I Don’t Hate America!

Hey kids, here we go with the promised liveblog.

10:38 a.m.: We are awaiting the commencement of the first meeting of the day. The House Capital Investment Finance Division (otherwise known as the “bonding committee”) is set to gavel to order any second now. The Senate doesn’t start anything until 2 p.m. with its full finance committee.

10:55 a.m.: Still waiting for the meeting to start, as if these things are known for starting on time. I had an opportunity to see the capital investment committee when they were in Winona last week, however I made the mistake of going to the farce of a hearing on historic preservation down the street.

11:00 a.m.: Chair Alice Hausman (DFL-St. Paul). Hausman explained that Rep. Ken Tschumper (DFL-La Cresent) will be the chief author of the bill providing flood relief, however he will be late arriving to the meeting because he was unable to get someone to relieve him of cow-milking duty in time.

Seriously. They are citizen legislators! Members are looking at images of the destruction.

11:07 a.m.: Rep. Gene Pelowski (DFL-Winona) is at the microphone and walking members through the appropriations in the bill and criteria for receiving those appropriations. This is tough to follow without a copy of the bill in front of me (since it officially has yet to be introduced). I’ll be attempting to get my electronic hands on a copy over the next few hours (hopefully sooner).

11:19 a.m.: Rep. Pelowski is going over relief for items ranging anywhere from school bus fleets to property tax abatement. Again, without a copy of the bill it is tough to follow along closely.

11:26 a.m.: According to Rep. Jean Wagenius (DFL-Minneapolis), someone within the state Department of Health said the department will be unable to fund testing for drinking water and hopes that by the time the bill gets to the finance committee the issue will be addressed. Pelowski explained that due to the fragile topography of the land, any disaster quickly affects drinking water. Finance chair Rep. Lyndon Carlson (DFL-Crystal) explained that for any amendment to be brought forward would have to be approved by all three major entities (House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller and Gov. Tim Pawlenty) due to the general understanding already reached by all three. The general feeling is that the tentative version of the bill is flexible, but it is questionable as to how flexible.

11:51 a.m.: Carlson has explained that the capital investment meeting was meant as a walk-through so items can be brought up (such as those about the drinking water) and so the leadership and governor can sign off on them. Amendments should be adopted by the finance committee with the bill being introduced at 5:00 p.m.

It seems to me a more logical way to do this would have been to call the special session to order this morning, recess until 5:00 p.m., and allow the committees to do their business in the interim. But I suppose there is that whole thing about 201 “citizen legislators” needing to leave their permanent lively hoods earlier than necessary.

The capital investment committee has adjourned and now we await the full finance committee to come to order.

11:55 a.m.: Sadly it appears TPT17 has chosen not to broadcast coverage of the legislative session so I am stuck with the webcast. Over on C-SPAN though the US Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees are questioning Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker about the situation in Iraq. Presidential candidate and Sen. Barack Obama is up now.

12:04 p.m.: Carlson has called the Finance committee to order. With the resignation of Rep. Steve Sviggum, Rep. Pat Garafolo (R-Farmington) has been named the ranking GOP member. Carlson explained that they are operating on a “working draft” of the bill, but will be incorporating amendments and will take testimony.

12:10 p.m.: Pelowski is going over the bill again to the finance committee. He touched on language moving funding from one area to another and preventing individuals and business from “double dipping” by getting funds for the same thing from both the state and federal government.

12:22 p.m.: There are still negotiations amongst the leadership on certain items being general fund appropriations or funding via bonding, Pelowski said. State parks, child care, storm sewers, Rushford’s waste treatment plant and Home and Community Options in Winona are a few additional things set to receive funding. There are several historic structures which are set to receive funding and according to Pewloski discussions are still on going.

In Houston, the one bridge some students have in order to get to school was destroyed therefore those students must now attend school in Winona. In the bill there will be reimbursement to school districts for per-pupil losses.

There will be $3 million from a national employment grant and Pelowski says language on this issue is still under consideration. Flexibility in addressing truth-in-taxation issues for local governments was included. The Department of Revenue wants language dealing with reassessment of property values but apparently there is disagreement with the House fiscal people about language.

It seems the bill is under 25 pages. A copy of this would be nice. Anyone who can give a hook-up reading this? djdanielson(at)gmail.com.

12:51 p.m.: Quite a bit of inside baseball and nitpicking at number (which I cannot even see) that is all going right over my head. Finance Commissioner Tom Hanson has joined the meeting.

