Capitol View: May 15, 2010 Archive

Pawlenty snags walleye but no nibbles on budget deal

Posted at 1:06 PM on May 15, 2010 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: MN Legislature, Tim Pawlenty

Gov. Tim Pawlenty reportedly had a successful outing on this morning on Lake Kabetogama, the site of the 62nd annual governor's fishing opener.

Here's the report from the governor's staff:

After leaving the dock at 7:15 a.m., Governor Tim Pawlenty caught his first walleye on Lake Kabetogama at about 7:55 a.m. The 14 inch fish weighed about a pound. The Governor caught his second walleye about 10 minutes later, also about a pound. Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau caught a one pound walleye around 7:30 a.m. First Lady Mary Pawlenty caught her first walleye at about 7:50 a.m.

Back at the Capitol, an agreement to erase a nearly $3 billion budget deficit and end the session on time was more elusive. DFL House leaders said they asked the governor to return to St. paul as soon as possible today to resume negotiations.

DFL leader links budget impasse to tea party politics

Posted at 2:27 PM on May 15, 2010 by Tim Pugmire (2 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Tim Pawlenty

Legislators are digging in their heels over a health care proposal that continues to hold up an end-of session budget agreement.

DFL House and Senate leaders want to leverage federal money to expand Medicaid coverage to Minnesotans currently covered by two state programs. But Governor Pawlenty and other Republicans are resisting the move. During a news conference today, House Republican Minority Leader Kurt Zellers repeatedly referred to the federal money as "Obamacare." He said DFLers leaders shouldn't be shocked at Republican opposition to the proposal.

"It shows how much the majority hasn't been listening to us all session," Zellers said.

But DFL House Majority Leader Tony Sertich said Republicans are putting politics before policy. He said their rhetoric could get in the way of a solution to end session on time.

"If people try to take national politics, tea party politics and bring that into the discussion, because that's not what we're talking about," Sertich said. "We're not talking about the mandate. We're not talking about what's going on in Washington. We're talking about a good deal for Minnesotans and getting their tax dollars back to Minnesota."

Sertich added that it would be unwise to hold up the budget and session for a handful of minority members.

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Senate panel working on second bonding bill

Posted at 2:52 PM on May 15, 2010 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: MN Legislature

With the end of the 2010 session rapidly approaching, a Minnesota Senate committee today began considering a second bonding bill.

Gov. Pawlenty signed a $680 million bonding bill back in March. He trimmed the package of construction projects down from $1 billion using line item vetoes. DFL Sen. Keith Langseth, DFL-Glyndon says his new $313 million bonding bill includes what was removed from the earlier measure.

"It would make alive all of the vetoed projects. You know, I think the governor the second time around would allow some of those to pass. But at this point just we're sort of feeling our way on this to see if something can be worked out."

The Senate finance committee was expected to consider several amendments to make the bill even bigger. Senate Republican Minority leader David Senjem says he can't understand how anyone can consider more borrowing when the state's cash reserves are dried up.

DFL House Majority Leader Tony Sertich said he doesn't think there will be a second bonding bill.

Pawlenty back from fishing, meeting with leaders

Posted at 5:23 PM on May 15, 2010 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: MN Legislature, Tim Pawlenty

Gov. Pawlenty returned to the Capitol this evening, just in time for a scheduled 5:00 p.m. meeting with legislative leaders.

Pawlenty flew back to St. Paul after attending the annual governor's fishing opener at Lake Kabetogama near the Canadian border. With time running out in the session to solve a nearly $3 billion state budget deficit, the Republican governor gave reporters a quick assessment of the ongoing negotiations.

"I think the outline on kind of the budget situation is in focus," Pawlenty said. "But the hang up seems to be this health care issue. There's just very strong disagreement between the Republicans and Democrats on various health care proposals."

DFL leaders want to leverage some available federal health care money to provide Medicaid coverage to low income Minnesotans currently covered by two state programs. Pawlenty and House Republicans are resisting the move.

"We've been going around and around on the same issues now for several days. We need to find a new way out of the box."

Still, Pawlenty said his focus is on the negotiations and not the what if scenarios of a lingering impasse.

"We'd like to get a deal on a bipartisan basis, get this done in timely, orderly fashion," he said. "And that's what we're going to try to do over next 24 hours."