May 6, 2010
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Marty Owings

Have you ever wondered if the Governor meets with the States Mayors to discuss the cuts he's proposing for their cities? After all the Governor has made some time recently to travel across the country speaking to various other officials as he unofficially explores a run at the Presidency.

This isn't to say anyone should expect a busy Governor from any state to meet with the Mayors of its cities and towns, but in a fiscal crisis the likes of which we've haven't seen since the Great Depression, you'd think it might help ease the worry a bit or at least soften the blow. Especially if your talking about reducing their aid as much as 90% in some cases.

May 5, 2010
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Marty Owings

Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller (DFL) avoided talking to the Press today about the Minnesota Supreme Court ruling on Governor Pawlenty's unallotment powers, but late tonight during a Senate debate on the Health and Human Services bill, he spoke with KFAI's Minnesota Capitol News. Pogemiller discussed his thoughts on the impact of the ruling and his expectations of the final days of session.

Here is the full audio of the interview with Sen.Pogemiller:
Click Here For The Audio.

Senator John Marty shares his thoughts on the ruling:
Click Here For The Audio.

May 5, 2010
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Marty Owings

In a 3 to 4 ruling today, the Minnesota Supreme Court decided that Governor Tim Pawlenty had exceeded his authority by using his unallotment powers to cut funds to a state nutrition program. The ruling will now leave Law Makers to deal with $2.7 billion in budget cuts, a prospect that will be daunting given they have just two weeks left in the regular session.

The ruling cuts both ways for the DFL majority at the Legislature. On one hand they can claim victory over Pawlenty's unilateral power grab, which left them embarrassed at the end of last years session. On the other hand, they're now staring down the barrel of a $2.7 billion dollar budget shortfall.

May 3, 2010
St.Paul, MN - Marty Owings

Governor Tim Pawlenty (R) scolded Legislators today, calling their efforts to balance the budget this session, "ridiculous, in fact, it's pathetic." Pawlenty spoke to Reporters at an afternoon press conference in which he threatened to use his unallotment powers to balance the budget. Pawlenty used those same powers last year and that use is currently being challenged in court.

The Governor is specifically addressing a nearly billion dollar budget shortfall. Earlier in the day Pawlenty send out press release, which is attached below, essentially outlining how he plans to solve the budget shortfall without the aid of any anticipated federal funds. Those funds were expected to come to the state in the form of $408 million dollars in matching state funds for Medicaid.

House Majority Leader responded with the following comment:

State Representative Tom Emmer (R) wins his party's endorsement over a field of candidates including his closest competition, Marty Siefert. Siefert suprised many by announcing he would concede the contest after just two ballots cast. Emmer says he can connect to the majority of Minnesotan's by reaching out to the common values he feels people in the state share.

This interview took place at the Minnesota GOP Endorsing convention held at the Minneapolic convention center on April 29th and 30th, 2010.

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Two conversations about the GOP Endorsing convention, politics and a wide range of other subjects. First up House Minority Leader Kurt Zellers discusses the convention, the GOP message and other subjects, then State Rep Laura Brod talks about a wide range of issues including her thoughts on the chances of Rep Tom Emmer as a Governor candidate.

These interviews are from the 2010 GOP Endorsing Convention held at the Minneapolis Convention Center on April 29 and 30th.