12:58 pm.: Rep. Tom Huntley (DFL-Duluth) asked if reporting requirements will be waived for those needing health services since most records were wiped away with the flood. Carlson said that it should be routed through the speakers office. Rep. Al Juhnke (DFL-Willmar) has stated the agriculture provisions have been agreed to in principle with the legislative leadership and the governor’s office.

1:01 p.m.: Some concern has been raised about non-profits, such as CAP Agencies and organizations dealing with transitional housing, and making sure they are funded by the appropriations for the businesses if they already aren’t by human services or the federal government. Amendments to the working draft that have been approved by the leadership, however I am unable to see them.

1:15 p.m.: Rep. Loren Solberg (DFL-Grand Rapids), chair of Ways and Means, announced that the 3:00 p.m. meeting of that committee has been canceled. It appears the House will gavel in at 5:00 p.m., recess so Ways and Means can meet quickly to make a budget resolution, and then reconvene the full chamber. Carlson has said that he “hopes” members will abide by the agreement between the leadership and the governor and get amendments checked-off by all parties. Rep. Ann Lenczewski (DFL-Bloomington), the Tax chair in the House, has stated she does NOT intend to offer a tax amendment beyond the points agreed upon previously as to not breach the agreement. No gotcha’ politics from either side thus far. Whoo hoo.

1:21 p.m.: Rep. Tom Rukavina (DFL-Virginia) has just arrived and is very, very frustrated that the bill does not address unemployment.

“These people were told to go online and apply for unemployment. How are they supposed to go online without a computer, electricity or a house?”

1:37 p.m.: Rukavina has also shown frustration at how much control the legislative leadership and the governor have grasped in the process of coming to an agreement. Carlson again explained to him that he hoped members would stick to the guidelines of running amendments past the leadership and the governor.

“As a duly elected member of this body do I not have a say Mr. Chairman?” Rukavina replied.

The Finance committee has recessed to the call of the chair apparently to go through the three main players to get amendments okayed.

Rukavina had one more noteworthy quote: “It’s been 41 days since the bridge collapsed and the leadership and the governor haven’t been able to come to an agreement yet. Why should we think this is going to get done in four hours?”

2:01 p.m.: It doesn’t appear House TV plans on picking up the finance committee when it reconvenes. We are waiting for the Senate to call to order its finance committee.

2:17 p.m.: It appears House TV WILL be picking up coverage of the House finance committee when it reconvenes. Still waiting for Senate finance to begin. Members, staff and audience are finally filing in.

2:31 p.m.: Sen. Richard Cohen (DFL-St. Paul) has called the Senate finance committee to order. Sen. Sharon Ropes (DFL-Winona) has begun her testimony telling stories of a home on top of railroad tracks, a 91 year-old woman who didn’t hear the emergency alarm and businesses that lack buildings and inventory.

3:22 p.m.: Sen. Linda Berglin has shown concern about nursing homes and other health and human services being funded adequately.

4:53.: Since the last post the Senate finance committee has been going over largely small details of the bill. I must have missed the House finance committee finishing their work. Unexplainably, Senate TV cut away from the Finance hearing. Session set to start at 5:00 p.m. Coverage on TPT17. Whoo.

5:04 p.m.: Waiting for session to begin. TPT17 (KTCI) just finished about 10 straight minutes of the same acoustic guitar melody but is now playing a historical clip about Minnesota’s statehood. I can see on the webfeed, though, that members are filing into the House chamber. In the Senate, you can see President Jim Metzen sitting in his chair. For a legislature junkie like me, hearing his raspy voice again will be a treat!

5:07 p.m.: I forgot to mention: in the bill there is some matching funding for Minneapolis for the bridge collapse and some money for northern Minnesota fire previously part of the tax bill vetoed by Gov. Pawlenty. Beyond that though, there is no comprehensive transportation funding or tax legislation.

5:18 p.m.: Both chambers are underway with prayers, pledges and roll calls. Expect a certain amount of procedural resolutions dealing with organizing each chamber.

5:23 p.m.: House majority leader Tony Sertich has asked for a moment of silence for September 11th and the disasters here in Minnesota. The Senate had a similar moment.

5:38 p.m.: Senate File 1, dealing with flood relief, and SF2, a Sen. Linda Berglin bill dealing which motor vehicle insurance (hmmm?), have been introduced. The House is in recess for approximately one-hour. Senate majority Larry Pogemiller is explaining that the House and Senate versions of the flood relief bill are not exact and must be ironed out. According to Pogemiller, the possibility of a conference committee cannot be ruled out. In order to limit the possibility of this, he has encouraged amendments to be brought to the rules committee. Senate minority leader David Senjem is encouraging Senators to “hold the line and work within the framework of the bill.”

