Almanac: At the Capitol

House Property Tax Chair Paul Marquart generally has an easy time with the press.  The Democrat is hard-working and likeable, but today his press conference on redesigning state government did not go well.  It got almost combative.  House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher challenged "the premise of the question" of a reporter, a challenge once issued by Rep. Tom Emmer in his castration press conference many years ago.  Lawmakers spent some time afterwards still digging their way out, trying to better explain themselves. 

In talking with other reporters, we thought part of the problem was a lack of details.  We like specifics, numbers, goals, things you can measure and easily explain to average people.  A launch of an effort doesn't have details.  Also, Democrats talked about reforming, changing, redesigning government, but then when pushed by the press they talked about having a "no layoff" policy in such a redesign.  Reporters challenged that idea repeatedly.  The redesign is also supposed to be a bi-partisan effort, but no Republicans attended the press conference (they were apparently in caucus).

Marquart delivered some good quotes like "we have to move beyond the partisan rhetoric and to growing the economy."  He held up a huge stack of reports from many decades trying to accomplish government redesign.  He called them "S.P.L.O.T.S." or Strategic Plans Languishing on the Shelves.  Maybe all of us reporters have just seen too many of those plans that never happen and it leaves us extra skeptical.   Add to that the fact it's a short session with a lame-duck governor and gazillions of governor candidates in the legislature, it just seems like a tough year to make progress on such a big idea.

State Economist Tom Stinson sat before a Senate committee and delivered some serious recession reality.  He said this is the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, but it comes no where near the decade-long economic meltdown of the 1930s.  Stinson said the remaining economic problem is the loss of wealth on the order of $17 trillion (that's trillion with a "T").  He also hit hard on the job loss which got retiring Sen. Steve Murphy (DFL-Red Wing) going; he fired off to the committee "we need jobs now!"  Stinson said he doesn't expect dramatic changes in the economy, added we won't see "the deficit to go away or double."  Another cheery note, he said it's "pretty dismal" for Minnesota and U.S. economy. However, Budget Commissioner Tom Hanson reminded the group that the state has a AAA bond rating which makes Minnesota the best investment risk, especially compared to other states.

It's like the first day of school as lawmakers return to the Capitol.  The Rotunda is full of folks demanding policy-makers save General Assistance Medical Care.  It's a strong turn-out for a rally to stop 30,000 of the poorest and sickest Minnesotans from losing their healthcare.  One of the speakers said "they thought no one would notice" if the program went away, the rally proves otherwise.  More than 40 organizations came together for the opening day rally.

Regions Hospital President Brock Nelson said he appreciates the month-long extension of the program through April 1, "but the state needs a long-term solution."  One of the most interesting handmade signs responded to Gov. Pawlenty floating the idea of a new lottery game for the Vikings.  Here's a look at the crowd and their message.

Governor Pawlenty did not do a pre-session press conference this year, so today reporters tracked him down at MPR to help set the stage for the upcoming legislative session.  He was playful and pleasant, even revealing that his casual clothing was thanks to a long morning shoveling snow.  On the budget, he said a negotiated settlement with lawmakers is preferable.  His budget will have "targeted cuts" and will try to preserve public safety, military and even education.  Pawlenty said there are not easy choices left and his cuts will be "controversial and difficult."   Pawlenty also floated a new lottery game as an option for funding a Vikings stadium.

The governor also said with so many candidates for governor in the legislature (particularly front-runners Kelliher, Seifert and Emmer in the House) "it will be difficult for candidates for governor with a convention in April having to tow the party line."  Pawlenty added that all the campaigns put a lot of pressure on individuals and will "make the session more difficult."  He wouldn't say when he'll endorse a candidate, but added that he knows and likes Seifert and Emmer.

When asked essentially about his potential presidential campaign schedule Pawlenty said "a lot of travel I do is on nights and weekends" and his focus will be on Minnesota.  However with his PAC doing well he will continue to "travel to speak to issues in other states... and to get candidates elected."  Hear more tonight on our first Almanac: At the Capitol of the year at 7pm on the Minnesota Channel and 10pm on TPT2.

