Bills Passed, Vetoes Cast and a Session that Hangs in the Balance

May 14, 2010
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Marty Owings

As far as many people at the Capitol can remember, this has been one of the more hectic weeks they've seen. Law Makers are scrambling to wrap up their work before the end of session which takes place next Monday, less than 72 hours away. Since the beginning of this Legislative session back in February, the budget has loomed like a dark cloud.

In the wake of last sessions unallotments by Governor Tim Pawlenty (R), Law Makers were expecting a deficit of more than a billion dollars, but they also knew at some point the Supreme Court ruling on the unallotment case could impact the budget. Even some DFLers were expressing concern that if the Court ruled against Pawlenty, they would be facing a huge uphill battle.

As everyone knows by now, the Court found Pawlenty's actions exceeded his authority and the unallotment he made were basically voided. That left Law Makers with the big mess they all dreaded because it increased the budget deficit to more than $3 billion dollars. With less than ten days remaining in the session, Law Makers and the Governor were forced back into negotiations to try to work out a solution.

Election year politics seemed to be momentarily set aside as both DFL Leadership and Pawlenty vowed to find a workable solution. That sentiment didn't last long however as DFL Leadership raised the possibility of tax increases. It wasn't long until dueling press conferences had returned to the partisan posturing many have become accoustomed to.

As the DFL Leadership, led by House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller and the Governor traded ideas, they seemed to get further apart not closer. Early this week both the House and Senate passed budget bills which included a $400 million dollar tax increase aimed at wealthy Minnesotans. The Governor vowed to veto the bill and kept his promise by axing the measure the very next morning, calling it "non-sensical".

As DFL Leaders and the Governor continued to work behind closed doors on the budget, the rest of the sessions business began to heat up. This week saw the passage and veto of several high profile bills including same sex benefits, a Health and Human Services bill that would have received $1.4 billion dollars in Federal matching money, a Pension Bill and a bill that would have provided low cost insurance to Teachers.

So what are Governor Pawlenty's demands? He has been clear in his message that Law Makers not try to increase taxes and Supreme Court ruling or not, he insists his unallotments be made permanent. Pawlenty flew north this weekend for the Fishing Opener, saying that, "I don't think the fishing opener is going to significantly affect the close of session." Not sure what, if anything, people should read into that.

One things for sure, if the Governor is confident enough to go fishing during what he's labled, "a fiscal crisis", maybe he's got a few last tricks up his sleeve before leaving office. After all, he's managed to out manuever DFL leadership the past few years in ways that have been both embarassing and effective. Whether you think of Pawlenty as a bully or supremely clever political tactician, the results seem to speak for themselves. Pawlenty has managed to hold the line taxes, reduce the size of some parts of government and lowered the tax burden on businesses.

Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller readily admits, "Governors have always had lot's of power, that's the way it is." According to Pogemiller that explains a lot of the Governors "wins". Whatever the case is, its seemed to have an effect as DFL Law Makers now promote a plan which gives the Governor 85% of what he wants as significant progress and when he rejects that, some wonder if they pushed too hard.

The question among many at the Capitol and beyond this session is whether there will be a special Legislative session called to deal with the budget? That probably wouldn't be good news for either party, but might be especially damaging to Kelliher who will need to be seen as effective as she enters the election season. Kelliher also want's to get out on the campaign trail as she looks to replace Pawlenty in November.