“As Senator (Dick) Day often says, we all have election certificates. I do not want to suppress debate, but encourage everyone to use their best judgment,” Pogemiller said.

The House is adjourned until approximately 6:30 p.m; the Senate likewise until approximately 6:45 p.m. House Minority Leader Marty Seifert announced the House GOP caucus would be meeting.

“May we all come over for supper?” Speaker Kelliher asked.

6:32 p.m.: The Senate rules committee is waiting to be called to order. Visible by the camera view provided by Senate TV show Pogemiller and Metzen both in the room waiting. House TV is showing some member sitting idly in the chamber waiting to go back to work.

Senate TV has such soothing piano music. Maybe they think the only people dorky enough to be watching this are cultured enough to enjoy listening to it on a regular basis.

6:38 p.m.: Pogemiller has called the rules committee of the Senate to order and Sen. Ann Lynch (DFL-Rochester) is begining to explain SF 1, the flood relief bill. The bill is FINALLY availiable for all to see WHOOOO YEAHHHH BABY!

Okay, just relieved I get to see what they have been talking about all day; always easier to follow along when they are referencing pages when you can actually SEE the pages.

Looks like this explanation will be much shorter than those previously today. The House chamber is very close to empty currently. I wonder if Seifert has any hotdish or sloppy joe’s left?

6:56 p.m.: Berglin is keeping up her day-long theme of ensuring that nursing homes are being covered adequately and is hoping that the Dept. of Human Services is involved. She wasn’t satisfied in the language in the bill dealing with that, but Ropes explained that when three parties are involved not all language can be agreeable.

7:05 p.m.: A point of contention has been met in regards to the budget surplus from FY ‘07. Apparently the fiscal year ended with ~$370 million in the general fund. Pogemiller argued in a brief spat with Sen. Gen Olson that surplus money could be used as opposed to bonding.

7:11 p.m.: Pogemiller announced that Berglin’s bill about auto insurance would be incorporated into the larger flood relief bill. The discussion of amendments is set to begin.

I am praying here people that there will be no gotcha’ politics from either side.

7:18 p.m.: An issue has been brought up concerning the Help America Vote Act and where the correct language should be. Sen. Ann Rest (DFL-New Hope) is concerned that by including language about delaying the deadline for townships effected by the flood to come in compliance with HAVA could violate a “one bill, one subject” principle. They are now trying to find a way to move that process along quicker.

7:38 p.m.: Senate rules committee is going over language in order to fit in an amendment(s) with counsel. Dotting I’s and crossing T’s and making sure articles like “the” are in the right spot.

Well, I was serious about the third part. Borrrrring TV. You all owe me BIG TIME for sitting through this.

7:44 p.m.: As the Senate rules committee continues to pick apart VERY technical language, I finally found a copy of SF2, the Berglin auto insurance bill, which basically prohibits penalties against those drivers who were driving on the 35W bridge when it collapsed. Seems logical to me.

9:03 p.m.: Alright, I took a recess of my own for food. Neither body is doing anything, I’m reading rumors on other blogs and it definitely isn’t 6:30 p.m. anymore. What’s going on?

9:34 p.m.: I forgot to mention: Al Juhnke agreed with me during one of the finance committee meetings earlier this morning about starting session early in the morning, letting the committees do their work, then going back into session. By putting session off until 5:00 p.m., there is a much greater sense of urgency if not confusion. I have read elsewhere that the governor and the legislature might not both be on the same page. The Senate rules committee (Chair Pogemiller included) appears to be all assembled and waiting for something and the House chamber seems to be about half full. I wonder: are both bodies of the legislature even on the same page right now?

9:48 p.m.: Senate rules committee is back in order. SF2, the Berglin bill about auto insurance, is being presented as an amendment to SF1. Welcome to any readers from www.minnesotademocratsexposed.com and www.scsuscholars.com.

9:52 p.m.: Looks like they found money, I think $200,000, for well testing (referenced by Jean Wagenius earlier in the House finance committee) and indoor air quality.

10:01 p.m.: It appears the House and Senate STILL aren’t on the same page. According to Ropes the House was not in complete agreement about from where to take the money for the air quality. The Senate rules committee went and passed the bill anyway and I guess is in recess until they get a House file.

If this is confusing to read here for you, trust me, its confusing to follow everything thats going on.

