tim Pawlenty

As you probably know by now, House DFLers failed to override Gov. Pawlenty's veto of a bill that extends General Assistance Medical Care for another 16 months. Here's what can happen next:

1) House Democrats try again. Using a parliamentary maneuver, Democrats gave themselves one more opportunity to override Pawlenty's veto. House Republicans were pretty resolute in their stance to stand with Pawlenty on the veto override. Will it work if they try a second time?

2) They can continue to negotiate with Gov. Pawlenty. Pawlenty, who met privately this afternoon with House Republicans to thank them for sustaining his veto, said he's willing to work with Democrats on the issue. DFLers said they hit a wall during weekend negotiations and didn't feel as if Pawlenty's negotiators were willing to cut a deal.

3) A lawsuit could be filed. DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher said she expects a lawsuit to be filed with 24 hours. Galen Robinson, with Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance, said "It's premature for us to make a decision on this issue" regarding a GAMC lawsuit. He declined further comment. A lawsuit could stop autoenrollment from occurring but wouldn't that just end the program entirely leaving GAMC clients without an option?

4) GAMC ends on April first and folks are autoenrolled into MinnesotaCare. Democrats worry about this proposal for several reasons. They say GAMC patients (who are the poorest of the poor) can't afford the MinnesotaCare premiums. MinnesotaCare caps payments to hospitals at $10,000 which could present problems for hospitals that treat GAMC clients who need emergency room care.

Question of the Day: What option is best?

Update: Pawlenty invites DFL leaders to his office on Tuesday to discuss GAMC. Here's the release from his spokesman:

TO: Capitol Press Corps

FROM: Brian McClung

RE: Governor invites legislators to meet on GAMC - 10:30 a.m. Tuesday

This afternoon, following the DFL's failed attempt to override the Governor's veto , Governor Pawlenty invited key legislators to meet with him tomorrow morning at 10:30 a.m. in the Governor's Office to continue negotiations regarding General Assistance Medical Care.

The Governor extended the invitation to Senator Linda Berglin, Representative Erin Murphy, Representative Tom Huntley and Representative Matt Dean. Human Services Commissioner Cal Ludeman and the Governor's Legislative Affairs Director Chris DeLaForest would also participate in the meeting.

Governor Pawlenty also visited with members of the House Republican Caucus this afternoon to express his appreciation for their unity in upholding his veto and to express his interest in continuing to work with both parties on an affordable and appropriate compromise.

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