Carlson calls for no tax increases and more efficient government in this, his fifth, State of the State. Interesting how little things have changed. His call for a unicameral legislature is new, though...
Friday, December 5, 2008 - 5:24 pm
Former Republican Governor Arne Carlson will address the House DFL Caucus this weekend at the invitation of Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher. This Fall Carlson endorsed Barack Obama for president. This year's crop of House Dems will discuss how to begin dealing with a more than $5 billion dollar shortfall.
Speaking of solutions, the governor's Budget Commissioner Tom Hanson had an interesting exchange in Ways and Means today with Majority Leader Tony Sertich. The newly spectacled Sertich asked about Gov. Pawlenty mentioning "non-tax revenues" and wanted clarification of what exactly are non-tax revenues? This one seemed to stump Hanson as he took 21 seconds to come up with an answer that they'd "share" that information in coming weeks, but looking back to other deficits you'd see "similar similarities."
Can you say fee increases? That's the "similar similarities" I can think up.
Check it out at 1:45:00 into the clip.
November 8, 1978 was an election night dubbed "the Minnesota Massacre" by a generation of DFLers. Republicans took over the governor's office and the two U.S. Senate seats. As the returns came in, KTCA crews were there to record the scene. Let's take a look back at this historic night.
The 1990 election will be long remembered for its antics. Often best remembered today by the upset senate win of Paul Wellstone, the election also featured a governor's race that can only be termed bizarre. Just two weeks before the election, republican nominee Jon Grunseth faced accusations that he had gone swimming nude with teenage girls. The political swirl that resulted made Almanac staffers think of the hit TV show at the time "Twin Peaks." Take a look.
Arne Carlson succeeded Rudy Perpich in office and would serve two full terms. Carlson was known as a battler, but he showed a different side in his touching farewell speech to lawmakers in the spring of 1998. We thought it was worth another look.
Just days after the Jon Grunseth scandal broke in the 1990 campaign, Arne Carlson entered the race as a third option to Grunseth and Rudy Perpich. It was a race that featured just one televised governor's debate and it took place in the KTCA studios. It would turn out to be the most watched debate in Channel 2 history.
Our Mary Lahammer explores the question of how frequently and how well lawmakers are communicating with Governor Tim Pawlenty.
Thursday, January 24, 2008 - 3:59 pm
The Clinton and Obama camps keep growing in Minnesota. Clinton's campaign just held a press conference led by House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher. They announced a bunch of new endorsements in the Twin Cities, Duluth and Rochester. No earth-shattering names, but the campaign's continued activity is interesting. As the second female speaker of the House, Kelliher noted, of course, that Clinton would be the first female president and "she'll be ready on day one." Sen. Scott Dibble added his support. Minneapolis City Council President Barb Johnson said she never imagined that when she graduated from an all-girls high school that she could have a female president, "the thought never crossed my mind."
Meanwhile Obama's camp announced the first presidential TV ads will start running in our state. They obviously have been running a long time in states like Iowa with early tests and even in Arizona which has the same Super Tuesday schedule. I was inundated with Clinton and Obama ads watching Phoenix TV on my recent visit.
Politicos are really buzzing about the new Survey USA poll showing McCain beating both Obama and Clinton in Minnesota. In it McCain has 49% support running against Obama at 42% and Clinton at 45%. That has people wondering if it hurts or helps Pawlenty's VP potential. A VP is supposed to deliver their homestate, but we've been going pretty blue for president for decades. One thought has this poll helping TPaw's chances at the number two slot, the other would say McCain may not need Pawlenty. I think McCain probably fits the mold of those maverick independent voters who elected figures like Rudy Perpich, Arne Carlson and Jesse Ventura.
The Clinton and Obama camps keep growing in Minnesota. Clinton's campaign just held a press conference led by House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher. They announced a bunch of new endorsements in the Twin Cities, Duluth and Rochester. No earth-shattering names, but the campaign's continued activity is interesting.
A blue ribbon committee is advocating for a new way to select legislative districts after the 2010 Census. Former Governor Arne Carlson and ex-Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe join us in the studio to explain this new approach.
We end our look at a half century of Minnesota political history with a collection of our favorite bloopers and humorous moments.
