I Don’t Hate America!

While I was in Winona this weekend visiting to catch fall graduation ceremonies at the ole’ alma mater, Winona State, I missed quite a bit of news concerning transportation issues, especially those surrounding US Highway 14 in southern Minnesota.

With a h/t to Bluestem Prairie, the Star Tribune shows us it has the ability to publish thoughtful stories about the First Congressional District, as opposed to those based nearly solely on press releases from ambitious GOPers, with a thorough piece about the deadly stretch of road around Owatonna.

Several years ago, as newcomers to Winona State, my colleagues and I would light-heartedly write off Highway 14 as a possible route getting to the metro area (instead sticking with I-90) as it is likely to become stuck behind a tractor and limited to traveling at 15 mph. Later we would find out 14’s problems go beyond inconvenience into the realm of real danger. From the Strib:

The highway, a mix of old two-lane and reconstructed four-lane sections, has blind intersections, heavy truck traffic, narrow shoulders and unexpected curves. It may be the deadliest highway in the state.

Since the mid-1980s, more than 145 people have been killed on the highway, which winds through 265 miles of farmland from Winona to the South Dakota border. On average, someone dies on the road every two months. And 75 percent of the deaths between 2000 and 2005 occurred on the two-lane stretches, state rec­ords show.

Instead of investing in transportation projects such as Highway 14, we keep getting empty political rhetoric from Republican officials. On TPT’s Almanac last month, John Kline called this year’s House Transportation bill, which had funding for Highway 14, the I-35W bridge and other projects, “fiscally irresponsible.” What’s really fiscally irresponsible: fixing the infrastructure now, or continuing to clean up wrecked vehicles, bringing accident victims to the hospital and taking the pieces of wrecked bridges out of the river?

On that same program, Rep. Tim Walz asked Kline why he should have to give up Highway 14 for his district when the President Bush won’t compromise on anything. Kline’s response: “We should all have to give.”

Meanwhile, GOP state Sen. Dick Day, who represents a district bisected by the highway, shows signs of being out of touch with what’s really going on. From the Owatonna People’s Press (I know I’m late here, but other stuff was on our minds when it came out):

Day and Ruth, both members of legislative committees concerning transportation, told the audience that transportation has been a low priority in Minnesota. The pair said they hoped to bring more funding and attention to transportation issues in Southern Minnesota.

“[Highway] 14 isn’t ever on the radar, yet,” Day said. “Everybody said health care, education are more important. The Bridge had to come down before a certain group of people would say that transportation is important.”

Barring a presidential veto, Highway 14 will soon be in line for federal funding. U.S Representative Tim Walz has sought funds in the 2008 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development bill for the expansion of the highway.

According to Meredith Salisbury, Walz’ press secretary, Walz earmarked $850,000 for Highway 14 in the current version of the bill. The revised bill still has yet to pass through the U.S. Senate. President George W. Bush threatened to veto the first version of the bill in October.

Day and Ruth did not mention the bill pending in the U.S. Congress, but explained to Chamber members that they hope to pass a comprehensive transportation plan and find state funding for Highway 14 and other road projects without resorting to a gas tax.

This is a classic article in the sense that Day forfeits any credibility even before reality is presented.

Not even on the radar? Was Day awake in the Senate chamber this legislative session (before the bridge collapse) when Sen. Steve Murphy, Senate transportation chair, spoke clearly about “Highway 14 in Sen. Day’s district” multiple times (among countless other things)?
Funny too is how Day says people think “education and health care are more important” when he’s made it clear his campaign theme is rounding up illegal immigrants.

Well, he convinced the Strib’s Mark Brunswick of that anyway.

As this photo shows, Day should put the toy glasses he got early from Santa away and worry about the issues important to southern Minnesota such as education, health care and oh yeah, transportation.

Right now, tears are flowing freely and words are very difficult to come by, but I figure since I have this medium to let out feelings, I might as well take advantage of it.