Not that the precinct caucuses predict a winner, but they do predict a level of support and organization at this point in the race for governor.  On the Republican side Marty Seifert is a pretty clear winner.  He says that doesn't mean he's going to rest but continue building a ground game.  On WCCO Radio Seifert said it was a convincing win and he feels energized.  Tom Emmer was lowering expectations early in the night telling media outlets he didn't want to peak in February.

On the DFL side, the large field still makes it difficult to draw clear conclusions.  R.T. Rybak and Margaret Anderson Kelliher came out on top.  Rybak told 'CCO that this proves the mayor of Minneapolis can run statewide.  Kelliher says she's in a good position.  The uncommitted delegates were significant and some of those could be Mark Dayton votes who did not appear on the ballot.  John Marty and Tom Rukavina also performed better than most expected.  Rukavina's early strength got a lot of buzz in social media sites like Twitter, perhaps his out of the box approach prior to caucuses is working?  Rukavina says he's very pleased with the results and feels wonderful.

Twitter is full of great, on the ground reports from precinct caucuses:

jwcountryman

Huge crowd at SD38 GOP caucus. The gym is overflowing into hallways. Road to victory starts here!

robinmarty

MplsMelissa

lukehellier

TwoPuttTommy

tedthompson

purplefavre

hollycairns

andcarryon

Precinct caucuses are tonight.  Here's the FAQs from the Secretary of State:

The message this session is one word:  jobs.  It's all about jobs and just one day of press conferences proves it.  First, this morning the Minnesota AFL-CIO called for more than a billion dollars of investment in jobs including at least a billion dollar bonding bill, a wage subsidy program and an income tax increase on people earning more than $194,000.  The union representing more than 300,000 Minnesotans said they will hold elected officials from every party accountable.   Shar Knutson said "it's about priorities" when asked how you either get the governor to sign the legislation or Republicans to join a veto override.  Steve Hunter added "you need to stir up" voters and reminded us that all 201 lawmakers are up for re-election.

Then state lawmakers called for federal action on a "clean energy jobs bill."  They said the national legislation could mean 10,000-15,000 jobs in Minnesota.  And if jobs aren't enough, how about national security?  The Democrats said the bill would increase national security, grow jobs and protect the environment.  Rep. Jeremy Kalin (DFL-North Branch) said "when the Pentagon, the CIA, Republicans and Democrats all agree, it's time to act."  Republicans may not necessarily agree, Sen. Ellen Anderson (DFL-St. Paul) essentially said the U.S. Senate is basically afraid to act on anything right now.  Iraq War veteran Kevin Chaviz said "each year we're more dependent on foreign energy."

The session starts Thursday and our nightly Capitol Updates (on the web and following NewsHour on TPT) start tonight.

Days before the legislative session starts, House Democrats rolled out their tax plan to put thousands of Minnesotans back to work.  They call it a jobs bill.  It costs $10 million and "closes remaining loopholes" for Foreign Operating Corporations.  It also helps Mall of America expand through TIF flexibility, but no direct state money.  It could help build a hotel at the mall.  Democrats emphasized that they think the governor will sign the plan.  Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher said "we know a lot of Minnesotans are out of work... we don't have time to waste worrying about differences."

Minority Leader Kurt Zellers responded that he "hopes this signals the end of the appetite for massive tax increases" from Democrats.  He liked the Angel Investment and MOA provisions, but wondered if the language was vague enough it could be applied to a Vikings stadium.  He said the big message from businesses he's talked to is to "do no harm" and not add taxes or regulations.   Zellers wondered if thousands of jobs would really be created.  MOA people said for them it's 1700 jobs for three years.

Minnesotans reacted live and right after President Obama's State of the Union address.  You could see Congresswoman Michele Bachmann applauding Obama when he talked about off-shore drilling.  Sen. Amy Klobuchar was in one of the "cutaway" listening shots in a serious moment.

The state parties quickly responded.  The DFL got theirs out first saying it was a "big night for Democrats in Minnesota" with a gubernatorial debate showing "an impressive group of candidates" and then Obama "restoring security for middle class families."  Republicans quickly followed with “Like his first year in office, President Obama’s State of the Union address was a major disappointment" and added it "isn’t working for Minnesotans. "