Almanac: At the Capitol

The House passes a bonding bill, conservative nonprofits balance a budget big on cuts, and the Senate votes to end some state mandates.

View the Capitol Update for April 6, 2009.

I think the next governor's race could feature the first shake up when it comes to gender in this state.  If Gov. Pawlenty does not run again, and I'm not sure why he would want to risk running again after watching the close recount and nasty campaign in the Senate race.  Plus, it would be something as Smart Politics writes no Minnesota governor has ever achieved (only gov's who had two-year terms got elected three times).  So having no incumbent could really shake things up and how about when it comes to gender?

Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner is running (here's a shot of her literally running in Grandma's Marathon). 

I still hear a lot of (if not the most) interest in Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher who has rural and urban credentials, is greatly respected and was a hockey mom before it became politically popular.

But I wonder if the fact Rep. Paul Thissen is exploring a run means Kelliher is not.  They are close friends and allies and both from Minneapolis.  

Sen. Tom Bakk is also exploring, but it's been a long time since a Ranger made it statewide (think Doug Johnson and Jerry Janezich).

Of course there's the urban mayors Coleman and Rybak who are both able politicians with a built-in base.

On the Republican side, if Pawlenty does not run again Rep. Laura Brod is or could be on the top of a lot of short lists.  She's articulate, attractive and feisty.  I'd suspect Brian Sullivan to be in the mix as well.  Former State Auditor Pat Anderson is also a possibility.  Both women were spokespeople for the Republican Party in anti-Franken press conferences this year.

If porn and taxes weren't bad enough, now Franken has to answer to joking about rape. Republican women had a press conference revealing a quote from New York Magazine from 1995 where Franken talks about a Saturday Night Live skit and says "I give the pills to Lesley Stahl. Then, when Lesley's passed out, I take her to the closet and rape her."

Rep. Laura Brod (R-New Prague) said Franken needs to apologize and reconsider seeking the Democratic endorsement for U.S. Senate. She added that "rape in humor disqualifies him from serving in one of the highest offices." She repeatedly said rape is not a joke. Former State Auditor Pat Anderson said "As a mother of daughters, I will not remain silent while their future safety and security is at risk by a man who jokes about rape is about to be endorsed by a major political party in Minnesota."

Franken's campaign says: "Norm Coleman voted against funding for the Violence Against Women Act. He ought to be ashamed." I have a interview with Franken scheduled for tomorrow in Rochester. The campaign is still full steam ahead on the endorsement. This press conference today reminds me a bit about the one Republican women had after Mike Hatch called a reporter a "Republican whore" which probably cost him the election. Ironically, moments after the event, Hatch was on MPR and said these issues are a "huge distraction" for the campaign which should be about the incumbent, Norm Coleman.

Gov. Pawlenty announced his final commissioner appointment today and it's not Steve Sviggum. Many are shocked that the former House Speaker did not get a big appointment for his former colleague and close friend who took some big hits for the governor. It's hard to imagine Sviggum toiling away in the minority. Here's the news release:

St. Paul — Tim Pawlenty today appointed former State Auditor Pat Anderson as Commissioner of the Department of Employee Relations (DOER), filling the last remaining Cabinet-level position in the Pawlenty Administration.