Tonight we lost Jared Stene, Student Senate president at Winona State University, and more importantly to me, one of my best friends. I have never felt the loss of someone so close to me, coupled with the suddenness of the whole situation make this a very hard evening to get through, let alone post to complete, so bear with me.

I had learned of his condition just more that 48 hours ago, late Tuesday evening. Since that time we were all on a scary roller coaster ride hearing his condition change, for better and worse. Tonight that ride came to its end when we heard of Jared’s passing.

Jared was a special person; absolutely one-of-a-kind. The energy and passion he brought to every aspect of life, whether it was an affair concerning student issues, political action, simply entering the Student Senate office or one of the many nights at Schyde’s for wings, drinks and darts won’t be filled anytime soon.

He was someone who attracted a ton of friends and for good reason. His kindness, warmth and unique sense of humor (if you’ve never met him you have no idea how funny he was!) made him a natural magnet for people to want to be around him.

I first met Jared in the Spring of 2005 when he was on a committee in charge of the Mr. WSU competition; I had been hired as event host. Jared’s chief task was to coordinate games for the audience in the spirit of “the Price is Right.” It was through our work on that project which we got to know each other and I got to instantly know his love of that show. It was his love for that show which eventually lead to an effort to create a recognized student group, “the Price is Right Club” on the WSU campus.

He had an endless passion and ability to firmly grasp issues facing students. Tuition, parking, textbook prices, ability to vote in elections, and consultation with campus administration are issues that on the surface may not be glamorous, but are nonetheless important and Jared was a tireless advocate for them. For the final two years of my college career, I got to spend countless hours in committee meetings and office hours with him, and every Wednesday at 4 p.m. in the Purple Rooms: Student Senate meetings. Every minute of that time I was able to feed off of his energy and passion.

I had the pleasure of traveling to Minnesota State University Student Association (Jared had been serving as a member of that body’s board of directors) conferences with him, including a week-long lobbying trip to Washington, D.C. March of this year, and sharing many hotel rooms with him at these conferences. I had the displeasure of hearing him snore in these hotel rooms, but really, who’s perfect?

He was passionate about issues which even fewer people would find important, such as WSU food services’s bastardization of Minnesota culinary tradition by labeling a dish “Tator Tot Casserole” and his fight to ensure that someone would water ski on Lake City 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

Oh, and the mochas (coffee drink consisting of steamed milk, espresso and chocolate). Boy, was he ever a coffee addict. He was a frequent visitor of Mugby Junction on Huff St., and was perhaps that business’s best patron. If not “best,” certainly “most frequent” fit the bill; once he requested a purchase history from his frequent customer card and the ensuing slip of register tape measured several feet. One day, Mugby even served a special drink in his honor: “the Jared.”

I feel blessed I had the opportunity to see him one last time on Wednesday evening. While it was difficult seeing him in the condition he was, we knew he was strong enough to fight and I know he did until the very end.

Jared has a very special family; parents Bruce and Char and sister, Caitlin (who is now at Winona State serving on the Student Senate). From my experience anyway, most people our age (early 20s and under) aren’t usually too comfortable having their parents meet their friends. Jared was, therefore I feel privileged to have gotten to meet and know them.

Stene family: my heart resides with you guys. I will keep Jared in my heart as long as I live.

For as hard as this is for me, I can only imagine how hard it is for many others those who got the special gift of being even closer to him.

Friends: Jared showed tremendous strength, and while this isn’t an easy time by any means, we all have the ability to rely on one another for our own strength to get us through this.

Yes, readers, the guy in the blue track-jacket with the neck-beard on the masthead of this blog is Jared. He was initially going to join us as a blogger here at IDHA, but his other commitments kept him from doing so. That’s not to say he never blogged; check out the archives of his personal blog he kept here and you will get a glimpse into the special human being we all loved, cared for and wished we could be.

Jared, as this box of Kleenex to my left is nearly empty, I want you to know that while it will not be possible to be as special of a person as you were, as futile of an effort it will be I will try my best to be as rock-solid of a person as you were. You left a void that will be impossible to fill in the Winona State community, and the world. I will forever be thankful for the friendship which you gave me.

