I sat down with Lt.Gov./Transpsortation Commissioner Carol Molnau for a wide-ranging one-on-one interview that we'll run on tonight's Almanac. My biggest surprise is her assertion that she doesn't spend any time or energy thinking about her political opponents. When I questioned how a person could not possibly be concerned about losing her job she said, "There's nothing I can do to stop that." — meaning the Senate confirmation vote that will dismiss her from her MnDOT post. When I followed up that doesn't she have the power to change her style, which has been described by even Republicans as abrasive, Molnau responded that "I'm not a soft princess like some people."
The other news I asked her about is that her confirmation may come later rather than sooner. The thinking among Democrats at the Capitol is that they want to keep House Republicans happy to get them on board for an override on a transportation bill before ticking them off and firing Molnau. Sen. Steve Murphy told me he has 5-6 Republicans lined up in the House to override. The question is if the Dems can keep a couple of their vulnerable freshman on board too. Molnau says overriding the governor and passing a transportation bill with several tax increases is "not what you do when the economy is on its way down." More from Molnau on the 35W, Hastings and Wakota bridges on tonight's show.
