Almanac: At the Capitol

Al Franken expanded his lead over Norm Coleman as more ballots were counted and the Senate passed its education bill that cuts K-12.

View the Capitol Update for April 7, 2009.

Jobs and federal dollars are getting Republicans and Democrats together at the State Capitol.  The Governor's Green Jobs Task Force unveiled its plan to "retain and grow 70,000 jobs."  The press release also had a nod to the fed, the savior of lawmakers, saying "These efforts, which were also a focus of the federal Recovery Act, would result in thousands of jobs for unemployed construction workers."  DFL Sen. Ellen Anderson stood next to GOP Sen. Michael Jungbauer who mentioned the federal money saying "one of the great things coming up in the stimulus package is money for retrofitting public buildings for energy efficiency."

Gov. Pawlenty's Federal Stimulus Coordinator (who's also the finance the budget commissioner, but was recently given that lofty title) testified before several legislative committees today.  Several times he had to side with DFLers as Republicans questioned the federal money.  Conservative Rep. Mary Liz Holberg had to question to speed with which they were moving remembering "the public, nobody has weighed in... nobody has a firm sense of the federal money."  But Ways and Means Chair Loren Solberg stood with the administration saying "I appreciate your concern, we have to get it into law so the February forecast can take it into account."

And that's the key, lawmakers along with the governor are moving fast to bank the federal money to bail out the state.  So, so much for all that talk about major reforms and drastically changing the way the state does business.  The federal money is actually making major changes in the state budget more unlikely all the time.

Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller continues to hint at an early adjournment, as he's done all session. He just said he's told conference committee chairs that their bills need to be passed off the floor by Friday, this Friday, more than a week before the session is scheduled to end. When we asked if that means an early adjournment Pogemiller said "I think Minnesotans will be pleased." He said negotiations are going well with the governor and they are close (they always say they are close) but he said if there isn't a deal to process they will still have a "timely and orderly" end to session. Then Assistant Majority Leader Clark pointed out that the House has a very "vocal minority" that can slow things down. So this could set up a possible scenario where the Senate passes all the final bills, goes home and forces the House (minority especially) to just accept the bills that couldn't be renegotiated or repassed without the Senate in session. Pogemiller told us he does not expect to be around this weekend and he wants members to go fishing and enjoy Mother's Day.

Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem says he can't imagine a timely or orderly way out of this, he sees "special session or unallotment." Senator Ellen Anderson said she's "speechless with disgust" to hear that the governor plans to veto the minimum wage conference committee report a day after she says Commissioner Sviggum said the governor wanted to sign the bill. Anderson said this could create confirmation problems for Sviggum in the future. This happens on the day senators gather for their annual potluck of food and fellowship. Much more from Senate leaders and one of the most newsworthy legislative retirements tonight on Almanac: At the Capitol (7pm on tpt17 & 10pm on tpt2).