Jared, I love you and will never forget the memories I had with you.

Goodbye my friend.

Notwithstanding the Bush administration’s bull-headed ideology (maybe just blindness to the issue), the Democrat-led Congress is trying again to extend children’s health benefits.

Earlier this week, Rep. John Kline, R, MN-2, came out with a column full of gloom and doom scenarios about the bill. It didn’t take long for Rep. Tim Walz, DFL, MN-1, to answer with a column of his own shedding daylight on Kline’s rhetoric such as a claim that S-CHIP legislation provides give-aways to illegal immigrants. What is really sad about this whole state of affairs is that Bush, Kline and others shouldn’t even need a Democrat to tell them they’re wrong; GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley, Iowa, has blamed false gloom and doom comments like those from Kline on “intellectual dishonesty.” Wow; that’s brutal.

A letter to the Red Wing Republican Eagle by Cannon Falls’ Joy Jacques shows frustration with Kline’s priorities:

Can someone tell me why we continue to throw an unlimited amount of money into Iraq, but we can’t help American kids get health insurance?

Republicans failed us yet again when they refused to override Bush’s veto of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.

It’s obvious that Republicans like John Kline will approve endless sums of taxpayer money to conduct war, and for their own pet projects, yet claim that funding SCHIP is too costly.

These Republicans say nothing about the social costs of denying millions of children access to insurance. They say nothing as they spend $12 billion a month in Iraq. They say nothing when their colleagues spend millions on pork-barrel projects.

They spend and spend, but they won’t fund our kids and help our families.

Does your family have job and health insurance security? Many middle-class families are one catastrophe away from losing what they have worked so hard to achieve.

Our family experienced this. After a costly surgery my husband was laid off by the company that had employed him for 10 years. Our family faced his lost income yet we could continue our insurance for $800 per month.

That’s a lot of money for after you’ve just lost your job.

Policy makers seem more afraid of “socialized medicine” and “Hillarycare” than in dealing with a broken system. All we hear are scare tactics from the Republicans and insurance companies.

It’s long past time we stopped giving these people the benefit of the doubt. Republicans in Washington like John Kline have stopped representing their constituents.

They continue to support a president and an administration that have done nothing but lead our country closer and closer to bankruptcy and ruin.

Let’s send them a clear message. American families should be their first priority.

Reading this letter coupled with the news that Tim Walz plans to hold another town hall meeting with constituents makes me wonder when and if Kline ever intends to hold one.

At the meeting in Winona last weekend, Walz made it clear to the attendees that that type of gathering is one of the most fundamental principles of democracy.

“I would argue it’s a requirement of our citizenship to engage in these discussions,” Walz told the crowd. “I would also argue that it’s a requirment of the job in representing you. It’s critically important that I provide a forum that has as easy and unrestricted access as possible to air your points of view and your concerns.”

Kline’s record of constituent outreach is anything but “easy” or “unrestricted” to constituents. When Kline does invite citizen input the medium is usually a “tele-townhall meeting” which is by its nature restricted. If Walz is able to provide stellar constituent service after fewer than 11 months in office, why does Kline continue to lack in that department?

The voters of the Second Congressional District have sent John Kline to Washington three times. I would certainly think that after five consecutive years of service to the district he ought to feel comfortable enough to have an open and honest conversation with constituents. Or is he comfortable?

Come on, John, how does avoiding open and honest discussion with the public give us a reason to not replace you with Steve Sarvi next November?

When Minnesota state Sen. Sharon Erickson Ropes, DFL-Winona, was campaigning last year for the seat being vacated by Republican Bob Keirlin, one of her major themes was heath care reform.  Sen. Ropes, who is also a registered nurse, will be seeking constituent input on the subject next Thursday when she and Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville and chair of the Senate Health, Housing and Family Security Committee, hold what is billed as a “community listening session” in Winona.

