Almanac: At the Capitol

The political battle over the 35W bridge reached a new level as Democratic lawmakers launch a half million dollar investigation into the bridge collapse. The highly respected Legislative Auditor James Nobles is also conducting an investigation, as is the NTSB and the Pawlenty administration. So this would be the 4th study. In the Senate Rules Committee today, Sen. Steve Murphy argued that he no longer trusts the NTSB since he has already heard the federal agency say inspections won't be a cause of the bridge failure. Sen. Larry Pogemiller says the NTSB vowed to him at the site of the tragedy that there wouldn't any announcements until their investigation is over. Poge says Minnesotans need to know what happened and make sure it won't happen again. Senate Minority Leader David Senjem was uncharacteristically upset saying this is a "politically motivated ... witch hunt." Republicans in the committee argued another investigation is duplicative and a waste of taxpayer money. Political analysts I talk to on both sides of the aisle wonder if Dems are still trying to get this negative story to stick to the governor...