Almanac: At the Capitol

Democrats are rubbing their public schedules in the governor's face today, but they're doing it with a sense of humor. Last week reporters renewed our concerns about events missing from the governor's public events schedule that we are given. We got word of two speeches the governor apparently gave in two days that were not on that schedule. Some of these reports and concerns are coming from Gov. Pawlenty's fellow Republicans. I have had some GOPers worried about what's going on in the governor's office from his chief of staff threatening a lawmaker to his press secretary getting angry over blogs (other than mine!).

Gov. Pawlenty in his press conference today didn't get defensive even when saying Rep. Sertich may be "overdramatizing" the conversation about "cheap shots. " Pawlenty did verify that the conversation did take place. He also provided some humor on the topic of schedules when his Press Secretary Brian McClung said "you have something at 3:05." Pawlenty said "what is it?" McClung didn't appear to want to answer that in front of the press. The room was filled with laughter as the governor said "tell them to push it back." One reporter commented how smooth and amiable the guy remains when he could appear snippy, that's why it actually benefits him to have the press knowing about and covering his events. When he deals with us directly it's much more effective than a statement from the office. Sertich says he's "glad the governor admitted it" regarding the threats and responded to the governor's "cheap shots" analogy with reminder that Sertich played basketball but he "didn't wear pads."

House Majority Leader Tony Sertich released his public events schedule today, which included such scintillating details as "6:30 AM Leave Chisholm for St. Paul (available by phone)." What it does include is events that are closed to the press like caucus meetings; that's the same kind of detail we are seeking from the governor's office. Then, to really rub it in, the Senate sent a media advisory that they'll be meeting with the governor on Wednesday. It says, "Legislative leaders initiated the meeting and asked it be done in a public setting. However the governor has asked for the meeting to be private." Then a classic ironic parting shot, "The four leaders will be available to the media immediately following the meeting."

Now there's another schedule to throw into the heap. House Minority Leader Marty Seifert distributed the funniest schedule yet. It starts with 6:30 a.m. shower and dressing of his kids. It even gives the room numbers for private meetings of the GOP Executive Board and GOP Caucus (does that mean they're public?). And to top it off, a shot at the majority leader: "5:45 p.m. Comfort Rep. Sertich." Bedtime is 11:00 p.m. As Seifert and his media person said "we're all about transparency."