Almanac: At the Capitol

The State Economist brings lawmakers more bad news, clergy members share budget concerns, and a Senate committee approves the use of medical marijuana.

View the Capitol Update for March 10, 2009.

Medical marijuana is always one of the most interesting bills of the session.  Not only does it bring together the oddest supporters (Dems, GOP, conservatives, liberals) but it brought out emotion from some of the toughest lawmakers today. 

Sen. Steve Murphy broke down when he talked about his father's painful death.  He said he was always a supporter of medical marijuana, but his father's death "reinvigorated" his support.   The tall tough guy of the Senate, Murphy cried as he said he and the kids and grandkids would have given anything to play with his dad one more time.  Rep. Tom Rukavina, also a fierce fighter in his chamber, embraced Murphy as he talked about losing his parents and hoping to alleviate some of their pain.

Sen. Linda Higgins a liberal from Minneapolis and Sen. Debbie Johnson a conservative from Ham Lake stood side by side.  Johnson held a box on Kleenex in her hands.  Sen. Paul Koering a Republican also had a strong statement when he said "if medical marijuana alleviates pain, who in the hell are we to say no to that?"  Gov. Pawlenty and law enforcement are the ones who will say no to this because of public safety and regulation concerns.  More tonight on Almanac:  At the Capitol. 

The Senate Transportation Committee is taking some interesting action today.  Lawmakers killed an effort to outlaw toll roads, but unanimously passed a requirement for kids 4-8 to use booster seats.  Last year the booster seat legislation became the source of big end of session controversy when the governor essentially asked for it to be removed from a final bill as it was hitting the floor.  So the bill had to be suddenly sent back to conference committee.  Chair Murphy said he just had to buy two boosters and it only cost him 60 bucks so "it's not going to break the bank."  Murph is a grandfather and he's ready to play hardball with the House to get bills through like primary seatbelt which his committee already passed again this year. Gov. Pawlenty's spokesman left the door open a bit this year by saying "We want to work with the legislature to do what we can to promote child safety.  We are hopeful the legislature will be willing to take a reasonable approach as they consider booster seat legislation."

The mother of Brynn Duncan provided emotional testimony as she told the story of her daughter who was paralyzed in a car accident.   Her mom said "a booster seat would have saved her from a spinal cord injury."  Sen. Jim Carlson (DFL-Eagan) doesn't want the booster seat bill called that, he prefers calling it the "child restraint act" but practically as a mom when a kid is 4+ you call it a booster. The penalty for not having your 4 to 8 year old would be no more than $50.  Current law mandates car seats for kids under 3 and those seats are more expensive, one testifier said "it's a 12 dollar purchase at Target."  The potential opposition to this just won't be at the governor's office, but the House is always a tough spot for any libertarian issues.  Minnesota is one of 6 states left that does not have this requirement.

Sen. Ray Vandeveer (R-Forest Lake) had the bill to outlaw toll roads.  Murphy got Vandeveer to admit it would pretty much have ended the new 35W toll agreement.  The reaction was fascinating, bi-partisan support and opposition.  No one will admit to liking toll roads, but lawmakers don't want to rule them out in tough times so the banishment of tolls was shot down at its first up to bat.   But Vandeveer said "they are a slippery slope."