Almanac: At the Capitol

First, the harsh words from the most influential Republican blogger in town, Michael Brodkorb, who said earlier this week "When I heard that Representative Olson had been endorsed, I was sick to my stomach." Now his future potential caucus, Senate Republicans, just issued this statement:

Over the last few years, too many Republican office holders, especially in Washington, were given a free pass for personal misconduct because they “voted right.” We could all recite the names. Well, it’s time we go back to holding people accountable.
 
While we respect our endorsing process in the Republican Party, some things rise far above process and party in terms of importance. The integrity and character of our candidates and elected officials are two of those things.

In Senate District 16, Mark Olson won the endorsement. That said, we are all well aware that Mark Olson’s criminal conviction caused him to be kicked out of the House Republican Caucus as well as cost him the party’s endorsement for his House seat.  

It is our intention that Mark Olson, if elected, would not be welcome as a member of our Senate Republican Caucus. This is not a matter of philosophy; it is a matter of character and personal integrity.

For the past six years, the Senate Republican Caucus and the State of Minnesota have been the beneficiaries of exceptionally strong legislative leadership provided by former Senator Betsy Wergin. We see in Alison Krueger an outstanding alternative candidate who, like Senator Wergin, combines excellent conservative credentials with a high degree of personal integrity and character.  

Accordingly, the Senate Republican Caucus will be throwing its full support behind Alison Krueger and encouraging Republicans in SD 16 to vote for her in the September 9th primary.

Thanks to MDE and MnPublius for hosting a bi-partisan happy hour for bloggers. We were there to work (and alas not participate in happy hour) but it was so refreshing to see active, engaged, partisan and non-partisan people talking, laughing and getting along. The perception is that people on the left and right hate each other. Talking to people face to face makes it much harder to say or maybe even write mean things. It's so easy for people to fire off inappropriate and cruel comments on the web. That's much harder to do in person. Creating these personal connections is key. It's fun to see the faces behind the words we all read. Some of these blogs are consumed by thousands of people a day. No one I talked to was exactly sure where blogs are going, but most seem to agree sky is the limit — and many also said that non-partisan gatekeeper journalists are still important (thanks). Look for video on my Campaign Notebook Friday on Almanac.

Here's an update on why some, especially left-leaning, bloggers did not show up. Centrisity said "Bottom line, MikeDE is NOT, repeat NOT a blogger. Many of us struggle with giving him any credibility or even hinting that he is 'one of us.' Mike's effectiveness is geared toward him being perceived as an independent blogger, allowing for him to push MNGOP talking points and research while providing cover for the party." Joe Bodell from Campaign Report wrote to me that "I try to keep the differences between my public persona and my flesh-and-bones self to a minimum. I'm simply not comfortable spending leisure time around a group of people in which you can find individuals who have called me 'unpatriotic' and much, much worse in their own corners of the blogosphere." Clearly there are some strong feelings in this important election cycle.

I was in the final stages of my Brain Trust submission yesterday afternoon when I was forced to start all over. As I was watching a legislative hearing on television, I heard the news that Governor Pawlenty had vetoed a bloated earmark-laden bonding bill.

Caught on live-television was Senator Steve Murphy's reaction to being denied access to the all-you-can-eat buffet by Governor Tim Pawlenty.

Who says legislative television can't be exciting?

Senator Murphy was hungry, but Governor Pawlenty politely sent the message to "push away from the table. Put your fork down."

The news of Senator Murphy's very public outburst would be enough for even a novice observer of politics to determine that the wheels are coming off the Minnesota DFL.

But the real political news of yesterday was the end of Mike Hatch showing up to work at the Minnesota Attorney General's office. As reported with great detail over the last week, Attorney General Swanson's office has been firing staffers like the New York Yankees fired managers in the 1980s.

Since 1999, Hatch's out-of-control temper has brought employees to tears and according to one former staffer, Hatch's behavior drove him "to the cathedral to pray."

In today's Star Tribune, Nick Coleman wrote that "an investigation is warranted" into Swanson's office. Politics does make for strange bedfellow as House Republicans and Nick Coleman now occupy the same political position.

In 12 hours, I observed the public temper-tantrum of a prominent DFL legislator, the resignation of Mike Hatch in disgrace, and Nick Coleman and House Republicans becoming political allies.

The implosion of the Minnesota DFL at the Capitol has begun.

As I wrote in an earlier Brain Trust submission:

[On 3/6] Governor Tim Pawlenty sent a letter to legislative leaders reminding them of Minnesota's fiscal outlook. The letter's other goal was to avoid "any misunderstanding or miscommunication" about Pawlenty's position on raising taxes. Translation: don't raise taxes.

