Almanac: At the Capitol

The Senate passed its victim compensation bill 63-0. It is a very different bill than the one passed by the House a couple weeks ago. The Senate bill caps liability and spends $25 million dollars. The House bill does not cap individual liability and spends $40 million dollars. Minneapolis lawmakers tried to get the Senate version closer to the House, but despite Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller's support, that amendment went down in flames with just half a dozen Democrats supporting it. Two Republicans, Koering and Vandeveer toyed with voting yes, but ultimately switched to a no vote before the voting board closed. Now the bill heads to a conference committee for the House and Senate to work out their differences. The able attorneys Rep. Ryan Winkler and Sen. Ron Latz will be leading the charge. With victims looking down from the Senate Gallery, it was nice to see a moment of bi-partisan harmony. Although many vicitms want the cap lifted and prefer the House version.

This rift between Congresswoman Betty McCollum and Governor Tim Pawlenty on Central Corridor funding is getting interesting. A McCollum staffer just stopped by the State Capitol Press Room to distribute some background information. Their press release says "Pawlenty Administration Seeks $165,000,000 in 'Pork' While Decrying 'Pork'." McCollum says "Minnesotans deserve straight talk from Governor Pawlenty about his misleading position on Congressional earmarks."

The governor sent McCollum a letter stating "I believe the earmarking process is in need of reform." Pawlenty says only Ellison and McCollum are seeing statements certifying an administration's support of a project. He says "It would be disappointing if you decline to support these projects or that you hold Minnesota to a different standard than requests from other states." McCollum just wrote back "It is indeed perplexing that you feel you deserve to receive earmarked federal funds while refusing to agree to the accountability measure put forth by my office." She also points out the positions taken by Pres. Bush and Sen. McCain would result in "zero federal funding" to several Minnesota projects.

This infighting from two former state lawmakers is particularly interesting considering they once got along as fellow House members. In fact, on Almanac back in 1993 we selected McCollum and Pawlenty for a panel of freshmen stars. Boy do we know how to pick them? (Or maybe we just got lucky!)