Almanac: At the Capitol

Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher wants a budget deal for the state's 150th birthday present on Sunday. It's a great PR angle, but depending whom you believe a deal is close or completely out of reach. Democrats all say it's "doable" if the governor wants a deal, but Republican Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem said negotiations are "on life support with funeral arrangements pending." Sen. Geoff Michel said he fears they're living in a world where there aren't global deals anymore. Last year there was no global deal on all the end of session issues for the first time in memory.

The speaker wondered if the governor is trying to hit 100 vetoes, if it was his goal. Sen. Michel said the governor is the goalie stopping bad legislation. None of this sounds good whether you like the hockey or not. There's still a lot of finger pointing and no face to face negotiations with 9 days left to pass bills and only really 6 days for lawmakers to meet in floor session.

Unalloting and special session are options for the governor. Senjem prefers unalloting. Minority Leader Marty Seifert said he has prepared a spreadsheet of cuts for the governor to make that would make the bonding bill vetoes look like the "Riveria" that includes cuts to "welfare and Iron Range slush funds." Democrats keep saying they will get a deal. The House needs a deal the most and seems to be the most optimistic. The new wrinkle is the revival of Central Corridor in a bonding bill all by itself. Rep. Alice Hausman says she wants to send a clean bill to governor to sign. Since he already vetoed it once and said he wanted a responsible budget deal first I'd bet another veto.