Almanac: At the Capitol

A smaller government employees union is splitting from its larger cousin to back Democrat Margaret Anderson Kelliher for governor.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty's Republican Party was the biggest user of a campaign program he axed that gives donors tax refunds for part of their contributions.

Lawyers for the Minnesota House spell out in a 34-page brief why they believe Gov. Tim Pawlenty misused a state law to enact budget cuts without legislative consent.

Backed by the Minnesota House, six patients with special dietary conditions sue Pawlenty, state officials.

With a reciprocity deal with Wisconsin about to expire, some cross-border workers may have to file in both states.

Nine DFL candidates for governor participate in a wide-ranging two hour debate.

In bid for 60 votes, Democrats pick up one wavering senator and need two more to secure a procedural vote to open debate.

Here's a look at who will be on this weekend's public policy shows.

Read the House friend of the court brief challenging Gov. Pawlenty's unallotment power.

House Research has completed the brief of amicus curiae that supports a complaint in Ramsey County District Court against Gov. Tim Pawlenty's unallotment.

Nonpartisan House Research attorneys were asked on Monday to write the brief by the House Rules Committee. The Rules Committee agreed to side with the plaintiffs in the case on a 14-8 party-line vote. A House DFL spokesman announced this afternoon that the amicus brief has been filed with the court.

The complaint was filed by six low-income and disabled Minnesotans who have received benefits from programs that were cut earlier this year when Pawlenty used his unallotment authority to cut the 2010-2011 state budget. Judge Kathleen Gearin on Monday heard attorney's arguments in the case.

Here's a breakdown of those who relied on the now defunct PCR.

Allen Quist is set to take on DFL Rep. Tim Walz in Minnesota's 1st.

The Washington Post talks to voters in southeastern Minnesota about the war.

Religious right leaders announced Friday that they won’t abide by laws that support gay marriage or abortion. One hundred and twenty-five members of the religious right and leaders from the Catholic church signed the Manhattan Declaration. Only one signer was from Minnesota: Archbishop John Nienstedt (pictured) of the Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

The Manhattan Declaration is the religious right’s line in the sand: They’re vowing to ignore any laws that contradict their worldview. The document reads:

Therefore, let it be known that we will not comply with any edict that compels us or the institutions we lead to participate in or facilitate abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide, euthanasia, or any other act that violates the principle of the profound, inherent, and equal dignity of every member of the human family.

Further, let it be known that we will not bend to any rule forcing us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriages or the equivalent, or refrain from proclaiming the truth, as we know it, about morality, marriage, and the family.

Further, let it be known that we will not be intimidated into silence or acquiescence or the violation of our consciences by any power on earth, be it cultural or political, regardless of the consequences to ourselves.

The Human Rights Campaign immediately lashed out at the signers of the Manhattan Declaration, pointing out that LGBT-rights groups have gone to great pains to make laws that protect both LGBT people and people of faith.

“This declaration simply perpetuates the fallacy that equality and religious liberty are incompatible and that every step toward fairness for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community is another burden on religious people. In reality, non-discrimination laws are working all over this country, where religious freedom is existing side-by-side with equal opportunity,” Harry Knox, director of the Human Rights Campaign’s Religion and Faith Program, said in a statement. “Advocates of LGBT equality have taken great pains in their legislative efforts to ensure that the rights of religious organizations and people under the First Amendment are protected. It is deeply cynical for the authors of this document to paint themselves as victims because they cannot have a free hand to discriminate, including with taxpayer dollars.”

Former state Rep.

Former GOP state Rep. Ron Erhardt of Edina is exploring a run for his old House seat as a Democrat.

“I’m looking to run. I raised money earlier in the year,” said Erhardt today in a telephone interview with PIM.

Erhardt, a moderate, spent nine terms in the House. When Republicans controlled the House, he was chairman of the Transportation policy committee. In February 2008, Erhardt and five other House Republicans joined all DFLers to override Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s veto of a transportation bill that included a gas tax increase.

In the revolt that ensued, Republicans in District 41A endorsed the more conservative Keith Downey. Erhardt ran as an independent and DFLers endorsed Kevin Staunton. Downey won with 37 percent of the vote. Erhardt received 32 percent and Staunton received 31 percent.

A rematch in 2010 is in the making.

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