Almanac: At the Capitol

Eleven days and counting. That is an eternity in end-of-session time.

The major budget bills are nearly all negotiated between the House and the Senate, save a few issues. I can't remember the last time these bills were done so early. Whenever the final numbers come, the bills can be restructured quickly. A LOT of negotiating can be done in 11 days. Yes, the session can still get done on time.

David Strom, your glee in your recent blogpost is premature. Don't underestimate Larry Pogemiller. He is feisty but he is smart. And don't underestimate Speaker Kelliher.

Here are my thoughts on how DFLers can end this session gracefully:

1. Let Speaker Kelliher take the lead in negotiations with the Governor. Senator Pogemiller must support Kelliher as much as possible. Her DFL House caucus is at most political risk with an election in two years.


2. Work with Republicans as soon as possible to send a nickel gas tax increase to the Governor. Governor, go ahead and veto it. But let legislators do their will and override it. You win and they win. That's a good start for the rest of the negotiations.


3. Determine the bottom-line number that Democrats must have to cover their priorities of property tax relief and education. Everyone knows they've raised more revenue in their bills than they expect to get. Get to the bottom line.


4. Dip into the budget reserve and dust off the accounting gimmicks to get as close to the number as possible. It is a terrible way to run a railroad, or worse yet a state, but it gets you to adjournment, assuming the Governor won't budge. In the end everyone is better off.


5. Agree to work together over the interim to create a real vision for Minnesota's future. Work with the Citizens League ... seriously ... and try the old-fashioned approach of creating the vision of what we want the state to look like in five or ten years. We are at loggerheads now because we are arguing about budget pieces that don't fit into a visionary whole. Neither party built a comprehensive vision and got Minnesotans to buy into it. We are arguing over the size of the cars on the train at the station, but we've really never defined where the train is going.


6. Stay civil. Keep Sen. Pogemiller away from the Governor and the media. To his credit, Poge has done a great job of staying under the radar. One blow-up or burst of public anger from Pogemiller, will cause the Governor to dig in his heels even more. Then the Governor wins for sure. Remember Mike Hatch?


7. When it gets down to the really tense times and everything stalls, put a few first- and second-term legislators in the negotiating room for a reality check. They know what they need to bring home more than anyone ... and that includes an orderly end.


8. The Governor is fishing. Legislative leaders should do the same and celebrate Mother's Day. Get back to the real world. Honestly, you get so isolated and caught up in the drama at the Capitol during the end. It's not normal.

Eleven days and counting.