Almanac: At the Capitol

I just got back from Ely for the Will Steger-Gov. Pawlenty climate change conference in Ely. They are an odd couple, but could prove to be a highly effective pairing. They are both media masters and come from very different approaches to reach the same conclusion: there is global warming and we need to act fast. The governor said to his Republican or conservative friends who say this is a hoax and question his Steger alliance, "the worst thing that can happen is cleaning up the planet for our children and grandchildren and that's not so bad." I'd say Pawlenty was greeted with guarded optimism and perhaps skepticism. Protestors outside said more mining under a Pawlenty administration and cleaning up the environment are not consistent. They're concerned these conferences are just lip service and nothing will really get done. Pawlenty isn't dumb, this is an issue that 85% of Americans agree with him that there is global warming. On the other hand, Sen. Amy Klobuchar was welcomed like a hometown girl with lots of applause. With her father and grandfather's roots on the Iron Range, she didn't disappoint with lots of solid Ranger jokes. I've been a bit tough on Klobuchar's oratory skills, but today she knocked it out of the park. She's grown and the crowd got to see evidence of why she was voted the funniest freshman.

The legislature finally passed and the governor signed into law this year a plan to deal with those piles of old TVs, computers, monitors, keyboards, printers, faxes and more. Tonight, we see how it's going. Remember that event at the Mall of America that organizers had to shutdown halfway through because of the unexpected demand? Most officials admit they underestimated the demand for electronic recycling. Local governments used to be responsible for figuring out pick up and lots of equipment with dangerous lead and mercury was being dumped. Now manufacturers must recycle 60% of what they make or they can't sell their products in the state. The recycling wave is going to become a tsunami in just over a year when the current analog TV signals turn over to digital signals and lots of people will toss their old sets in favor of new ones. We at tpt are hoping to be the local experts on the digital conversion. If you need to know where to recycle your electronics the PCA's website has the info. Tune into Almanac tonight for more.

Gov. Pawlenty just announced that Indian firm Essar Global who took over a steel plant in northern Minnesota will not invest in Iran unless it's permitted under U.S. law. Pawlenty said the company was exploring business in Iran, but they made it clear they are not going forward. The governor says, "the project is now back on track." It was an interesting lesson for the governor on vetting a company in the world of global commerce. It was a chance for Pawlenty to weigh in to international politics and chart a successful course. Yes, he continues to deny any interest in higher office, but this was a good chance for him to prove he can negotiate in world politics. The best line of the news conference came when Iron Range newspaper editor Bill Hanna joined the press conference by phone and Pawlenty said he knew he "better clear this up before the governor's deer hunting opener in Hibbing or the hunter would become the hunted." The other big story of the week for the governor has been his new partnerships with liberal environmentalists. Last session this was clearly the issue he decided he could cross party lines on and now he's taken it a step further with upcoming events with Al Gore (j/k) and Will Steger. Pawlenty is a smart politician who probably knows that about 85% of Americans believe in global warming. Now those 15% who don't might be part of his conservative base, so it's a gamble too.