Almanac: At the Capitol

How does one measure success in the Minnesota State Legislature this upcoming session? Ask a DFLer, and you'll hear three things — education, health care and property taxes. Ask a Minnesota Republican and you'll probably hear tax-relief for owners of pontoon boats exceeding 28' in length, puttin' a stop to the gay marryin', and trying to forget the brutal thumping they just endured at the hands of shifty liberal-to-moderate DFLers.

With such a strong advantage in both houses, accomplishment for the DFL is simply agenda-based legislative success. How many of the things above that they campaigned (and won) on can they really deliver? Oddly enough, the answer may lie with the same person lots of things in Minnesota have been impacted by of late — Gov. Tim Pawlenty as a possible running-mate for John McCain in the race for the 2008 Republican Presidential nomination. If Pawlenty's name stays in the mix, he'll have to rack up some bipartisan accomlishments. If the treasured spot on McCain's short list evaporates, it might be a much longer session for the DFL.

As for Republicans in the Legislature, their only respite is clinging to the hope that Seifert and Senjen can hold their caucuses together — keep the conserative and moderate Republicans on the same wavelength — long enough to sustain Pawlenty's inevitable vetos. How many of them there are will say a lot when the session gavels to a close.

As for me, I love the game. I'd like to see some action. Oh yeah, and my property taxes went up...again...so some help there would be much appreciated.