Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 5:59 pm
It's never invigorating to give a big speech to a lot of empty chairs, but that's what Gov. Pawlenty was faced with today. Then we have a shot of Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau appearing to be, as my Dad would say, "resting her eyes" during the governor's State of the State Address. Even Republican legislative leaders admitted afterwards there weren't a lot of new ideas; it forced Minority Leader Marty Seifert to say "a lot we already knew, but it was good to hear again."
Republicans are excited about what may be the one new idea, the 21st Century Tax Reform Commission. Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller shot that down saying he'd rather do something about taxes rather than study them again, adding "it's not a new idea." Now Dems didn't do too much better in their reaction, it took about 10 minutes into their press conference to even mention the governor when they were supposed to be reacting to the governor's address. Gold star to Tony Sertich who recognized by the end of the press conference that reporters still needed a good quote and said "I'll take one more swing at it" and criticized Pawlenty for failing to turn State of the State initiatives into legislation saying "it's a lot of words and not a lot of action."
It's never invigorating to give a big speech to a lot of empty chairs, but that's what Gov. Pawlenty was faced with today. Then we have a shot of Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau appearing to be, as my Dad would say, "resting her eyes" during the governor's State of the State Address. Even Republican legislative leaders admitted afterwards there weren't a lot of new ideas...
David Gillette returns this season to help us all understand the inner workings of the Capitol. This week he tells us what it means when you hear "It's a Bonding Session."
The Department of Public Safety gives us a dramatic look at why they need bonding money for emergency response training — all in 60 seconds!
Gov. Pawlenty delivers his State of the State Address in St. Cloud and lawmakers give their lukewarm response.
A Capitol hearing explores moving Minnesota to a presidential primary instead of a caucus and more.
Gov. Pawlenty delivers his State of the State Address in St. Cloud and lawmakers give their lukewarm response.
A Capitol hearing explores moving Minnesota to a presidential primary instead of a caucus and more.
Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Minority Leader Marty Seifert join Mary live in the House Gallery to set up the biggest issues of the session.
The Department of Public Safety gives us a dramatic look at why they need bonding money for emergency response training — all in 60 seconds!
David Gillette returns this season to help us all understand the inner workings of the Capitol. This week he tells us what it means when you hear "It's a Bonding Session."
It's Senator Ann H. Rest (DFL—District 45)!
In the fourth chapter of An Outsider's Essay on State Government, David probes the "car wash effect" that leads politicians to overly scrub and polish their answers.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - 12:02 pm
Democrats revealed their long-awaited transportation bill and it has all the tax increases on gas, sales and license tabs from last year's bill plus the bonding for bridges that the governor wants in his bonding bill. Once again it's all about jobs. Dems say this puts 33,000 people to work a year. Republicans doubt that number. Sen. Steve Murphy says it "puts political courage over political ambition" a shot at the governor and he says the jobs make up for the "23,000 jobs the governor lost."
Democrats say they probably have enough House Republican votes to override the gov's expected veto on this. House Minority Leader Marty Seifert said, "I can't see this bill getting overridden with how big and lardy it is." He went on to say that if Democrats wanted Republican votes they should have moved to the middle instead of "loading it up with tax increases." The bill does create a tax credit for people in the lowest tax bracket to offset the gas tax increase. Sen. Murphy says he expects the transportation bill to hit the governor's desk by the end of the month.
Democrats revealed their long-awaited transportation bill and it has all the tax increases on gas, sales and license tabs from last year's bill plus the bonding for bridges that the governor wants in his bonding bill. Once again it's all about jobs. Dems say this puts 33,000 people to work a year. Republicans doubt that number.