The following information was forwarded by her office:

 Senator Sharon Erickson Ropes of Winona along with Senator John Marty,
chair of the Minnesota Senate Health and Housing Committee, will hold a
community listening session on affordable health care on Thursday,
November 1st, from 6:00- 8:00 p.m. at the Minnesota State College
Southeast Technical, Tandeski Center, Room 141 in Winona.

The general public, local elected officials, and concerned citizens are
invited to attend.  Those who have received this email are welcome to
forward this email to any interested party.

Senator Sharon Erickson Ropes encouraged Marty to come to Winona as
part of his effort to obtain public input on health care. “When I was
campaigning back in 2006, I heard repeatedly about problems with the
high cost of health care. I will continue working with Senator Marty to
enact legislation providing affordable health care to all
Minnesotans,” said Erickson Ropes.

“We would like to invite business owners, community members and
families with and without health insurance who live in and around the
Winona area to talk about the impact that health care costs and lack of
access to affordable health care is having on their lives.” said
Senator Marty.

“I’m hopeful that concerned citizens, business representatives, and
members of the medical community will attend this public meeting and
will take this opportunity to share their concerns and suggestions,”
Erickson Ropes said.

People interested in testifying may contact Senator Erickson Ropes’s
office at 651-296-5649 or simply show up at the hearing.

This post is coming to you live from beautiful Winona, Minnesota! Mega congratulations go today to Joe Bodell over at Minnesota Campaign Report on his marriage.  It’s certainly an awesome day for that type of festivity!

Later today I will head to the campus of Winona State University, my alma mater, for a town-hall meeting with my old Congressman, Tim Walz.  Unlike my current Congressman, John Kline, Walz not only listens to his constituents, he reaches out for their opinions. The Iraq war will be the topic.  Everyone around town should check it out.

4 p.m., Science Labratory Center (new science building) lecture hall. Be there!
Some people may have other things to do, but they can reconsider.  For instance, the Winona State Warrior football team takes on visiting Bemidji State at about the same time.  It’s being broadcast on FSN North; tape it!

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.

Who wants a DJ liveblog of tomorrow’s special session? For old time’s sake. Maybe I can get a couple of mentions on AM1280 The Patriot by Michael Brodkorb again…

Hmmm.

Let’s see how early I awake (I am fighting an illness) and I will get right too it.

I just hope Channel 17 (KTCI) has coverage so I don’t have to watch it on the 2 inch web video feed, but I will handle it either way.

A session in Winona last night facilitated by the federal Surface Transportation Board provided few answers to the questions concerning historical preservation of structures potentially impacted by the Dakota Minnesota and Eastern railroad’s proposed expansion into Wyoming’s coal rich Powder River Basin and rehabilitation of existing line to accommodate increased traffic and to improve safety.

(Thanks for hanging in there, I was just seeing how long I could make that lead).

Representatives from the railroad were said to be busy handling affairs concerning its sale announced earlier in the day to the Canadian Pacific railroad and were unable to attend the session. Basically this meant if a citizen wanted to learn anything besides the finer techniques of riveting or the inside baseball of grades of steel, that person would have been out of luck.

On hand to answer those types of technical questions were a half-dozen representatives from the architectural and engineering firm HDR, which had been doing work for the planning stages of the rehabilitation and expansion for DM&E and Dave Bibler from the Louis Berger firm on behalf of the STB.

General questions surrounding the project, such as how the flooding will effect the preservation, if the sale to the Canadian Pacific will impact the project, or how the project could affect the city of Winona were directed to the business card of Jafar Karim, public affairs manager for DM&E.

The event was, to say the least, sparsely attended. In the hour I was there the only attendee was a reporter from Winona Radio who decided against running a story without a soundbyte from a DM&E representative.

Several displays on easels offered bare-bones insight into items such as the following:

-The “historic components” to be preserved such as engineered grade, stone box culverts and cast iron pipe.

-Potential “mitigation measures” for the “unavoidable impacts to the historic structures” such as historic driving tours, interpretative signage, publishing of a history of the railroad historic district, museum displays and professional video of the history of the railroad.

