Almanac: At the Capitol

The budget shortfall is $935 million, exactly as we've been hearing all week. The number will be officially released at 11:15 this morning, about the same time the Senate is set to fire Carol Molnau from her job as transportation commissioner. Also this morning the House will vote on a 35W victims compensation bill. Needless to say it's nuts up here today. Most are anticipating that the governor and lawmakers won't come to agreement on solving the shortfall. That will leave the governor to unallot solving the shortfall himself. He's likely to tap reserves. But Pawlenty and Democrats have agreed in theory to "closing the loopholes" on foreign operating corporations (FOCs). But the governor and lawmakers aren't exactly in a lovefest right now so working together could be difficult.