10:17 p.m.: To think: the last time I was up this late live-blogging the legislative session there was controversy because the previous question was being moved. This time, there is controversy because there has yet to be a question presented! I know everyone is working hard within the short time frame given to them by the governor, but when stuff like this is prolonged by technical stuff it makes people question the effectiveness of our democracy.

By the way, if there are any legislators reading this right now: thanks for the hard work and leaving your day jobs as it is appreciated regardless of any criticism the blogsphere or anyone else may throw your way.

I heard the vote board in the Senate chamber go “BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP,” not sure what to expect. I know it was the Senate because Pat Flahaven, Senate secretary, pushes the button quite a few times, as opposed to House Chief Clerk Al Mathiowetz only hits it three times. Oh, the more you know!

10:26 p.m.: The Senate is in order with an introduction of the bill by Sen. Ropes. It is MUCH easier (and more interesting) to follow along with an actual copy of the bill.

10:32 p.m.: “What was the research? Where did these numbers come from, how were they produced?” Sen. David Hann (R-Eden Prairie) asked Ropes. What is this, a police interrogation? Geez.

10:39 p.m.: First term Sen. Erickson Ropes has handled herself tremendously today while carrying the weight of a very urgent matter to the Senate floor and deserves congratulations. The the Ann Rest bill dealing with the postponement of measures of Help America Vote Act is being brought up as SF 3 and an urgency declared allowing it to be voted upon the same day as its introduction. It passed 63-0.

11:02 p.m.: Debate in the Senate ensues about which course of action to take as the house has done nothing. The Senate is now taking amendments on the bill. The pickle in which they are stuck is that since the bill contains bonding language it so it must originate in the House. So essentially they can just wait for the House or come up with a “Senate position.” They are doing the latter.

“They might be looking for leadership from this body. That’s just an opinion, maybe my opinion,” Sen. Pres. Jim Metzen said referring to the House of Representatives. Ouch.

11:06 p.m.: The Senate is in recess for approximately ten minutes so that the Senate GOP Caucus can meet. “We need to talk,” Minority Leader Senjem said about his caucus in a disappointed if not disgruntled tone.

11:17 p.m.: The House is back in order while the Senate is voting on the SF 1. It passed 62-1 with the only nay being Ann Rest. They then laid the bill on the table and are now recessing to wait for the House.

11:23 p.m.: Ken Tschumper is explaining HF 1, the House version of the flood relief bill. He has noted losses of homes and businesses including pharmacies, grocery stores and a locally owned bank which does business with all the other businesses that are going under! If a business cannot stay afloat it cannot pay its debts to the bank; if a bank can’t claim its debts, it can’t stay afloat.

11:25 p.m.: I’m sure Tschumper found someone to milk his cows tonight.

11:33 p.m.: Kelliher has announced there are two written amendments and one oral amendment to come. The first one is from Rep. Willie Dominguez (DFL-Minneapolis) dealing with the 35W bridge to make sure that contractors working on the 35w reconstruction effort make a good faith effort to hire people of color. I’m trying to get the exact amendment; the House website isn’t on its usual “A” game tonight.

11:38 p.m.: Dominguez, apparently realizing an agreement had already been met, has withdrawn his amendment, but vowed to not give up come regular session in February.

11:41 p.m.: Pelowski moved an oral amendment of some number I missed. New Rep. Steve Drazkowski (R-Wabasha) is now talking.

11:43 p.m.: Drazkowski is giving a heartfelt first floor speech thanking all of those helping the relief effort. In addition to Ropes, he and Tschumper have both handled themselves in spectacular fashion through this all.

11:49 p.m.: Pelowski is offering the next amendment, this time dealing with indoor air quality and wells. Not sure if this is inline with the Senate language, but Pelowski says all three entities (House and Senate leadership and the governor, if you haven’t learned that by now) have agreed. It passed on voice vote. Has been given its third reading (meaning no more amendments). Rep. Andy Welti (DFL-Plainview) is thanking members for taking time out of their lives for coming to the capitol to respond.

11:52 p.m.: Welti told a story of a disabled veteran from Eyota who lived in the lower level of his home and lost literally everything he owned. He has explained that all estimates thus far and that there will be hundreds of thousands of dollars of infrastructure damage likely yet to be discovered and that the legislature will likely have to send more help in regular session.

11:53 p.m.: Rep. Jeanne Poppe (DFL-Austin) has plugged http://www.rootrelief.org, a portal for fund raisers in southeastern Minnesota. Mark Olson has the floor.