-The elements of environmental evaluation such as safety issues, transportation, land use, water resources, recreation, air quality, noise, environmental justice and cultural resources.

Similar sessions throughout the past week have been held in Wall, Pierre and Huron S.D. and Tracy, Minn. According to Bibler, the most highly attended session was the one held in Tracy with approximately 20 citizens attending.

Questions, questions still loom. This issue isn’t going away.

Hat tip to Bluestem Prairie.

The Dakota Minnesota and Eastern (DM&E) has been sold to the Canadian Pacific company for $1.48 billion. Additional payments of $350 million up to $1.1 billion can become due if the much controversial expansion into the Wyoming Powder River Basin occurs. DM&E had been on the auction block since May after the $2.3 billion federal loan they had requested was denied in February. The Winona Daily News has the story from the AP:

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) _ Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. said late Tuesday that it will buy the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad Corp. and its subsidiaries for $1.48 billion cash, gaining access to the coal-rich Powder River Basin in Wyoming.

Canadian Pacific said in a news release that it will pay $1.48 billion in cash at closing and make future contingent payments of up to $1 billion depending on progress on a long-planned expansion project by the Sioux Falls-based DM&E to carry coal from Wyoming’s Powder River Basin.

CP said the deal will expand its current network by approximately 2,500 miles and increases its access to Midwest markets for agricultural products, coal and ethanol.

“The DM&E is an excellent fit for Canadian Pacific making this a strategic end-to-end addition to our network,” Fred Green, president and CEO of CP, said in the statement. “The DM&E is a high-quality, growing regional railroad that complements our existing franchise.”

CP said it intends to spend an additional $300 million on further upgrades of the regional railroad over the next several years.

“Canadian Pacific is our natural partner and we are very pleased with this deal. The logic of this acquisition is compelling,” Kevin Schieffer, president and CEO of the DM&E, said in the statement. “I’m proud of the DM&E and the organization we’ve built. … CP is not only a natural operating fit; we also share a commitment to our employees, our customers and the communities we serve as well as a vision for the potential of the Powder River Basin.”

It wasn’t immediately clear precisely how the sale would affect the DM&E’s $6 billion Powder River Basin project, which involves rebuilding 600 miles of track across South Dakota and Minnesota and adding 260 miles of track around the southern end of the Black Hills to the Wyoming coal fields. The rebuilt railroad would haul low-sulfur coal east to power plants.

The project has aroused strong opposition in some communities along the route, especially in Rochester, Minn., where the DM&E’s tracks pass close to the Mayo Clinic.

The sale is expected to close in the next 30 to 60 days and is subject to review and approval by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board.

More as it comes in. I am headed to Winona today for a hearing facilitated by the Surface Transportation Board discussing historical preservation procedures for the increased rail traffic that would come with the proposed expansion.

[Update]  The Rochester Post Bulletin has put together a neat little summary of the details of the DM&E’s sale to the Canadian Pacific Railroad.

• Price: $1.48 billion, due at closing within next 30 to 60 days.

• The purchase includes DM&E and a sister railroad, the Iowa, Chicago & Eastern. That system includes 2,500 miles of track, 7,200 rail cars and 150 locomotives. The acquired railroads have about 1,000 employees.

• The deal includes future contingent payments of $350 million if Powder River Basin expansion project construction starts before Dec. 31, 2025, and $700 million based on coal movement over the line by that same date.

• Canadian Pacific announced it intends to invest $300 million upgrading DM&E’s line over the next several years.

• The sale is expected to close in the next 30 to 60 days and is subject to review and approval by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board.

Things that make you go “hmmm”:I find it interesting that the Canadian Pacific plans to invest only $300 million into upgrades when the DM&E had previously requested about eight times that from the federal government.

This article we missed from the UK Financial Times published Aug. 13 shows the writing on the wall for the sale: DM&E: Second round bids imminent; unclear if financing commitment still in place.

Time for this blogger to head to Winona. [/Update]