Mary's Page
Budget for Birthday

Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher wants a budget deal for the state's 150th birthday present on Sunday. It's a great PR angle, but depending whom you believe a deal is close or completely out of reach. Democrats all say it's "doable" if the governor wants a deal, but Republican Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem said negotiations are "on life support with funeral arrangements pending." Sen. Geoff Michel said he fears they're living in a world where there aren't global deals anymore. Last year there was no global deal on all the end of session issues for the first time in memory.
The speaker wondered if the governor is trying to hit 100 vetoes, if it was his goal. Sen. Michel said the governor is the goalie stopping bad legislation. None of this sounds good whether you like the hockey or not. There's still a lot of finger pointing and no face to face negotiations with 9 days left to pass bills and only really 6 days for lawmakers to meet in floor session.
Unalloting and special session are options for the governor. Senjem prefers unalloting. Minority Leader Marty Seifert said he has prepared a spreadsheet of cuts for the governor to make that would make the bonding bill vetoes look like the "Riveria" that includes cuts to "welfare and Iron Range slush funds." Democrats keep saying they will get a deal. The House needs a deal the most and seems to be the most optimistic. The new wrinkle is the revival of Central Corridor in a bonding bill all by itself. Rep. Alice Hausman says she wants to send a clean bill to governor to sign. Since he already vetoed it once and said he wanted a responsible budget deal first I'd bet another veto.

Statehood Reunion

This is the group photo from the 20th Century Senators Statehood Reunion. It was a fabulous night full of icons, giants and lots and lots of laughs. There was a wonderful bi-partisan spirit and pride for making Minnesota one of the best places to live. Many members said they missed the people, not the process. The tone was loose which says a lot for the Senate which is known for its strict rules and upper chamber philosophy. But my father, former longtime AP Capitol reporter, was part of a segment on the lack of decorum like the night a senator said the f-word on the floor and it made national news. Geno (that's what everyone calls my dad including me) had to call the desk in New York who put that on the national wire.
There were 3 senators standing who served in the 1960s. And the last-standing reporter was the legendary Betty Wilson who at 80-something absolutely floored me when she said she's reads my blog daily! She is a hoot. Betty was a trailblazer for women covering the Capitol. Most senators said the biggest change in the chamber was women. They didn't even have a women's bathroom, it just said "reserved for senators" and that meant men. So when the first female senator was elected they had to build her a bathroom out of a janitor's closet.
Finally, in an evening full of touching moments one of the most memorable was the presentation to an ailing Secretary of the Senate Pat Flahaven. He was thin but cheerful and everyone hopes to see him back at the Capitol.
Negotiations Update
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Early Adjournment?
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Negotiations Sour?
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Murphy v. Pawlenty
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Kids at the Capitol
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Panic or Placid?
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Pawlenty Softens VP Stance?
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One on One with Franken
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