Almanac: At the Capitol

We traveled up to the Iron Range to cover the hearing on the Health Department's delay of releasing data on the spike in cancer deaths in miners. The atmosphere was charged. It was standing room only. Miners were mad. They testified for about 90 minutes. Then Commissioner Mandernach came to the table where people sit and face lawmakers to testify. Instead she stood up, turned her back to lawmakers and faced the crowd to apologize to them. It was a gutsy move. One man shouted back that her apology was not accepted. The big news (as in the new development that a lot of MSM missed) was the fact the University of Minnesota is going to take the lead on the study now because of the lack of trust of the Health Department. I questioned Mandernach afterwards and she said she was willing to let the U take the lead if that means they can get to the bottom of what's killing miners. Channel 9 was the only other metro media to show up — that's a disappointment to me; this is an issue that should matter to every Minnesotan. People are dying. Public information you pay for was kept private.

The Good

The session finished on time. Kudos to Speaker Kelliher who drove the session to a close, from first day to last, even though House Republicans did everything in final hours to make sure that didn't happen.

The session tone changed remarkably. There may have been raised voices behind closed doors, but public outbursts were minimal. Civility reigned. The final day everyone "agreed to disagree." That is a world away from nasty attacks of sessions past.

Leadership in both the House and Senate performed admirably. Senate leaders Pogemiller and Senjem set the tone for two parties working together, and set a reasonable work pace with few long nights at the end. Speaker Kelliher and Minority Leader Seifert had a more feisty relationship, but few fault Kelliher's fairness. All of this builds an important foundation for trust and future relationships — both of which were sorely lacking in past years.

Several groundbreaking initiatives were passed and signed into law. The smoking ban will have great impact on long-term health costs. The environment and energy initiatives — setting standards for use of renewable energy and for reduction of carbon dioxide emissions — put Minnesota in the lead right behind California. Job well done!

Democrats began turning the big ship of state around. The ship has been going in the wrong direction for over six years ... it can't turn around overnight! They plugged the holes to stop the leaking ... like with special education funding. They played "catch up" by refilling vessels of fuel emptied from cuts in 2003, such as early childhood funding.

The Bad

Democrats are victims of their own expectations. They raised them too high and now must explain to Minnesotans why they did not do more. Under more modest expectations, the above successes would look resounding.

Democrats took bad votes that didn't pass into law. That may come back to haunt them. The Senate decision to raise income taxes to the highest tax rate in the nation will be heard loud and clear in 2008 elections ... for the House.

Democrats never articulated a real vision to engage Minnesotans. Remember Gov. Perpich's "Brainpower State?" That was a vision we could all strive for — no matter what the issue. Now that DFLers changed the tone within the Capitol, let's work on changing the tone outside those walls and energizing the public with a real vision for Minnesota.

The Ugly

It ain't over until it's over. Governor Pawlenty's actions in the next week may turn some of this on its head.

Traffic congestion grows. We use more gas as its price skyrockets.

The Taxpayers League convinced middle income people to oppose tax increases that impacted them in only one way: property tax relief. Now that's ugly.