11:56 p.m.: Olson was asking if language waiving statutes is standard “boilerplate” language because he has concerns that oversight might not be present as was in the case of FEMA in New Orleans. Pelowski assured him it was the case.

11:57 p.m.: “I hope we illustrate that theres a difference between how the U.S. Congress acts, and how we act here in Minnesota,” Pelowski said. Tschumper thanked the church community for providing up to 2,000 meals daily in some cases.

“This has been the greatest hotdish competition you would ever see,” he said. “This is not so much a disaster aid package as it is an investment in these people.”

12:00 a.m.: Rep. Seifert urges a yes vote for the bill. “Today we are Minnesotans, not Democrats or Republicans,” he said.

12:05 a.m.: “We are one state and in that tradition and in times of need we help each other out,” Majority Leader Sertich said. He went on to show dissapointment though that the legislature has not been “proactive” but rather exlusively “reactive” by not lowering property tax burdens, focusing on job creation and investing in infrastructure with the opportunity they were given tonight. Awesome speech by Sertich; he is the real deal. The bill passes the house 130-0.

12:16 a.m.: Applause followed the bill passage, an act normally not allowed but I don’t think anyone will object this time. The elections bill from the Senate is now being brought up. Rep. Seifert asked Rep. Pelwoski if it was his intention that there would be no amendments and they can all get out of there. “That’s my intention,” Pewloski replied getting a laugh from the chamber. Seifert said that the governor has signed off on it and he encourages support. The bill passed 128-2.

12:17 a.m.: Sertich, Seifert and Kelliher are all three having a whisper fest up on the rostrum.

12:24 a.m.: Procedural motion is now before the House dealing with the journal and passes easily. Rep. Phyllis Kahn (DFL-Minneapolis) is moving a resolution adjourning the special session until one month from today as opposed to sine die (for good). Kahn noted that three-fourths of the 35W bridge was in her district and that the effort of clean up and current constant monitoring of the situation costs money and “is unfinished business we have not done.” Kahn is seemingly realistic about the required two-thirds vote to suspend the rules in order to pass the motion being an unrealistic proposition and is withdrawing her motion. The House now stands at ease waiting for the Senate to confirm they have received the bill.

12:27 a.m.: Deputy Minority leader Tom Emmer (Delano) apparently doesn’t trust that the leadership is not going to pull shenanigans and has moved to adjourn sine die. Another conference with the three leaders is taking place at the rostrum.

12:31 a.m.: Rep. Emmer has withdrawn his motion. The staff is being honored with a round of applause for all of their hard work. There is a motion notifying the Senate and governor that the House is about to adjourn sine die.

12:41 a.m.: Still waiting. If I were a House member I would be eager to exit so I could visit the White Castle on Rice St. Yummmmm!

12:50 a.m.: Still waiting. Channel 17 just flashed briefly from House TV to Senate TV maybe just to show viewers still holding on that nothing has changed. I’ll take this opportunity to welcome new readers from Minnesota Monitor, Tild (visit there for some “Legislated Palliative”) and Bluestem Prairie. Oh, if only the microphones in the House chamber were more sensitive and it was less noisy I could hear the subject of the gossip.

12:56 a.m.: Channel 17 is running a scrolling ticker that they will be breaking away from coverage at 1:00 a.m. Boo, now I have to watch two screens do nothing on my computer at once. In the meantime, does anyone know what’s going on?

1:03 a.m.: Sertich, Seifert and Kelliher are all still at the House Speaker’s rostrum. Metzen is swiveling in his chair in the other chamber but not tossing his gavel in the air and catching it. This is worse than a west coast evening Twins game going into extra innings: are these people really trying to get me to fall asleep before the exciting conclusion?

1:07 a.m.: The House has adjourned sine die via voice vote. The Senate is now in order.

1:09 a.m.: It appears the delay was due to Sens. Ropes and Lynch meeting with counsel and House leadership due to “a handful” of differences and it was determined that the differences are technical and everyone can sit alright with them and they can be dealt with at a later date.

HF 1 passed then passed the Senate 62-1 with Rest again being the only negative vote. Next it goes to the governor for a signature and if signed, will be deposited with the Secretary of State to become law. This is how a bill becomes a law.

1:16 a.m.: Metzen has gaveled the Senate into adjournment sine die.  I can’t believe I followed this off and on for almost 14 hours.  Wow.  Tomorrow I will have a wrap up with my thoughts and analysis.  Thanks for reading.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 11th, 2007 at 10:41 am and is filed under MN Senate, Flooding, Winona, Tim Walz, Gov. Tim Pawlenty, MN House. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.