Pawlenty wrote:

When you consider various budget proposals, I encourage you to join me in holding government accountable, setting priorities, and spending smarter. We should spend what we have, not what we want. The approximately $3 billion, 9.3 percent increase I have proposed is sufficient to fund government services and to address key priorities such as education, health care, renewable energy, and property tax relief.

Although we've made progress over the past few years, Minnesota is still one of the highest-taxed states in the country. In order to keep Minnesota competitive and growing, we must hold the lines on taxes.

But one day before Governor Pawlenty sent this letter to legislative leaders, a DFL legislator introduced a bill that would raise the tax rate from 7.85 percent to 8.5 percent. In published reports, the legislator estimated her new tax increase would generate $252,000,000 by next year.

... DFL legislative leaders have been quoted in publications claiming they want Governor Pawlenty to be a "successful governor." DFL legislative leaders could put the taxpayers' money where their mouth is and not raise taxes, therefore keeping their word to help Governor Pawlenty become a "successful governor."

DFL legislative leaders can't prevent their caucus members from authoring massive tax-increases. But they can ensure these massive tax-increases don't become a part of any formal caucus position or proposal.

The DFL legislative leaders have done the exact opposite, engaging in what Minnesota Republicans have called "taxapalooza." The Minnesota Senate has based a tax-bill that would create the highest-in-the nation tax rate, while a companion bill is being considered in the Minnesota House. A 10-cent gas tax increase passed both the House and Senate earlier in the session. State Senator Steve Murphy, a DFLer from Red Wing, claimed a 10-cent gas increase would cost a family of four about $550 per year.

Even freshman Senate Democrats said last week they felt "very uncomfortable" with voting for some of the DFL tax proposals. This begs the question: when is enough, enough?

I'm afraid scientists have not invented a machine capable of desensitizing Mr. Franken. Nor Bill O'Reilly, Michael Moore, Ann Coulter, Molly Ivins, Laura Ingraham and the rest of the authors and TV and radio hosts divided by beliefs but united by a common employer: the burgeoning American anger industry.

Yesterday, Governor Tim Pawlenty sent a letter to legislative leaders reminding them of Minnesota's fiscal outlook. The letter's other goal was to avoid "any misunderstanding or miscommunication" about Pawlenty's position on raising taxes. Translation: don't raise taxes.

Pawlenty wrote:

When you consider various budget proposals, I encourage you to join me in holding government accountable, setting priorities, and spending smarter. We should spend what we have, not what we want. The approximately $3 billion, 9.3 percent increase I have proposed is sufficient to fund government services and to address key priorities such as education, health care, renewable energy, and property tax relief.

Although we've made progress over the past few years, Minnesota is still one of the highest-taxed states in the country. In order to keep Minnesota competitive and growing, we must hold the lines on taxes.

But one day before Governor Pawlenty sent this letter to legislative leaders, a DFL legislator introduced a bill that would raise the tax rate from 7.85 percent to 8.5 percent. In published reports, the legislator estimated her new tax increase would generate $252,000,000 by next year.

DFL legislative leaders can't prevent their caucus members from authoring massive tax-increases. But they can ensure these massive tax-increases don't become a part of any formal caucus position or proposal.

DFL legislative leaders have been quoted in publications claiming they want Governor Pawlenty to be a "successful governor." DFL legislative leaders could put the taxpayers' money where their mouth is and not raise taxes, therefore keeping their word to help Governor Pawlenty become a "successful governor."

DFL Legislative Leaders Offer Partnership to Pawlenty, But Partisanship To Republican Legislators

Back in December, in the days before the start of the legislative session, I surprised the dedicated readers of Minnesota Democrats Exposed by hoping for “true bipartisanship” at the state capitol. I wrote:

I want the DFL-controlled legislature to work with Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty to help pass initiatives pushed by the other.

I know this means that I'm asking Governor Pawlenty to work with the DFL-controlled legislature. But more importantly, I'm asking the DFL-controlled legislature to work with Governor Pawlenty.

In the last two months, we have seen goodwill from both sides of the aisle. Governor Pawlenty and DFL legislative leaders even spent an afternoon bowling!

But while political goodwill is being showered on Governor Pawlenty by DFL legislative leaders, these same DFL office-holders are ruling their legislative chambers with an iron-fist.

Back on January 11, the DFL-controlled House of Representatives used parliamentary rules in an unprecedented and undemocratic manner to block Republicans from even offering amendments to a federal tax conformity bill.

Senator Majority Leader Pogemiller and Senator Bakk flexed their legislative muscles by initially refusing Republicans' amendment to a similar federal tax conformity bill in the Minnesota Senate.

While rushing to work with Governor Pawlenty in the spirit of partnership, DFL legislative readers have increased the level of partisanship in the Minnesota House and Senate.