Wage bill vetoed
Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed an increase in the state's minimum wage late this afternoon.
Pawlenty had complained that the bill raises wages too much and that workers who receive tips, such as waiters and waitresses, should have a lower minimum wage.
The bill would have raised the minimum wage for large Minnesota companies to $6.75 an hour this summer, up 60 cents from current law. It would go up another $1 next year. Smaller businesses would pay 50 cents more this summer, $5.75, and $6.75 in 2009.
The bill's prime Senate sponsor was critical.
"I think the governor's let down the working people of Minnesota, who are trying to make ends meet," said Sen. Ellen Anderson, DFL-St. Paul, who is pictured above.
Posted by: Scott Wente on 5/15/2008 at 5:19 PM | Permalink
Ready, willing and able
The Capitol press corps job these days is like watching paint dry, grass grow or whatever cliche you want to use. But we need to be ready for frantic action like covering a five-alarm fire at a moments notice. At any time, a high-level deal could be announced and the remaining legislative issues could fall into place with in hours -- or even minutes.
That five-alarm fire has not started.
House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall (above), said Democrats and Republicans are drawing closer together all the time. He made those comments this morning as negotiations resumed.
House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, said today would be a good day to wrap up the high-level talks so the session can end smoothly. But legislative leaders gave no indication that they were about to resolve outstanding issues, such as how to lower property taxes and how to fill the state's $935 million deficit.
Negotiations probably will be held off and on all day. In the meantime, the House should take up some transportation provisions, while awaiting action on the big bills that could come out of those governor's office talks.
While all that happens, reporters can play with some cheap plastic toys provided by Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung.
Posted by: Don Davis on 5/15/2008 at 11:47 AM | Permalink
Governor paintings defaced
Portraits of three former governors displayed in the Minnesota Capitol were vandalized in what those who have been around this building a long time say is a rare event.
It appears someone took a marker to portraits of Elmer L. Anderson (top), Harold LeVander (middle) and Jesse Ventura (bottom). Historical Society officials say the paintings should be back on the wall soon, after being restored.
All were around the outside of Room 15, which was quiet Wednesday because committees were not meeting. However, much of the Capitol press corps was just up a wide, open stairway from Room 15, awaiting news from budget negotiations.
David Oakes of Senate Media Services provided the photos above.
Posted by: Don Davis on 5/15/2008 at 9:30 AM | Permalink
A reporter's life
Posted by: Don Davis on 5/14/2008 at 5:26 PM | Permalink
39 days, 186 hours
House Majority Leader Tony Sertich, lobbing blog fodder to a news-hungry Capitol press corps awaiting a budget deal, offered another "Sertich Stat of the Day" today.
Sertich, DFL-Chisholm, says that as of today the House has met in the chamber 39 days this year "for more than 186 hours worth of work."
Sertich says the longest floor session lasted 14 hours and 50 minutes.
The shortest? Well, by now Capitol observers may wonder if a short House session is even possible.
Posted by: Scott Wente on 5/14/2008 at 3:58 PM | Permalink
Talks back on
Legislative leaders and Gov. Tim Pawlenty are back at the negotiating table today, after budget-balancing talks broke off late Tuesday and Democrats passed an education bill against the governor's wishes.
With five days remaining to pass bills in the 2008 Legislature, Pawlenty and top lawmakers resumed discussions over how to end the session with a plan to erase a $935 million state budget deficit (in a $34 billion budget) and provide Minnesotans property tax relief.
Closed-door talks recessed at about noon, but were expected to resume early this afternoon.
"The tone is focused and productive," Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung said.
The Legislature must adjourn by Monday.
House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, said there still is plenty of time to reach agreement with the governor and complete the Legislature's main priority.
"We're back at work," Kelliher said after leaving the governor's office to review property tax documents. "We're hoping for a lot of progress today."
Posted by: Scott Wente on 5/14/2008 at 12:51 PM | Permalink
Pogemiller surprised, and quiet
Capitol reporters snagged Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem of Rochester, left at microphone, and House Minority Leader Marty Seifert of Marshall for some comments about budget negotiations tonight, when all were surprised by the governor's office door opening. Even more surprised was Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller of Minneapolis (holding door in background), who emerged from negotiations with Gov. Tim Pawlenty and others. He opened the door, looking into bright television lights and the eyes of the Capitol press corps. He quickly rushed away, responding to questions with: "I'm running an errand." In a break from Minnesota tradition, he usually does not speak to reporters. His assistant leader, Tarryl Clark of St. Cloud, does most of that.
Posted by: Don Davis on 5/13/2008 at 6:24 PM | Permalink
Taxes move to the front
Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Minnesota legislative leaders were meeting off and on behind closed doors this afternoon, with both sides saying they want movement toward a budget deal today.
"We're trying to try to bring this to a head," Pawlenty said (above, after talking to Senate Republicans) of talks over how to fix the state's projected $935 million deficit.
House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, both Minneapolis Democrats, were joined in the closed-door negotiations by legislative tax chiefs Sen. Tom Bakk of Cook and Ann Lenczewski of Bloomington.
A fight between Republican Pawlenty and the DFL-led Legislature over property tax issues and state aid to cities is the main sticking point in negotiations over a deal to balance the state's budget. Kelliher emerged from the governor's office during a break this afternoon and said tax issues were the main topic of the closed-door talks.
"I think it's probably late afternoon that we really need to get some things on some paper here that we can all agree upon," Kelliher said.
Without movement toward a compromise, the Legislature may start voting on its own budget-balancing bills, which Pawlenty has not agreed to.
"If they start taking up bills without an agreement, then that would mean negotiations didn't go well and theyre taking their own unilateral option without an agreement," Pawlenty said.
Posted by: Don Davis on 5/13/2008 at 2:04 PM | Permalink
Intent questioned
Republicans wondered today whether Minnesota House K-12 finance Chairwoman Mindy Greiling designed an education finance bill to benefit her hometown.
House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, said it was ironic that while the DFL's education bill blocks new school entries into the Q-Comp program, Greiling's Roseville district made the cut and would get added funds provided by the alternative teacher pay program.
Greiling said she and other legislative negotiators decided on the March 20 deadline for Q-Comp applicants without her knowing of her local district's plans.
"If I was being truly political, I would make sure the speaker's district got in," Greiling said, referring to schools in House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher's Minneapolis district that missed the cut.
Posted by: Scott Wente on 5/13/2008 at 11:42 AM | Permalink
A sign of the times
It's the time of the legislative session when floor debates are long, sporadic, don't recognize normal dining hours and apparently make some people sick.
That leaves many lawmakers, lobbyists and Capitol reporters frequenting a refreshment stand outside the House and Senate chambers. There are sandwiches, beverages, candy and ice cream.
And tonight there was a note taped to the cash register.
It read: "Yes, we have Tums and Ibuprofen."
Posted by: Scott Wente on 5/12/2008 at 9:10 PM | Permalink
